Interim: Universities of Wisconsin Core General Education Requirements

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Original Issuance Date: December 4, 2025
Expiration Date: December 1, 2026

1. Interim Policy Purpose

Regent Policy Document (RPD) 4-23, Core General Education Requirements, developed to comply with Wis. Stat. § 36.11(3)(b), requires University of Wisconsin (UW) System to create a UW System Administrative (SYS) policy to determine a Core General Education Requirement model, and rules and procedures for ensuring the transferability of Core General Education Requirements between UW universities. This interim policy action defines Core General Education Requirement categories and the number of courses and credit hours that comprise them in order for universities to prepare for the September 2026 effective date established in statute. It describes the rules associated with the completion of Core General Education Requirements and outlines UW university and UW System responsibilities for maintaining systems and processes related to the establishment and maintenance of Core General Education Requirements and the manner in which they may be completed and applied to degree requirements.

2. Related Policies

The Universities of Wisconsin Core General Education Requirements is a new interim UW System Administrative Policy.

This action also temporarily suspends UW System Administrative Policy (SYS) 115, Associate Degree Standards, as it conflicts with RPD 4-23, Core General Education Requirements, until such time that SYS 115 is officially rescinded.

3. Scope

This interim policy action impacts undergraduate students, as well as faculty and staff (e.g., registrars, admissions officers, transfer coordinators, academic advisors and campus leadership) at each UW university. It also impacts several offices within the UW System Administration (UWSA) Division of Academic and Student Affairs.

While UW universities are expected to adhere to the transfer rules below, UW universities may exercise flexibility in application of Core General Education Requirement credits when it is in the best interest of the students’ progress toward degree completion. A request for an adjustment of the transfer credit Core General Education Requirement applicability can be initiated by the student or at the recommendation of an advisor.

Transfer rules, principles, and procedures that are not explicitly enumerated in the interim policy action below or in another SYS policy are at the discretion of the UW university. Each UW university should communicate transfer policies including the transfer and applicability of Core General Education Requirements to all current and prospective students.

4. Definitions

Continuing Student: A student who maintains continuous enrollment at their home UW university, while working towards program/degree completion (as distinct from a transfer student).

Core General Education Course: “Courses generally required for an undergraduate degree that are prerequisite or otherwise in addition to the courses required for an undergraduate degree in a specific course of study” as defined in Wis. Stat. § 36.31(2m)(a)2.

Core General Education Requirement Category: One (1) of six (6) broad disciplinary areas referenced in RPD 4-23 into which universities assign courses that fulfill the Core General Education Requirements. Each category represents an area of foundational knowledge and carries its own minimum course and credit hour requirements.

Core General Education Requirement Credit Hours: The number of credit hours designated as meeting a Core General Education Requirement category. These credit hours apply toward the total credit requirement for completion of the Core General Education Requirements.

Core General Education Requirements: “Comprise undergraduate courses in six (6) broad categories for a minimum of 10 courses and 30-36 credit hours that impart foundational knowledge and skills” as defined in RPD 4-23.

Course Attribute: A designation assigned to courses offered at a university. An attribute may designate a course as meeting a requirement, such as the Core General Education Requirement, or may denote the level at which the course is offered or may in some other way describe the characteristics of a course (e.g., course modality, textbook cost).

Credit by Examination: Credit awarded as the result of learning demonstrated through the successful completion of an external standardized examination (e.g., CLEP, AP, IB) or other examination offered by the university.

Credit for Prior Learning: Credit awarded for demonstration of college-level knowledge and skills acquired through extra-institutional settings as evaluated by the university.

Degree Audit: A tool to aid students and advisors in tracking progress toward degree completion representing requirements and the application of courses that fulfill them. The degree audit provides an official record of progress toward graduation and guides academic advising, course planning, and degree certification.

Degree-seeking Student: A student who matriculates and enrolls at a UW university while working towards associate or bachelor’s degree completion.

Dual Enrollment Student: A high school student enrolled in a transcripted, credit-bearing college course.

Home University: The UW university in which the student is enrolled as a degree-seeking student.

Non-degree-seeking Student: A student who enrolls at a UW university and completes courses, without the intention of completing an associate or bachelor’s degree.

Placement Test: A standardized assessment administered or recognized by a UW university to determine a student’s readiness for a specific course sequence.

Proficiency Test: An assessment used to determine whether a student has mastered the learning outcomes of a specific course or requirement, resulting in the awarding of credit.

Receiving University: The university to which the student is transferring and/or transferring credit.

Retroactive Credit: When a student receives academic credit for a preparatory course they were able to skip based on passing an appropriate advanced level course, typically in mathematics or world languages.

Sending University: The university from which the student is transferring and/or transferring credit.

Student: “Any person who is registered for study in any institution for the current academic period,” as defined in Wis. Stat. s. 36.05(11).

Student Information System (SIS): The official university system of record for student data, used to maintain and process information related to enrollment, course registration, academic history, grades, degree requirements, and other student services. The SIS serves as a source for reporting, compliance, and degree certification.

Transfer credit: Credit earned at one institution of higher education and awarded as credit by a UW university.

Transfer Student: A designation given to a degree-seeking student who transfers credit from another institution of higher education, other than credits earned as a transient student or while enrolled in high school (e.g., dual enrollment student).

Transient Student: A degree-seeking student who is enrolled at one UW university (home university) and temporarily enrolls in credit-bearing coursework at another institution of higher education with the intention of transferring those credits back to their home UW university for application toward degree requirements.

Transferology: An online tool developed by CollegeSource that allows users (e.g., advisors, students, and parents) to see the course equivalencies of college-level coursework and standardized examinations at institutions of higher education at which they may wish to enroll.

5. Interim Policy Statement

A. Suspending UW SYSTEM ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY SYS 115, ASSOCIATE DEGREE STANDARDS

1. The SYS 115 policy defines five (5) knowledge areas to achieve general education breadth in a University of Wisconsin Associate of Arts (A.A.), Associate of Science(s) (A.S.) and Associate of Arts and Sciences (A.A.S.) degree programs. SYS 115 contradicts the newly approved RPD 4-23, Core General Education Requirements and this interim policy on the new Core General Education Requirements. To ensure consistency of Core General Education Requirements across all undergraduate degrees (e.g., associate and bachelor’s degrees), SYS 115 will be rescinded.

B. Implementing Universities of Wisconsin Core General Education Requirements

1. Roles and Responsibilities
   1. University of Wisconsin System Administration
      1. The UWSA Division of Academic and Student Affairs shall establish and provide ongoing oversight of UW System Administrative (SYS) policy and procedures related to the establishment of the Core General Education Requirements and ensuring their transferability between UW universities.
      2. The UWSA Division of Academic and Student Affairs will monitor compliance with this policy as well as associated SYS policies.
   2. Universities of Wisconsin Universities
      1. Each UW university will follow the transfer principles, rules, and procedures outlined in RPD 4-23, Core General Education Requirements, RPD 7-1, Transfer and Award of Credit for Extra-institutional Learning, and SYS 135, UW System Undergraduate Transfer Policy, when transferring and applying credit to Core General Education Requirements.
      2. Each UW university will:
         1. define their Core General Education Requirement categories including definitions or descriptions of each category and learning outcomes associated with each category;
         2. update and maintain all relevant systems used for transfer credit evaluation and degree completion (e.g., student information system (SIS), degree audit system, Transferology);
         3. maintain and publish the courses that are approved to meet each Core General Education Requirement category, ensuring students have options for satisfying Core General Education Requirements; and,
         4. demonstrate compliance with this policy and related Regent and UW System Administrative policies.
      3. Each UW university may develop policy(ies) related to the awarding of retroactive credit. If the UW university awards retroactive credit for courses that are mapped to a Core General Education Requirement category, that retroactive credit will be applied to that Core General Education Requirement category.
      4. In accordance with SYS 135, UW universities will develop their own policy(ies) describing the minimum course grade required for transfer and applicability of course credits. However, once credit has been applied by a UW university towards completion of a Core General Education Requirement category, the awarding and application of credit cannot be rescinded based on an earned grade.
2. Applicable Student Populations
   1. This policy is effective for all students enrolling in undergraduate courses at a UW university in Fall 2026 or later.
      1. Dual enrollment students who complete courses that satisfy Core General Education Requirements will have those credits partially or completely satisfy category requirements based on the home UW university where they are a matriculated, degree-seeking student.
      2. Transient students who complete courses that are categorized as a Core General Education Requirement course(s) at a UW university will have those credits evaluated towards applicability to Core General Education Requirements based on their home UW university Core General Education Requirement model.
   2. Students who enrolled in a UW university prior to Fall 2026 or transfer between UW universities in Fall 2026 may choose to follow these Core General Education Requirements.
      1. In accordance with SYS 135, transfer students may graduate using the catalog requirements in effect at the time of their original matriculation at any UW university.
      2. Students may choose to update their catalog year in accordance with the policies of their home UW university in which they are currently enrolled. In such situations, students may request to have their prior credits re-evaluated based on the current catalog for applicability to Core General Education Requirements.
         1. Students who were enrolled at a sending UW university prior to September 1, 2026, and are transferring to another UW university after September 1, 2026, can ask to have their courses and credits re-evaluated based on the Core General Education Requirement model of the receiving UW university.
   3. This policy includes all undergraduate credit applied to fulfill Core General Education Requirements regardless of how that credit was earned.
      1. Ways in Which Students May Fulfill Core General Education Requirements:
         1. Completion of an Approved Course: Core General Education Requirement credit hours may be earned by successfully completing a course designated as a Core General Education Requirement course.
         2. Credit by Examination: Core General Education Requirement credit hours may be earned through an approved, recognized standardized examination such as Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), or other university approved proficiency examinations.
            1. In accordance with SYS 135, UW universities may award university credit for examinations. If examination scores result in the awarding of credit for courses that fulfill a Core General Education Requirement at the sending UW university, the receiving UW university must accept and apply that credit to the Core General Education Requirements.
         3. Credit for Prior Learning: Core General Education Requirement credit hours may be earned through approved and documented prior learning assessment processes.
         4. Transfer Credit: Transfer credit are credits that are accepted and applied to a Core General Education Requirement category by a UW university.
3. Core General Education Requirements
   1. UW universities will develop their Core General Education Requirement model based on the following six (6) categories with minimum course number and credit hour requirements:

Core General Education Requirements (CGER)	UW CGER Credit Hour Requirements
Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning	3-6 credit hours (1 course minimum)
Communication & Literacy	6-9 credit hours (2 course minimum)
Social & Behavioral Science	3-6 credit hours (1 course minimum)
Humanities & Arts	6 credit hours (2 course minimum)
Natural Science & Wellness*	4-8 credit hours (1 course minimum)
Civics & Perspectives	3-6 credit hours (1 course minimum)
CGER Total	10 course minimum 30 credit hour minimum to 36 credit hour maximum

*The Natural Science & Wellness category requires completion of a laboratory course.

1. 2. In determining their university Core General Education Requirement model:
      1. UW universities shall assign a course to only one (1) Core General Education Requirement category.
      2. There must be a reasonable assumption that a student can complete the Core General Education Requirements by fulfilling each category minimum credit hour requirement. This includes offering:
         1. a sufficient range of approved courses in each category,
         2. regular and predictable scheduling of those courses, and,
         3. a reasonable number of seats to allow students to enroll without delaying time-to-degree.
      3. UW university Core General Education Requirement models require 30-36 credit hours. Students may, however, complete more than 36 credit hours that count toward Core General Education Requirements when they select courses that also fulfill requirements for their major, degree program, or prerequisites. In these cases, the additional credits are driven by degree or major requirements, not by the Core General Education Requirements themselves.

1. 3. A student who fulfills the Core General Education Requirements with less than the required minimum 10 courses and 30 credit hours can fulfill the course and/or credit hour requirement by selecting a course(s) that fulfills any Core General Education Requirement category.
   4. Each UW university may decide whether a course/credit that meets a Core General Education Requirement may also be used to fulfill a major, minor, or other degree requirement.
   5. Subcategories
      1. UW universities may create subcategories within the six (6) Core General Education Requirement categories to reflect distinctive missions, learning outcomes, or courses.
         1. Subcategories may not affect the transfer or applicability of Core General Education Requirement credits between UW universities.
         2. Students who transfer with incomplete Core General Education Requirement categories will be evaluated by the receiving UW university for applicability towards subcategories that will be the most efficient application of credit towards degree completion.
         3. UW universities must make clear subcategory requirements and explain how students can fill those requirements.

III. Course Attributes

1. 1. UW universities shall use the attributes below when labeling their courses as fulfilling a Core General Education Requirement. These attributes shall be used in the degree audit, catalog and student information system (SIS).
      1. Upon transfer, credits applied toward Core General Education Requirements will retain the course attribute of the sending UW university.

 

Core General Education Requirements (CGER)	Course Attribute Value (CrsAtrVal)
Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning	MQR
Communication & Literacy	CL
Social & Behavioral Science	SBS
Humanities & Arts	HA
Natural Science & Wellness	NSW
Natural Science & Wellness + Lab	NSWL
Civics & Perspectives	CP

V. Rules Governing the Transfer of Core General Education Requirement Credit

The following section is intended to provide additional detail to operationalize the transfer rules in RPD 4-23, Core General Education Requirements.

1. 1. A student who completes all Core General Education Requirements at a sending UW university will be deemed to have also completed all the Core General Education Requirements by the receiving UW university.
      1. Once a student has completed all the Core General Education Requirement categories, including the minimum 10 courses and 30 credit hours, they have satisfied their Core General Education Requirements. This is true even if their home UW university requires more total Core General Education Requirements credit hours than the student has completed.
   2. A student who completes a Core General Education Requirement category at a sending UW university will be deemed to also have completed the Core General Education Requirement category at the receiving UW university.
      1. A student who transfers having fully completed a Core General Education Requirement category at a sending UW university shall be considered to have completed that category at the receiving UW university, regardless of any subcategory requirements.
      2. For dual enrollment students, satisfaction of Core General Education Requirement categories is based upon the Core General Education Requirement model of the home UW university where they are a matriculated, degree-seeking student.
      3. Transient students who complete courses that are categorized as a Core General Education Requirement course(s) at a UW university will have those credits evaluated towards applicability to Core General Education Requirements based on their home UW university Core General Education Requirement model.
   3. A student who transfers from a sending UW university who fulfills all Core General Education Requirement categories with less than the minimum required 10 courses or minimum of 30 credit hours, can fulfill the course and/or credit hour requirement by selecting courses at the receiving UW university that fulfill any Core General Education Requirement category.
   4. Once a sending UW university has awarded and applied credit(s) toward completion of a Core General Education Requirement category, the receiving UW university must also accept that Core General Education Requirement category applicability regardless of how the receiving UW university would evaluate and apply that credit. The receiving UW university will evaluate all transfer credit to determine course equivalencies, and the applicability of that credit toward other degree requirements, but it may not rescind the Core General Education Requirement category determination from a sending UW university.
      1. When a UW university accepts and applies any transfer credit, regardless of its source (e.g., AP, dual enrollment, nontraditional providers), to a Core General Education Requirement category, that category applicability must be honored by all other UW universities. While the receiving UW university may evaluate transfer credit for course equivalency and applicability to other degree requirements (e.g., major) they must honor its application to the Core General Education Requirement category from the sending UW university.
      2. Local policies regarding the acceptance of non-traditional credit sources (e.g., Coursera, Sophia Learning, Straighterline) must be transparent, and may not override the transfer and application of credit toward a Core General Education Requirement category.
   5. A student who transfers from a sending UW university with incomplete Core General Education Requirement categories will have to finish those Core General Education Requirement categories based on the receiving UW university category rules.
      1. UW universities will apply all earned credit to as many specific degree requirements as possible (e.g., Core General Education Requirements or academic program/major requirements).
      2. A student who transfers with a partially completed Core General Education Requirement category shall have all applicable completed coursework and credits applied toward the corresponding Core General Education Requirement category at the receiving UW university, regardless of the sending UW university’s subcategory distinctions. The student only completes the remaining category requirements at the receiving UW university.
      3. When a dual enrollment student matriculates to a home UW university, the Core General Education Requirement course attribute assigned to the completed course will be applied towards the completion of the Core General Education Requirement category based on the home university Core General Education Requirement model.
      4. Transient students who complete courses that are categorized as a Core General Education Requirement course(s) at a UW university will have those credits evaluated towards applicability to Core General Education Requirements based on their home UW university Core General Education Requirement model.
   6. While UW universities are expected to adhere to the above transfer rules, UW universities may exercise flexibility in application of Core General Education Requirement credits when it is in the best interest of the students’ progress toward degree completion. A request for an adjustment of the transfer credit Core General Education Requirement applicability can be initiated by the student or at the recommendation of an advisor.

6. Supplemental Documents

Regent Policy Document 4-23, Core General Education Requirements
UW System Administrative Policy 135, UW System Undergraduate Transfer Policy

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