Program Requirements

1. The academic advisement of all students (which includes new freshmen, new transfers and continuing students) will be performed by faculty members.

2. Students will be assigned to a faculty adviser according to the student's declared major. An information folder for each student will be sent by the Advisement Assistance Center to the program director of the student's declared major.

3. The program director will forward the student's folder to the appropriate faculty adviser.

4. The students will be notified as to their advisers. The advisers assigned will fulfill the academic advisement function.

5. If students wish to change their major, a change application form must be submitted to the Advisement Assistance Center, lower level Bowman Hall. Changing one's major requires the student applicant to meet specified acceptance criteria set by the degree program to which one is applying. Application forms, due dates and change criteria are available in the Advisement Assistance Center. A similar form is used to change/declare one's minor and/or concentration. When a student's application to change is approved, the name of the new adviser is written on the form. Copies of the form are sent to the advisers of the old and new programs to facilitate the transferring of the advisee folder. If the application to change is not approved, students have the option of remaining in their current program or changing to undeclared.

6. The following statements should be noted regarding academic advisement:
   • The major indicated on a student's application for admission will serve as the student's original declaration of major.

   • The Board of Regents of the UW System allows students to graduate under the provisions of program requirements listed in the university bulletin in effect at the time they begin their program of study at a post-secondary institution. UW-Stout, through its advisement system, provides annually updated program plan sheets for each major. Current program plan sheets reflect the competencies most desired in graduates. While students may choose to follow the program requirements listed in the bulletin, students are encouraged to follow the program requirements as stated on the program plan sheets at the time of their initial conference with their faculty adviser. Students who begin a program of study with the intention of graduating from UW-Stout must meet with a faculty adviser within three years of their initial enrollment at a post-secondary institution, to determine the program requirements under which they will graduate.

   • Students changing their major, after their initial enrollment at this university, will be required to complete the program requirements as listed on the program plan sheet in effect at the time of change of major is completed.

   • A student may choose to follow the most current program requirements by following procedures determined by the appropriate program director.

   • Program requirements may be revised each year and may become effective as early as the summer session.

   • When a student and a faculty adviser have agreed upon the requirements for graduation, the faculty adviser will make arrangements to distribute copies of the agreement to the student, the program director, the faculty adviser and the director of Student Records. Freshman students will have seven years, sophomores six years, juniors five years, and seniors four years, from the date of the program agreement, to complete the requirements. Classification is determined by credits on record at the time the program plan sheet is filed.

   • Changes to a student's program plan sheet can be made only by the program director. These changes must be filed with the student, the faculty adviser, the program director and the director of Student Records. Exceptions to the General Education Requirements should be referred to the Associate Vice Chancellor's Office.

   • Students who leave the university for a period of more than two years must follow the program plan sheet in effect when they re-enroll, unless other provisions are made, in writing, with the appropriate program director.

   • Senior evaluations are completed by the office of the director of Student Records to determine if the student has met graduation requirements.

Ethnic Studies Requirements

Each student must satisfy the ethnic studies requirement for graduation. Criteria for meeting the requirement are listed in the Course Timetable each semester. Through approved courses, it is hoped that graduates will come to appreciate, understand, value and react appropriately to American cultural diversity. Through the study of American cultures other than those from a European origin, we hope to discourage racism and thus reduce its effects.

Global Perspective Requirement

To earn a bachelor's degree, students must fulfill a global perspective requirement which will help students appreciate cultural, economic, political, environmental and social differences. Increasingly, graduates will work with people who do not speak English well or whose culture is quite different from their own. Learning a second language and developing an understanding of another culture can provide students with skills they will be able to use in international situations.