The University of Wisconsin-Parkside has been a vital academic presence in southeastern Wisconsin since its official founding on July 1, 1968. Its origins, however, trace back to 1933, when the University of Wisconsin established two-year centers in Racine and Kenosha. University of Wisconsin Parkside diploma, Purchase University of Wisconsin Parkside certificate. For years, residents in these communities were eager for a university that offered a four-year degree. In 1965, the Wisconsin State Legislature passed a bill merging the two centers and creating what would become UW-Parkside.
The site for the new campus was carefully selected by a commission that chose a beautiful 690-acre parcel equidistant between Kenosha and Racine. Founding Chancellor Irvin G. Wyllie thoughtfully selected the name “Parkside” to represent the picturesque campus and to exhibit service to all of southeastern Wisconsin. The campus, now spanning approximately 750 acres of natural Wisconsin prairie and woodland near Petrifying Springs Park, officially welcomed its first cohort of students in the fall of 1969, with 36 graduates receiving their diplomas the following year.
UW-Parkside offers approximately 40 undergraduate academic majors and 11 master’s degrees organized under four colleges: Arts and Humanities; Business, Economics, and Computing; Natural and Health Sciences; and Social Sciences and Professional Studies. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association.
The institution offers a diverse range of undergraduate majors, including Applied Health Sciences, Biological Sciences, Business Management, Chemistry, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Environmental Studies, Exercise Science, Geosciences, Health Information Management and Technology, Marketing, Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, and Theatre Arts, among many others. In addition to majors, UW-Parkside offers approximately 57 minors and a number of pre-professional programs, education licensure, and specialized programs such as ethnic studies and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies.
UW-Parkside has earned national recognition for its innovative approach to workforce development and collaboration with local businesses. Useful tips for buying a University of Wisconsin Parkside degree. The university’s Innovation Corridor includes the Ralph Jaeschke Solutions for Economic Growth Center, the App Factory, a Makerspace, the Small Business Development Center, a Sales Center, and a Cybersecurity Lab, allowing students to obtain real-world experience within the context of their studies. These facilities enable students to work on community projects, such as creating mobile apps for community clients through the App Factory, where 99% of Computer Science graduates are employed in their field.
Since its founding in 1968, UW-Parkside has been a trusted partner for the region’s higher educational needs, empowering students to thrive, advancing applied knowledge, and developing talent for the future. The university continues to expand access through new accelerated online bachelor’s degree programs designed for working adults, transfer students, and anyone seeking a virtual option to earn a college degree. With its commitment to affordability, student-centered learning, diversity, and community engagement, UW-Parkside remains a vital institution that enriches minds and changes lives in southeastern Wisconsin and beyond.
