BSIST Program Questionnaire

Please read, complete, and then submit the below form. Upon receipt, an Enrollment Adviser will follow up with you on your submitted questions and provide guidance on next steps. Thank you!

Contact Information

Name*
First Last
Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
Email*
Phone*
Phone*
Which method of communication do you prefer?*
- Email
- Phone (morning)
- Phone (afternoon)
- Phone (evening)

BSIST Program Overview

This Bachelor of Science in Information Science & Technology program focuses on a core set of IT competencies. Students learn how information is retrieved, organized, manipulated, repackaged, and applied in all aspects of our digital culture and economy. The degree would focus on information science, information architecture, information organization, storage, retrieval, and applications of the Internet.

What are your primary motivations for seeking a Bachelor's degree at this time? A typical answer to this question is 250+ words.*
Are you looking at other programs as well?*
- Yes
- No
What other types of programs are you looking at besides this one?*
What is important to you in selecting the college/program you will attend? Select all that apply.*
- School reputation
- Ability to start soon
- Curriculum
- Tuition cost
- Flexibility
- Transferability of credits
- Transferability into a master's degree
- Other
If other, please describe:*

Format of Program

This degree program is offered in an online, competency-based education (CBE) format. Instead of the traditional semester schedule, there are subscription periods that are 12 weeks long. During this 12 week timeframe students have access to all the material and can go at their own pace to complete the competency sets.

You can think of a competency set as similar to an online course, but instead of having to be in a class or log in regularly, students instead make progress at their own pace by learning the material and passing assessments to prove their knowledge and skills. The assessments include things like projects, papers, or tests.

Have you had experience with any of the following types of online learning? Select all that apply.*
- Traditional interactive online college courses
- Independent competency-based college courses
- Continuing education online through employer
- Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC)
- Other
- No experience with online learning
If Other, please describe:*
What was that experience like?*
Are you comfortable with this program's online class format?*
- Yes
- No
- I would like to discuss further with an adviser
Which of the following best describes your approach to your studies? Select all that apply.*
- I am highly motivated
- I prefer a lot of structure to my studies
- I am good at managing my time and studies
- I like to finish things in advance of a deadline
- I am better at getting things done when under pressure of a deadline
- I prefer to study in groups
- I prefer a lot of feedback from my instructor
- I am an independent learner and do not need a lot of guidance

Curriculum

The BSIST program is comprised of 120 total credits, including IST core competency sets, general education credits, elective credits, and a Senior Capstone. Click here for more detailed information on the curriculum.

Program Pace

Students have the option to enroll in a single competency (similar to taking one course at a time) or in an all-you-can-learn option where students take two or more competency sets in one period. The more competency sets taken each subscription period, the faster a student moves through the program. Students enroll each time into a new subscription period and are welcome to switch between these two options after a subscription period is complete. For example, a student may start with a single competency to get a feel for how much time it takes, and then switch to the all-you-can-learn option in the next subscription period. Although there is no maximum on the number of competency sets a student can enroll into with the all-you-can-learn option, an Academic Success Coach (ASC) can assist in determining the appropriate competency set load based on someone’s situation and how much time is left in the subscription period.

The time needed weekly to dedicate towards this program will depend on your knowledge of the material, but on average you want to plan for about 10 hours per week per competency set.

Are you currently employed?*
- Yes
- No
What are you currently doing for work?*
How many hours per week do you typically work?*
Please provide a brief summary of your previous professional experience working with information technology.*
What other things take up your time outside of work (i.e. family, volunteer work, hobbies)?*
What tends to take up your time (i.e. family, volunteer work, hobbies)?*
How much time per week would you estimate having to dedicate toward your studies?*
- < 8 hours
- 8-10 hours
- 11-13 hours
- 14-16 hours
- 17-19 hours
- 20+ hours
What are your career goals, including what you hope to be doing after obtaining this degree? A typical answer to this question is 250+ words.*

Support Services

Although there is less faculty interaction as compared to a traditional online class, throughout the program students have access to online tutors as well as a dedicated mentor called an Academic Success Coach (ASC). Click here for more information on the types of support students receive.

Tuition and Funding

The single competency option is $1,125 per subscription period, or there is a flat rate of $2,250 for the unlimited all-you-can-learn option. There is no max on the number of competency sets a student can enroll in for this second option. However, if signed up for the single competency option, students are not able to add additional competency sets in that period. All payments are due by the 8th day of each subscription period. This program offers federal financial aid to those who qualify. Click here for more information on applying for financial aid. You can also click here for information on the different types of aid available, such as loans, scholarships, and VA benefits.

How do you plan to fund your education? Select all that apply.*
- Out of pocket
- Institutional grant
- Alternative loan(s)
- Scholarship
- Veterans benefits
- Employer tuition reimbursement
- Financial Aid
- Other

Accreditation Status

The BSIST program is approved by the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents and is regionally accredited through the Higher Learning Commission.

Start Date Options

This program begins monthly for new students, view the Academic Calendar here. You need to have your application and all required documents and steps completed by the 1st of the month prior (e.g. all application documents on file by March 1st for a start date of April 2nd).

Which start date are you interested in?*

Admission Guidelines

Below are the admission guidelines for this program.

High School Diploma, High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED), or General Education Development (GED).
If under the age of 21, an ACT or equivalent SAT is required.
For those with no prior education in the United States, a TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English proficiency exam is required.
College-level math coursework. For those without these pre-requisites, a placement test may be required. Once all official transcripts are received, applicants are notified whether or not placement tests are needed.
One or more years of professional IT-related experience.

Where did you complete your high school education?*
Please list all colleges you have attended.*
Please list all degrees you have obtained, and where you received the degree from.*
How many total college credits do you estimate you have taken?*
What do you estimate is your college cumulative GPA (Grade Point Average)?*

Application Steps

If you meet the above admission guidelines and are interested in moving further, please click here for a list of the application steps.

Transcripts can be accepted electronically via Parchment or Credentials. If you need to provide an email address for the UW Flexible Option to receive your official electronic transcripts, please use admissions@uwex.edu. If that is not an option for your institution, then please have your official transcripts mailed to us.

If any of the institutions you attended were not in the United States, you will need to have your transcripts translated through an official course-by-course evaluation report, and have it mailed to us. We highly recommend using either ECE or WES for that translation service.

Next Steps

After having read all the above information, do you feel this program would be a good fit for you?*
- Yes
- No
- Maybe
Based on your chosen start date preference, all above application items would need to be submitted by the 1^st of the month prior to your first subscription period. This includes having your online application submitted as well as any other application materials on file with our admissions office (i.e. application processing fee, official college transcript(s), and official high school transcript).
What questions do you have at this time?

Please click the submit button below when finished. An Enrollment Adviser will follow up with you on your submitted questions and provide guidance on next steps.

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