Students of history do not just memorize the past. They ask questions about the past in order to solve problems of the present.
History is an original liberal arts field and is designed to prepare students for any type of profession that emphasizes critical analysis, reading of dense texts, creative problem-solving, and oral and written communication. History majors collect and analyze evidence to construct arguments, propose new interpretations, formulate conclusions, test hypotheses, and communicate new ideas.
There is no typical job for a history major. Our graduates can be found in all types of companies and in all types of roles, as well as graduate programs in history and other related humanities and social science fields. A student's career choices after college is often guided by how they applied their coursework to real world applications during college. Internships, part-time jobs, and volunteer experiences will help a student network during college and shape their career choices after graduation. The possibilities are numerous, and all students are encouraged to gain practical experience that complements the major.
At UWM, undergraduates can work on research projects such as the Encyclopedia of Milwaukee. The opportunity to participate in research as an undergraduate is a distinct advantage for UWM students. At most large, research universities, research opportunities for undergraduates are limited; there are fewer of them and they often are reserved for juniors or seniors. At UWM, you can get involved as early as freshman year. Students work directly with faculty and graduate students on their current research projects, and sometimes find themselves published in a peer-reviewed journal right alongside the faculty member. Participating in undergraduate research is an excellent way to enhance your resume for graduate school or employment.
Students intending to major in history are encouraged to enroll in several 100- and 200-level courses. Students may combine a major in history with many of the certificate programs or with another departmental major.
History is also available at UWM as on online major - all of the classes for the major can be competed online if desired, or students can mix-and-match assorted online and traditional-format classes.
Course of Study – Bachelor of Arts Degree
Complete 120 credits including 75 credits in the College of Letters & Science and with 36 of the 75 credits in L&S upper-level (numbered above 300) courses.
The College requires that students must complete in residence at UWM at least 15 credits in upper-division (numbered 300 or above) courses in their major. The College also requires that students complete at least 30 credits overall in residence at UWM. For additional residency and transfer credit limitations, see L&S Undergraduate Policies and Regulations.
Students are also required to complete University-wide General Education Requirements and the specific L&S requirements listed below.
To complete a major, students must satisfy all the requirements of the major as stated in this catalog. Students who declare their majors within five years of entering the UW System as a degree candidate may satisfy the requirements outlined in any catalog issued since the time they entered. Credits used to satisfy the major also may be used to satisfy other degree requirements.
University General Education Requirements (GER)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Oral and Written Communication | ||
| Part A | ||
| Achieve a grade of C or better in the following course: | ||
| ENGLISH 102 | College Writing and Research (or equivalent) | |
| Part B | ||
| Course designated as OWC-B; may be completed through a major-specific course requirement | ||
| Quantitative Literacy | ||
| Part A | ||
| Earn at least 3 credits with a grade of C or higher in one of the following courses or an equivalent course, or achieve a placement code of at least 30 on the mathematics placement test (or other appropriate test, as determined by the Mathematical Sciences Department) | ||
| Mathematical Literacy for College Students II | ||
| Contemporary Applications of Mathematics | ||
| Introduction to College Algebra | ||
| Algebraic Literacy II | ||
| Introduction to Logic - Critical Reasoning 1 | ||
or PHILOS 111 | Introduction to Logic - Critical Reasoning | |
| College Algebra | ||
Or equivalent course | ||
| Part B | ||
| Course designated as QL-B; may be completed through a major-specific course requirement | ||
| Arts | ||
| Select 3 credits | 3 | |
| Humanities | ||
| Select 6 credits | 6 | |
| Social Sciences | ||
| Select 6 credits | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences | ||
| Select 6 credits (at least two courses including one lab) | 6 | |
| UWM Foreign Language Requirement | ||
| Complete Foreign Language Requirement through: | ||
Two years (high school) of a single foreign language | ||
Two semesters (college) of a single foreign language | ||
Or equivalent | ||
| UWM Cultural Diversity Requirement | ||
| One course from the Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences must also satisfy UWM's Cultural Diversity requirement | ||
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Math 111 and Philosophy 111 are jointly offered and count as repeats of one another. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.
College of Letters & Science Requirements
The degree requirements in the College of Letters and Science build on the University General Education Requirements to provide a broad base of knowledge as well as an array of skills cited by employers as critical to professional success: critical thinking, problem solving, oral and written communication, ability to work well with others, and adaptability to change.
For the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), you must complete the UWM General Education Requirements as well as these L&S requirements: the International requirement, the Breadth requirement, and the Research requirement. The International requirement develops your potential for cross-cultural understanding in a globalizing world. The Breadth requirement ensures that you take classes in a wide variety of subjects, across humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. The Research requirement calls for you to build your critical thinking and oral and written communication skills through conducting an independent research project, usually in your major.
For the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) you will also complete the Language other than English requirement, to further develop your understanding of cultures through language.
I. Total Credits and Upper-Division Courses Requirement
Students must complete 120 credits including 75 credits in the College of Letters & Science and with 36 of the 75 credits in L&S upper-level (numbered above 300) courses.
II. Language other than English Requirement
Students doing the BA must fulfill the language other than English requirement by either successfully completing the fourth semester of university work or equivalent in one language other than English, or by successfully completing the second semester of university work or equivalent in two languages other than English (including all world languages and American Sign Language).
Language courses (including American Sign Language) other than English taken in high school may be used to satisfy all or part of this requirement. One year of high school language equates to one semester of college work. Proficiency tests approved by the Languages faculty may be used to satisfy all or part of this requirement.
Completion of the L&S Language Requirement also satisfies the university-wide Language other than English GER, but not vice versa.
III. International Requirement
To meet the International Requirement, students must successfully complete some three course (minimum 9 credits) combination of
- language other than English (not including American Sign Language) at 3rd semester level or above, and/or
- non-language courses with L&S approved international content (see Courses Approved for the L&S International Requirement for course options).
IV. Breadth Requirement
In addition to completing the University General Education Requirements, L&S students must complete the Breadth requirement.
The L&S Breadth requirement calls for 6 credits each in L&S courses designated L&S Humanities, L&S Natural Sciences, and L&S Social Sciences breadth. One of the L&S Natural Science breadth courses must be a laboratory or fieldwork course. These courses must be beyond and in addition to courses in those areas used to satisfy General Education Requirements.
Please refer to the list of Courses Approved for the L&S Breadth Requirement.
V. The Major
The College of Letters and Science requires that students attain at least a 2.0 GPA in all credits in the major attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all major credits attempted, including any transfer work. Individual departments or programs may require higher GPAs for graduation. Some departmental majors require courses from other departments. Contact your major department for information on whether those credits will count as part of the major GPA. The College requires that students must complete in residence at UWM at least 15 credits in upper-division (numbered 300 or above) courses in their major.
Research Requirement
Within their majors, students must complete a research experience approved by the L&S faculty. A list of courses satisfying the research requirement in each major can be found here.
VI. The Minor
Students are encouraged to consider completing a minor, but it is not required. To complete a minor, the College of Letters and Science requires that students attain at least a 2.0 GPA in all credits in the minor attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all minor credits attempted, including any transfer work. The minor must contain at least 9 credits in upper-division (numbered 300 and above) courses.
History Major Requirements
History majors must maintain a 2.0 GPA in all history credits attempted at UWM and a 2.0 GPA in all history credits attempted at all institutions attended, collectively. No more than 6 of the 36 credits applied to the major may be earned in independent study courses (HIST 199 or HIST 699). Note that in all courses taken in the major on a credit/no credit basis (whether applied to the major or not), regular letter grades are recorded on your transcript and are used in the calculation of your GPA. History majors must enroll in and complete least 18 credits in courses numbered 300 or above, of which 15 must be taken in residence at UWM.
Note: Specific courses may count toward the fulfillment of more than one requirement. For example, HIST 101 counts toward the fulfillment of both requirement #1 and requirement #4.
History majors are required to take 36 credits of coursework distributed as follows:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Select at least 6 credits in European history 1 | 6 | |
| 2. Select at least 6 credits in U.S. history 1 | 6 | |
| 3. Select at least 9 credits in non-Western or global history 1 | 9 | |
| 4. Select at least 3 credits in a course dealing with the period before 1500 1 | 3 | |
| 5. Electives | 6 | |
| 6. Select at least one course in historical methods from the following: | 3 | |
| Seminar on Historical Method: Research Techniques | ||
| Seminar on Historical Method: Theory and Approach | ||
| 7. Complete HIST 600 | ||
| HIST 600 | Seminar in History: 2 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
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Course lists delineating approved European, U.S., non-Western or global, and pre-1500 history courses offered at UWM are below.
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HIST 600 (meets the L&S requirement for a research experience in the major); prerequisite is HIST 294 or HIST 593). Students who complete the senior thesis (see below) may substitute the thesis courses for HIST 600.
Students should pay particular attention to requirement #6. Students will not be permitted to enroll in HIST 600 until after they have taken and passed one of the courses in historical methods listed under #6. This sequence may not be reversed and students cannot take both courses in the same semester. Prospective majors should fulfill the methods requirement at an early stage of their progress in the curriculum, in no case later than the next-to-last semester before they plan to graduate.
Senior Thesis Option
Students choosing this two-semester sequence (HIST 681/HIST 682) write a substantial research paper on a topic of their choice in consultation with a faculty thesis advisor. The prerequisite for HIST 681 is at least one of the following courses: HIST 294 or HIST 593. Students also must receive approval from the faculty thesis advisor and department chair prior to enrolling. With the consent of the faculty thesis advisor and the department chair, history majors with a GPA of 3.333 (B+) or higher in all history credits attempted, including transfer work, may take the thesis sequence in lieu of Hist 600 to satisfy (in part) major requirements and the L&S research requirement. Access and print out the senior thesis proposal form (PDF).
Independent Study
Independent study is not a substitute for courses regularly available in the curriculum. Students who wish to enroll in independent study (HIST 199 for freshmen and sophomores; HIST 699 for juniors and seniors) must have a minimum GPA of 2.500 in credits attempted at UWM. It is recommended that students work only with faculty members from whom they previously have taken regular classes. Students may not enroll in HIST 199 or HIST 699 for work already completed. When enrolling in HIST 199 or HIST 699, students shall select the section number of the faculty member who will supervise their work.
After consultation with the supervising faculty member, students must print out and complete an independent study form (PDF). This form contains the description of the independent study proposal, and it should be completed during the first two weeks of the semester. The supervising faculty member must approve the proposal and return the signed form to the department office for endorsement by the department chair as well as by the Dean. A student should not take more than three credits of independent study in one semester from the same faculty member. History majors may take no more than 6 of the required 36 credits in History in independent study, and a maximum of 3 credits of independent study may count toward the minor.
Ancient and Medieval History (Pre-1500) Requirements
The following courses satisfy the pre-1500 requirement of the History major:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 101 | Western Civilization: Ancient World to 1500 | 3 |
| HIST 131 | World History to 1500 | 3 |
| HIST 175 | East Asian Civilization to 1600 | 3 |
| HIST 201 | The Ancient World: The Near East and Greece | 3 |
| HIST 202 | The Ancient World: The Roman Republic and Empire | 3 |
| HIST 203 | The History of Medieval Europe: The Early Middle Ages | 3 |
| HIST 204 | The History of Medieval Europe: The High Middle Ages | 3 |
| HIST 235 | English History to 1688 | 3 |
| HIST 274 | Ancient Egyptian Civilization | 3 |
| HIST 280 | Islamic Civilization: The Formative Period, ca. 500-1258 | 3 |
| HIST 303 | A History of Greek Civilization: The Greek City-State | 3 |
| HIST 304 | A History of Greek Civilization: The Age of Alexander the Great | 3 |
| HIST 307 | A History of Rome: The Republic | 3 |
| HIST 308 | A History of Rome: The Empire | 3 |
| HIST 318 | Medieval Civilization: The High Middle Ages | 3 |
| HIST 319 | The Era of the Crusades | 3 |
| HIST 320 | History of Medieval Warfare | 3 |
| HIST 376 | Premodern China | 3 |
| HIST 394 | History of Japan to 1600 | 3 |
The following variable topic courses satisfy the pre-1500 requirement of the History major if the specific topic deals preponderantly with the era prior to 1500:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 192 | First-Year Seminar: | 3 |
| HIST 193 | First-Year Seminar: | 3 |
| HIST 199 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| HIST 200 | Historical Roots of Contemporary Issues: | 3 |
| HIST 270 | Topics in American History: | 3 |
| HIST 290 | Topics in Global History: | 3 |
| HIST 296 | UROP Apprenticeship | 1-3 |
| HIST 297 | Study Abroad: | 1-12 |
| HIST 299 | Ad Hoc: | 1-6 |
| HIST 370 | Topics in the History of Religious Thought: | 3 |
| HIST 371 | Topics in European History: | 3 |
| HIST 372 | Topics in Global History: | 3 |
| HIST 373 | Topics in Gender and History: | 3 |
| HIST 398 | Honors Seminar: | 3 |
| HIST 399 | Honors Seminar: | 3 |
| HIST 400 | Topics in Latin American and Caribbean History: | 3 |
| HIST 401 | Topics in Middle Eastern History: | 3 |
| HIST 402 | Topics in Asian History: | 3 |
| HIST 497 | Study Abroad: | 1-12 |
| HIST 499 | Ad Hoc: | 1-6 |
| HIST 594 | Methods and Theory in the Historical Study of Religion: | 3 |
| HIST 600 | Seminar in History: | 3 |
| HIST 681 | Senior Thesis I | 3 |
| HIST 682 | Senior Thesis II | 3 |
| HIST 699 | Independent Reading: | 1-6 |
Because individual student topics in Hist 600 can vary, that course, with the instructor's approval, may count toward the pre-1500 requirement for certain students, as determined by the predominant focus of their individual work in the course.
Categorization of Courses by Geographic Area
The following lists indicate the geographic areas towards which courses count in the fulfillment of the major and minor requirements. (Note that some courses do not satisfy any of the geographic area distribution requirements and that for variable-topic courses, the geographic area is determined by the specific topic).
European History
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 101 | Western Civilization: Ancient World to 1500 | 3 |
| HIST 102 | Western Civilization: 1500 to the Present | 3 |
| HIST 201 | The Ancient World: The Near East and Greece | 3 |
| HIST 202 | The Ancient World: The Roman Republic and Empire | 3 |
| HIST 203 | The History of Medieval Europe: The Early Middle Ages | 3 |
| HIST 204 | The History of Medieval Europe: The High Middle Ages | 3 |
| HIST 206 | Europe and the Modern World: 1815 to the Present | 3 |
| HIST 235 | English History to 1688 | 3 |
| HIST 236 | Britain Since 1688: Rise and Decline of a Great Power | 3 |
| HIST 239 | Poland and its Neighbors, 1795-1914 | 3 |
| HIST 241 | Women and Gender in Europe: 1350 to 1750 | 3 |
| HIST 242 | Women and Gender in Europe: 1750 to the Present | 3 |
| HIST 248 | The First World War | 3 |
| HIST 249 | The Second World War in Europe | 3 |
| HIST 303 | A History of Greek Civilization: The Greek City-State | 3 |
| HIST 304 | A History of Greek Civilization: The Age of Alexander the Great | 3 |
| HIST 307 | A History of Rome: The Republic | 3 |
| HIST 308 | A History of Rome: The Empire | 3 |
| HIST 318 | Medieval Civilization: The High Middle Ages | 3 |
| HIST 319 | The Era of the Crusades | 3 |
| HIST 320 | History of Medieval Warfare | 3 |
| HIST 329 | The Roman Catholic Church, 1500 to the Present | 3 |
| HIST 330 | The Papacy in History | 3 |
| HIST 341 | Imperial Russia | 3 |
| HIST 343 | Russia Since 1917 | 3 |
| HIST 346 | Poland and Its Neighbors, 1914-1945 | 3 |
| HIST 348 | Poland and Its Neighbors, 1945 to the Present | 3 |
| HIST 355 | Modern and Contemporary France | 3 |
| HIST 358 | The Jews of Modern Europe: History and Culture | 3 |
| HIST 363 | Germany: Hitler and the Nazi Dictatorship | 3 |
| HIST 364 | The Holocaust: Anti-Semitism & the Fate of Jewish People in Europe, 1933-45 | 3 |
| HIST 371 | Topics in European History: | 3 |
| HIST 375 | Contemporary European History, 1945 to the Present | 3 |
U.S. History
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 150 | Multicultural America | 3 |
| HIST 151 | American History: 1607 to 1877 | 3 |
| HIST 152 | American History: 1877 to the Present | 3 |
| HIST 215 | History of Capitalism | 3 |
| HIST 229 | History of Race, Science, and Medicine in the United States | 3 |
| HIST 243 | History of Women in American Society | 3 |
| HIST 262 | North American Indian History to 1887 | 3 |
| HIST 263 | North American Indian History Since 1887 | 3 |
| HIST 267 | The History of Latinos in the United States | 3 |
| HIST 268 | History of the American West | 3 |
| HIST 269 | Asian Americans in Historical Perspective | 3 |
| HIST 270 | Topics in American History: | 3 |
| HIST 271 | The 1960s in the United States: A Cultural History | 3 |
| HIST 404 | Topics in American History: | 3 |
| HIST 405 | The Age of the American Revolution, 1750-1789 | 3 |
| HIST 409 | Causes of the Civil War, 1828-1861 | 3 |
| HIST 410 | Civil War and Reconstruction: The United States, 1861-1877 | 3 |
| HIST 418 | America in Prosperity, Depression and War, 1921-1945 | 3 |
| HIST 419 | America Since 1945 | 3 |
| HIST 432 | North American Environmental History | 3 |
| HIST 434 | The United States as a World Power in the 20th Century | 3 |
| HIST 435 | Ethnic America: To 1880 | 3 |
| HIST 436 | Immigrant America Since 1880 | 3 |
| HIST 440 | History of the American Working Classes | 3 |
| HIST 442 | Beer and Brewing in America | 3 |
| HIST 445 | African Americans from Slavery to Freedom | 3 |
| HIST 446 | African Americans Since the Civil War | 3 |
| HIST 448 | Baseball in American History | 3 |
| HIST 449 | Popular Culture in America, 1800 to the Present | 3 |
| HIST 450 | The History of Milwaukee | 3 |
| HIST 451 | History of Wisconsin | 3 |
| HIST 452 | History of Religion in American Life to 1870 | 3 |
| HIST 453 | History of Religion in American Life Since 1870 | 3 |
| HIST 460 | The History of Poverty in America | 3 |
| HIST 463 | History of the American City | 3 |
| HIST 468 | The American Feminist Movement | 3 |
| HIST 473 | History of Wisconsin Indians | 3 |
| HIST 474 | Topics in North American Indian History: | 3 |
| HIST 475 | American Indian History, Law, and Government | 3 |
| HIST 597 | Fields and Methods in Public History | 3 |
Non-Western or Global History
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 131 | World History to 1500 | 3 |
| HIST 132 | World History Since 1500 | 3 |
| HIST 141 | Global History of the Family, Gender, and Sexuality | 3 |
| HIST 175 | East Asian Civilization to 1600 | 3 |
| HIST 176 | East Asian Civilization Since 1600 | 3 |
| HIST 180 | Latin American Society and Culture | 3 |
| HIST 210 | The Twentieth Century: A Global History | 3 |
| HIST 274 | Ancient Egyptian Civilization | 3 |
| HIST 280 | Islamic Civilization: The Formative Period, ca. 500-1258 | 3 |
| HIST 282 | The Modern Middle East in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries | 3 |
| HIST 284 | Buddhism Across Asia | 3 |
| HIST 286 | The Korean War | 3 |
| HIST 287 | The Vietnam War | 3 |
| HIST 290 | Topics in Global History: | 3 |
| HIST 295 | Historical Encounters: | 3 |
| HIST 372 | Topics in Global History: | 3 |
| HIST 376 | Premodern China | 3 |
| HIST 377 | Modern China | 3 |
| HIST 378 | Revolution in China | 3 |
| HIST 379 | Introduction to Jewish History | 3 |
| HIST 380 | Buddhism: A Cultural History | 3 |
| HIST 386 | Africans in World History: Communities, Cultures, and Ideas | 3 |
| HIST 387 | Colonization in Africa: A History of Resistance and Adaptation | 3 |
| HIST 392 | The History of Southern Africa | 3 |
| HIST 393 | History of Mexico | 3 |
| HIST 394 | History of Japan to 1600 | 3 |
| HIST 395 | History of Japan Since 1600 | 3 |
| HIST 400 | Topics in Latin American and Caribbean History: | 3 |
| HIST 401 | Topics in Middle Eastern History: | 3 |
| HIST 402 | Topics in Asian History: | 3 |
| HIST 596 | Maps as Historical Sources | 3 |
| HIST 396 | Decolonization, Revolution, and Independence in African History | 3 |
| PORTUGS 360 | Luso-Brazilian Culture: (Topic: "History of Brazil") 1 | 3 |
| WGS 501 | Advanced Humanities Seminar in Women's and Gender Studies: (Topic: "Women, Gender, & Global Revolutions") 1 | 3 |
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These courses in other subjects may be used to fulfill requirements of the undergraduate major or minor in history.
Geographic Area Determined by Specific Topic
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 192 | First-Year Seminar: | 3 |
| HIST 193 | First-Year Seminar: | 3 |
| HIST 199 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| HIST 200 | Historical Roots of Contemporary Issues: | 3 |
| HIST 296 | UROP Apprenticeship | 1-3 |
| HIST 297 | Study Abroad: | 1-12 |
| HIST 299 | Ad Hoc: | 1-6 |
| HIST 370 | Topics in the History of Religious Thought: | 3 |
| HIST 373 | Topics in Gender and History: | 3 |
| HIST 398 | Honors Seminar: | 3 |
| HIST 399 | Honors Seminar: | 3 |
| HIST 497 | Study Abroad: | 1-12 |
| HIST 499 | Ad Hoc: | 1-6 |
| HIST 594 | Methods and Theory in the Historical Study of Religion: | 3 |
| HIST 600 | Seminar in History: | 3 |
| HIST 681 | Senior Thesis I | 3 |
| HIST 682 | Senior Thesis II | 3 |
| HIST 699 | Independent Reading: | 1-6 |
The geographic area of concentration in sections of HIST 600, where the area is not obvious in the title, by default is designated in accordance with the primary teaching and research interests of the instructor. In such cases, and with the instructor's approval, HIST 600 can count toward different areas for different students, as determined by the predominant focus of their individual work in the course. Note that a variable topic course cannot be considered "Non-Western or Global" unless at least a substantial part of the course's focus includes the study of African, Asian, Middle Eastern, or Latin American history.
No Geographic Area
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 289 | Internship in History, Lower Division | 1-6 |
| HIST 294 | Seminar on Historical Method: Research Techniques | 3 |
| HIST 296 | UROP Apprenticeship | 1-3 |
| HIST 489 | Internship in History, Upper Division | 1-6 |
| HIST 593 | Seminar on Historical Method: Theory and Approach | 3 |
| HIST 595 | The Quantitative Analysis of Historical Data | 3 |
History BA Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from the History BA program will be able to:
- Recognize assumptions, concepts, models, and various methods in historical work and in their own thinking about the past.
- Discuss general issues such as causes and consequences, change and continuity, identity and culture.
- Locate primary and secondary sources for use in their research project.
- Read and analyze primary sources in completing their research projects.
- Read and analyze secondary sources in completing their research projects.
- Use various types of evidence in completing their research projects.
- Construct an effective argument.
- Write a substantial research paper in a literate and cogent manner.
Letters & Science Advising
During your time at UWM, you may have multiple members of your success team, including advisors, peer mentors and success coaches. Letters & Science students typically work with at least two different types of advisors as they pursue their degrees: professional college advisors and faculty advisors. L&S college advisors advise across your entire degree program while departmental faculty advisors focus on the major.
College advisors are located in Holton Hall (or virtually for online students) and serve as your primary advisor. They are your point person for your questions about navigating college and completing your degree. College advisors will:
- Assist you in defining your academic and life goals.
- Help you create an educational plan that is consistent with those goals.
- Assist you in understanding curriculum, major and degree requirements for graduation, as well as university policies and procedures.
- Provide you with information about campus and community resources and refer you to those resources as appropriate.
- Monitor your progress toward graduation and completion of requirements.
Faculty advisors mentor students in the major and assist them in maximizing their development in the program. You will begin working with a faculty advisor when you declare your major. Faculty advisors are an important partner and will:
- Help you understand major requirements and course offerings in the department.
- Explain opportunities for internships and undergraduate research and guide you in obtaining those experiences.
- Serve as an excellent resource as you consider potential graduate programs and career paths in your field.
Students are encouraged to meet with both their college advisor and faculty advisor at least once each semester. Appointments are available in-person, by phone or by video.
Currently enrolled students should use the Navigate360 website to make an appointment with your assigned advisor or call (414) 229-4654 if you do not currently have an assigned Letters & Science advisor. Prospective students who haven't enrolled in classes yet should call (414) 229-7711 or email let-sci@uwm.edu.
History Academic Advising
For academic advice, as well as for information on how to declare a major or minor in history, visit the undergraduate program web page of the Department of History at uwm.edu/history/undergraduate/.
College of Letters and Science Dean's Honor List
GPA of 3.750 or above, earned on a full-time student's GPA on 12 or more graded credits in a given semester.
Honors College Degree and Honors College Degree with Distinction
Granted to graduating seniors who complete Honors College requirements, as listed in the Honors College section of this site.
Commencement Honors
Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, based on a minimum of 40 graded UWM credits earned prior to the final semester, will receive all-university commencement honors and be awarded the traditional gold cord at the December or May Honors Convocation. Please note that for honors calculation, the GPA is not rounded and is truncated at the third decimal (e.g., 3.499).
Final Honors
Earned on a minimum of 60 graded UWM credits: Cum Laude - 3.500 or above; Magna Cum Laude - 3.650 or above; Summa Cum Laude - 3.800 or above.