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The Heart of UW

In 1849, UW-Madison opened its doors to the people of Wisconsin. There were 17 students and six departments. Today, our university includes 13 schools and colleges. The largest is the College of Letters & Science. It’s often said that L&S provides the well-rounded education that the university’s founders first envisioned. Read a brief history here.

Mission Dean's Leadership Team Fast Facts
39 academic departments & professional schools
65 undergraduate majors
63 graduate majors
44 undergraduate certificates
45% of total University enrollment
65% of all undergraduate credit hours
73 centers & institutes

People, Scholarship, Community

This college is all about great people. L&S faculty and staff share knowledge in the classroom, the lab, the field and throughout our communities.

Our Faculty Our Students Our Staff

Our faculty are pushing the boundaries of knowledge in every discipline. From deducing the origin of cosmic rays, to research into the impacts of poverty on a child’s brain, to the discovery of a new relative on the hominin family tree, L&S scholars are changing how the world thinks about our universe, our societies and what it means to be human.

For students, L&S offers fantastic opportunities to learn from, and connect with, faculty at the top of their fields.

Dean Eric Wilcots About Dean Wilcots

Plato said it first

The term "liberal arts" harks back to the philosopher Plato, who outlined several "artes" considered essential for a free-thinking person. Today, the liberal arts offers a breadth and depth of instruction "worthy of a free person," the Latin definition of the word "liberal."

Why choose L&S?

SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science

You've heard it before: what can you possibly do with a liberal arts major? The answer: anything. Our job is to help you learn to articulate your skills and interests and define your career path. SuccessWorks is our brand-new, state-of-the-art career center, where you can meet with an advisor, network with alumni, discover fields that interest you, and so much more.

SuccessWorks
Fueling Discovery 2024: L&S + Wisconsin State Journal partnership
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