You may already know that you want to come to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. But you may not yet know what you want to study. I hope you’ll consider one or more of the 65 undergraduate majors and 44 undergraduate certificates offered in the College of Letters & Science, also known as “L&S.”
From African Cultural Studies to Zoology, L&S majors offer endless opportunities for discovery.
L&S students come in full of questions. A common phrase is, “I love too many things!” If you aren’t exactly sure, we will help you chart your path. If you want to make a difference, we have departments and faculty that will take you where you never dreamed you could go. Computer Sciences. History. Psychology. Literature. Political Science. Music. Journalism. Chemistry. My personal favorite, Astronomy. That’s just a smattering of what you can study, and doesn’t begin to describe where you can go with your knowledge.
Here at UW, our work, discoveries and teaching are all grounded in the Wisconsin Idea. This is the notion, first set forth in 1905 by UW President Charles Van Hise, that the beneficent influence of the university should reach beyond the boundaries of the classroom, and positively impact all citizens of Wisconsin and far beyond the state’s borders. That philosophy keeps us grounded and connected to one another, to our students, and to the people of Wisconsin and the world. It is an unrivaled idea that has proven both durable and inspiring, practical and transformational.
Our faculty and staff are top-notch teachers and world-renowned scholars. Our cutting-edge research enriches classroom teaching and vice versa. New ideas — even whole new fields of study — spring from partnerships across the arts, humanities, and sciences.
Every year, L&S undergraduates receive some of the world’s highest scholarship honors, including the Rhodes and Truman awards and the Abram Fellowship. Through special initiatives such as the L&S Honors Program and First-Year Interest Groups, you may dive even deeper into your interests with smaller classes and undergraduate research experiences. And you’ll be encouraged and welcomed at SuccessWorks, the L&S career center where advisors will help you effectively, purposefully articulate your academic skills to potential employers, develop networks that lead to internships and job opportunities, and build connections with some of our more than 200,000 L&S alumni.
Our university is a remarkable place. But as talented as our faculty and staff are, we realize that you will play the largest role in your development into an engaged global citizen. You will find your passion. You will meet professors and advisers who will challenge you. You will study hard. You will sift and winnow. Then, you will change the world.
On, Wisconsin!