Navigating Your Academic Journey: A Comprehensive Guide to the UConn Undergraduate Catalog
The University of Connecticut (UConn) Undergraduate Catalog serves as a vital resource for students navigating their academic journey. Published annually by the Office of the Registrar, it contains essential information about courses, academic programs, university requirements and policies. This comprehensive guide will help you understand how to effectively use the catalog to plan your studies and achieve your academic goals at UConn.
Accessing the UConn Undergraduate Catalog
The Undergraduate and Graduate catalogs are available on the UConn website. An archive of previous editions is also available. The PDF versions of the undergraduate and graduate catalogs may be updated as changes are made so, depending on when the catalog is printed, some information may be out of date. Please consult catalog.uconn.edu for the most up-to-date version of the catalog.
Important Notices
The University of Connecticut reserves the right to revise, amend, or change items set forth in the Undergraduate and Graduate catalogs. Accordingly, readers of the catalog should inquire as to whether any revisions, amendments, or changes have been made since the date of publication. The University of Connecticut reserves the right to alter or cancel course offerings. Students must satisfy all requirements of their department, school or college, and the University of Connecticut whether or not they are listed in the Undergraduate or Graduate catalog.
Accreditation and Non-Discrimination Policy
The University of Connecticut is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. UConn complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action, including the provision of reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. UConn does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religious creed, age, sex, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disability, veteran status, prior conviction of a crime, workplace hazards to reproductive systems, gender identity or expression, or political beliefs in its programs and activities. Employees, students, visitors, and applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations to address limitations resulting from a disability.
Exploring Majors and Minors
At UConn, rigorous academics can be found in any of our 115+ majors and 120+ minors, plus countless concentrations. The catalog provides detailed information about each major and minor offered at UConn, including:
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- Requirements: Specific courses and credit hours needed to complete the program.
- Course Descriptions: Detailed information about the content and objectives of each course.
- Faculty: Information about the faculty members who teach in the program.
- Career Opportunities: Potential career paths for graduates of the program.
A minor provides an option for students who want to add further breadth to their academic program. A minor is available only to a matriculated student currently pursuing a baccalaureate degree. Minors will consist of 12-18 credits of 2000+ level course work. Unless a higher standard is noted in the description of a specific minor program, completion of a minor requires that a student earn a "C" or better in each of the required courses for that minor. The same course may be used to meet both major and minor requirements unless prohibited by the department or program offering the minor as stated in the University catalog.
Substitutions to minor requirements require the approval of the head or designee of the department or program offering the minor. All substitutions for minors in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources must be approved at the dean’s level. Substitutions for minors in the must be approved at the Dean’s level. Substitutions for minors in the School of Fine Arts must be approved by the Director of Advising. Substitutions to minor requirements offered by departments or programs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences require approval by the department or program and the dean or dean’s designee. A plan of study for the minor signed by the department or program head, director, or faculty designee must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar during the first four weeks of the semester in which the student expects to graduate.
Understanding the Common Curriculum
The Common Curriculum is UConn's general education curriculum. Every undergraduate student in a baccalaureate degree program in the University, on all campuses, must complete the Common Curriculum. By completing the Common Curriculum, all UConn undergraduate students will gain experience with different ways of knowing and many kinds of knowledge, and will enter society and their professions with a strong sense of moral, ethical, and social responsibility. Undergraduate students with bachelor's degrees from institutions that have been accredited by regional accreditation agencies (e.g. NECHE) are exempt from the Common Curriculum Requirements. Some schools and colleges have additional requirements that students must complete.
The 21 credits of TOI courses must be from at least six different subject areas as designated by subject code (e.g., ANTH). HEJS 1103Who Are the Jews? HEJS 1103Who Are the Jews? To satisfy the Focus requirement of the Common Curriculum, students may take nine credits within a set of courses that comprise a faculty-designed Theme spanning multiple disciplines. Themes are optional; if a student does not wish to complete a Theme, they may still satisfy their Focus requirement by completing nine credits in a single Topic of Inquiry. There are no restrictions on which courses within a Theme students can or must take.
Q and W Courses
All students must pass two Q courses, which may also satisfy Topic of Inquiry requirements. One Q course must be from Mathematics or Statistics. Students should discuss with their advisor how best to satisfy these requirements based on their background, prior course preparation, and career aspirations. Students whose high school skills need strengthening should be encouraged to complete MATH 1011Q Introductory College Algebra and Mathematical Modeling as preparation for other Q courses. To receive credit for MATH 1011Q Introductory College Algebra and Mathematical Modeling, it must be passed before successful completion of any other Q course. When the years of study have been split between high school and earlier grades, the requirement is met if the student has successfully completed the third-year high school level course.
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All students must pass either ENGL 1007 Seminar and Studio in Writing and Multimodal Composition or ENGL 1010 Seminar in Academic Writing or ENGL 1011 Seminar in Writing through Literature. Additionally, all students must pass two writing-intensive (W) courses, which may also satisfy Topic of Inquiry requirements. One of these must be at the 2000 level and associated with the student’s major. Approved courses for each major are listed in their sections of this catalog.
Course Numbering System
The following directory lists all active undergraduate courses which may be offered at the University. Courses numbered 0000-0999 are courses in the Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture; baccalaureate students may not register for these courses. Courses numbered 1000-1999 are introductory courses, usually with no prerequisites, primarily for freshmen and sophomores; courses numbered 2000-2999 usually have no more than one prerequisite and are primarily intended for sophomores; courses numbered 3000-3999 are advanced undergraduate courses primarily intended for juniors and seniors; courses numbered 4000-4999 are advanced undergraduate courses primarily intended for seniors. Courses numbered 5000 and above are for graduate students and appear in the Graduate School Catalog or as School of Pharmacy courses that are available to Doctor of Pharmacy majors listed in the Undergraduate Catalog. University regulations allow undergraduates to take courses at the 5000 level only if they have a cumulative grade point average of 2.6 or above and if they are in the seventh or eighth semester of University standing; individual schools and colleges may have more stringent requirements which students must meet. W and Q skill code designations and combinations of these have been added to courses where applicable. Students may find a comprehensive explanation of W and Q skill codes under “Competencies” in the Common Curriculum section of this publication. Note: The same 4-digit numerics are not repeatable, i.e. 1107, 1107W. Topic of Inquiry designations (TOI 1-6L) have been added to course descriptions to identify those that meet Common Curriculum requirements.
Admission Information
The University of Connecticut subscribes to the Code of Ethics and Professional Practices of the National Association for College Admission Counseling. It supports the efforts of secondary school officials and governing bodies to have their schools achieve regional accredited status to provide reliable assurance of the quality of the educational preparation of its applicants for admission. The University does not enter into any quid pro quo contracts, either explicit or implicit, with admitted students. All first-time degree seeking students attending the University of Connecticut are required to attend New Student Orientation to begin acclimating into the community and register for classes. Several schools and colleges of the University have additional special requirements.
Test-Optional Policy
At UConn, we understand that one test may not accurately define a student's academic progress and potential, which is why as part of UConn’s test-optional pilot, first-year applicants have the choice to submit standardized test results through Fall 2026.
UConn Early College Experience (ECE)
The UConn Early College Experience (UConn ECE) program offers high school students the opportunity to challenge themselves academically, earn college credits, and engage with college coursework. As the nation’s oldest and Connecticut’s largest concurrent enrollment program, UConn ECE connects students with the University of Connecticut, allowing them to build a college transcript and prepare for future academic success. UConn ECE instructors are high school teachers certified by the University and serve as extensions of their corresponding department. Students in the UConn ECE program earn official UConn credits and receive a UConn transcript. These credits are transferable to many colleges and universities across the country. Students who choose to attend the University of Connecticut have the option to accept their UConn ECE credits from a non-degree transcript to their degree transcript.
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Transfer Students
A transfer student is one who has enrolled at an accredited postsecondary institution following high school graduation and has completed a minimum of twelve credits. At UConn, we understand that one test may not accurately define a student's academic progress and potential, which is why as part of UConn’s test-optional pilot, first-year applicants have the choice to submit standardized test results. Priority admission to the Storrs Campus is given to students who have completed two years of college prior to enrolling at the University. Students with fewer than two years are evaluated on a combination of high school and college work; i.e., high school average and class rank, SAT or ACT scores, and college performance (to date).
Prospective transfer students are advised that only a limited number of transfer students will be admitted to the majors of the Schools of Business, Education, Nursing, Pharmacy, and College of Engineering. Students interested in one of these fields should consider other majors as alternatives; even if admitted to an alternate program, however, students cannot be guaranteed subsequent admission to their first choice of major. Prospective transfer students are also advised that they must fulfill all graduation requirements of their major at the University. College-level work given in or under the direction of an accredited college or university as part of the armed services program will be accepted for credit on the same basis as other transfer work.
The number of transfer credits students receive depends upon the character, quantity, and quality of the work they have completed. Grades do not transfer; the grade point average of transfer students is computed only on the work taken at the University of Connecticut. Complete transcripts of all work taken at other institutions must be submitted as a part of the admission procedure whether or not credit for such work is desired or expected. Official transcripts for any course work completed after admission to this University must be submitted as soon as this work is concluded.
International Students
The University recognizes the importance of intercultural understanding in education. The H. The University of Connecticut provides educational opportunities of the highest quality to all students. It makes a contribution to international education by encouraging the enrollment of students from all parts of the world. International students who will study in F-1 status are also required to provide the International Student Financial Declaration Form and supporting funding documents. All new international students with F-1 status must attend a mandatory orientation session and physically check-in with International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) at the beginning of their program. Prospective international students should begin application procedures one year before intended matriculation.
Students with Disabilities
The University of Connecticut is committed to achieving equal educational opportunities and full participation for persons with disabilities. It is the University’s policy that no qualified person be excluded from participating in any University program or activity, be denied the benefits of any University program or activity, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination with regard to any University program or activity.
Adult Learners
The University especially encourages applications from adults who wish earn a baccalaureate for personal enrichment, employment opportunity, and/or skill development. Adult students apply as first-year students or transfers and enroll on either a part-time or full-time basis at any of the five University campuses. Adults may enroll at the main campus in Storrs or at a regional campus located in Groton (Avery Point), Hartford, Stamford, or Waterbury.
Regional Cooperative Programs
The University of Connecticut participates in a regional cooperative program administered by the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE). Students enrolled in the Diagnostic Genetic Sciences, Dietetics, Health Care Management, Real Estate and Urban Economics, and Doctor of Pharmacy programs will not be awarded the reduced tuition (or “Tuition Break”) until their junior or senior year. First and sophomore years are not offered at reduced tuition.
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