Undergraduate Catalog

Special Study Opportunities

Centennial Honors College

The Centennial Honors College provides academically talented and motivated undergraduate students an enriched academic curriculum and opportunities for leadership, professional development, and service learning. The program includes 61 academic majors or areas of study from four colleges, as well as special pre-professional honors options such as the Pre-Law Honors minor. Within General Education, honors students are provided a curriculum of special General Honors tutorials, colloquia, seminars, and independent research. Within departments, students are offered in-course honors experiences, seminars, recitals, and internship opportunities. View more information about honors curricula or visit the Centennial Honors College website at wiu.edu/honors.

Four-Year Guarantees

GradTrac: Freshman students in eligible majors who wish to ensure graduation within four years may apply for GradTrac. A GradTrac Agreement assures students that they will complete their requirements in four years if they comply with the provisions of the GradTrac Agreement. GradTrac uses WIU’s automated degree audit system, which allows students and their advisors to monitor progress in their degree plan. Students who sign the GradTrac Agreement must meet with their advisors regularly, complete required coursework as prescribed for their degree program, maintain a grade point average designated by their program, and maintain continuous enrollment at the University. If a student meets all the requirements of the GradTrac Agreement but is unable to graduate due to the unavailability of a course, the University will waive or substitute the course(s) needed to allow graduation in the prescribed number of semesters. If a waiver or substitution is not possible, then the University will waive the tuition for the course(s) still needed if taken at Western Illinois University. See more information about GradTrac.

Tuition: Western Illinois University guarantees a four-year rate for tuition for new undergraduate students entering the University. All new undergraduate students, full- and part-time, are automatically included in the plan. The per-hour rate for tuition will be fixed for a four-year period as long as the student maintains continuous enrollment as an undergraduate. If a student’s major is recognized as requiring more than four years to complete, the guaranteed rate will be extended to cover the expected time for degree completion. Each year the University’s Board of Trustees sets new rates for the entering class. If a fee is added and approved by the Board, such as funding a new student service, the fee will apply to all students when implemented. For more information on the Tuition Guarantee, please contact the Office of Admissions, located in Sherman Hall 115, telephone (309) 298-3157.

Individualized Degree Program

Bachelor of Arts in General Studies Degree Program: The Bachelor of Arts in General Studies degree program is a highly flexible approach to undergraduate education without a traditional major. The program is designed for students who are place-bound by work and/or family responsibilities. The fully online degree program permits maximum transfer of credit, as well as credit earned for individually selected courses, prior learning portfolios, military training, and proficiency examinations. Those students unable to attend classes on the WIU campuses in Macomb or the Quad Cities may enroll in online courses or coursework offered at extension sites. For more information see Bachelor of Arts in General Studies degree program information.

Integrated Baccalaureate and Master’s Degree Programs

Western Illinois University offers the following integrated baccalaureate and master’s degree programs:

Bachelor of Business in Accountancy / Master of Accountancy
Bachelor of Business in Accountancy / Master of Business Administration
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture / Master of Business Administration
Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology / Master of Arts in Museum Studies
Bachelor of Arts in Art / Master of Arts in Museum Studies
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art / Master of Arts in Museum Studies
Bachelor of Arts in Broadcasting and Journalism (Sports Broadcasting option) / Master of Science in Sport Management
Bachelor of Business in Business Analytics / Master of Science in Applied Statistics and Decision Analytics
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry / Master of Science in Chemistry
Bachelor of Arts in Communication / Master of Arts in Communication
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science / Master of Science in Computer Science
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science / Master of Business Administration
Bachelor of Arts in Economics / Master of Science in Quantitative Economics
Bachelor of Business in Economics / Master of Science in Quantitative Economics
Bachelor of Business in Economics / Master of Business Administration
Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management / Master of Arts in Public Safety Administration
Bachelor of Business in Finance / Master of Business Administration
Bachelor of Science in Fire Protection Services / Master of Arts in Public Safety Administration
Bachelor of Science in Forensic Chemistry / Master of Science in Chemistry
Bachelor of Arts in General Studies / Master of Science in Education in Educational Studies (Language, Culture, and Education option)
Bachelor of Arts in General Studies / Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology
Bachelor of Arts in General Studies / Master of Arts in Public Safety Administration
Bachelor of Science in Geographic Information Science / Master of Science in GIScience and Geoenvironment
Bachelor of Science in Health Services Management / Master of Business Administration
Bachelor of Arts in History / Master of Arts in History
Bachelor of Business in Human Resource Management / Master of Business Administration
Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration / Master of Arts in Public Safety Administration
Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration / Master of Business Administration
Bachelor of Business in Management / Master of Business Administration
Bachelor of Business in Marketing / Master of Business Administration
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics (Mathematics and Data Science and Statistics options) / Master of Science in Mathematics
Bachelor of Science in Meteorology / Master of Science in GIScience and Geoenvironment
Bachelor of Science in Physics / Master of Science in Physics
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science / Master of Arts in Political Science
Bachelor of Science in Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration / Master of Arts in Museum Studies
Bachelor of Science in Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration / Master of Science in Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration
Bachelor of Science in Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration / Master of Science in Sport Management
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology / Master of Arts in Sociology
Bachelor of Business in Supply Chain Management / Master of Business Administration

These programs are administered by the respective academic departments. An integrated baccalaureate and master’s degree program provides the opportunity for outstanding undergraduates to earn both degrees in five years. Typically, a baccalaureate degree requires four years to complete, and a master’s degree requires an additional two years. However, the integrated degree programs are intended to be accomplished over a period of five years. In addition to allowing students to earn both degrees a year early, the integrated programs may include additional opportunities to participate in a variety of experiential educational activities such as a master’s project or thesis. For additional information about the integrated baccalaureate and master’s degree programs, please refer to the Western Illinois University Graduate Catalog.

Office of Study Abroad and Outreach

Study Abroad allows students to complement and enhance their classroom instruction by experiencing the culture and language of another country. Through WIU’s Office of Study Abroad and Outreach, students can participate in a wide variety of educational programs located in more than 60 countries worldwide. Time abroad ranges from 10 days during spring or winter break to a full academic year. Costs for many programs are comparable to studying on WIU’s Illinois campuses, and financial aid and scholarships are available to qualified students. Internships and service learning programs are also available. Undergraduate students may participate in a Study Abroad program if they are in good academic and student conduct standing, have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, and have completed 12 s.h. of undergraduate work at WIU. Certain programs may have additional eligibility criteria. For more information about Study Abroad at WIU, please contact the Office of Study Abroad and Outreach at (309) 298-2504 or go to wiu.edu/studyabroad.

University Advising Program (for undeclared students)

Many students choose to explore several major options when entering college. Western Illinois University designates these persons as University Advising students, who can remain in this category until they have earned 45 credit hours. Students are required to declare a major at this point. The University Advising program is housed in the First Year Advising Center.

The University Advising Program enables students to examine major and career options while concentrating on coursework necessary for the University General Education Curriculum. The emphasis on General Education courses permits students to make progress toward graduation while still undecided about a specific major. Advisors help students evaluate interests, goals, values, and abilities, and apply this self-knowledge to the exploration of various majors.

University Advising is a positive option for students who are uncertain about their future plans and wish to explore academic and career possibilities during their first semesters at the University.

Western’s English as a Second Language (WESL) Institute

Western’s English as a Second Language (WESL) Institute, accredited by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation, provides an intensive program in academic English for international students who are preparing to enter an American college or university, as well as for others needing ESL services. The WESL curriculum is designed and taught by professional faculty to prepare students academically, socially, and culturally for success as University students. The English as a Second Language Program is offered during the Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters. It consists of three levels of instruction: Foundation, Intermediate, and University Preparation. Upon arrival, international students take the WESL English Placement Test and are thereby placed in the appropriate level of English study or directly into the University. The WESL program consists of two 16-week semesters which follow the WIU academic calendar. A ten-week Summer session can be available in certain years. WESL is on pause indefinitely. For additional information on WESL, please go to wiu.edu/globalstudies.