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UW Flexible Option Info Kit
Overview
Earn the bachelor’s degree you need to advance and stay competitive in a changing workplace
Today, an aging workforce, new technologies, and growing demand for Bachelor’s prepared health professionals make this a great time to enroll in the Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences: Diagnostic Imaging degree program from the UW-Milwaukee College of Health Sciences.
Now available in the self-paced, competency-based UW Flexible Option format, this degree completion program will prepare you to assume a wide range of positions and leadership roles in hospitals and clinics, including quality-assurance manager, healthcare administrator, diagnostic imaging educator, and others that require a bachelor’s degree for entry to advanced education programs, such as occupational therapist, physical therapist, and physician’s assistant. With a Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Imaging, you will also be qualified to expand your career into other areas of the medical imaging industry and health related industries.
The program is designed for returning adult learners with several years of healthcare experience who hold active ARDMS (American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography), ARMRIT (American Registry of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists), ARRT (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists), or CCI (Cardiovascular Credentialing International) registry. Students with active registry are awarded a minimum of 60 advanced standing credits.
Career Outlook
The career outlook for Bachelor’s prepared health professionals (not including nursing) is projected to grow nationally by 15% over the next ten years with 83% of all job openings requiring a Bachelor’s degree.
Who Should Apply
The UW Flexible Option is especially designed for self-motivated nontraditional students who want their previous schooling, work skills, and prior knowledge to apply toward degrees or certificates. The competency-based and self-paced format of the UW Flexible Option fits the schedules of students who must balance work and family responsibilities with educational goals. Because most UW Flexible Option competencies and assessments are delivered online, students have the opportunity to learn when and where they choose.
This self-paced program is ideal for:
- Professionals holding an active registry from ARDMS, ARMRIT, ARRT, or CCI. Students who have active registry are awarded a minimum of 60 credits toward the 120-credit degree completion minimum.
- Motivated, disciplined self-starters who can work independently.
- Those who recognize the value of a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee degree.
About UW-Milwaukee College of Health Sciences
The UWM College of Health Sciences offers the largest number of health-related degree programs in Wisconsin, training its graduates for high-demand careers. As the largest College of Health Sciences in Wisconsin, the college is also exceptionally proud of its more than 2,000 students, and alumni who provide quality evidence-based care, inspiring education, exceptional research, and administrative leadership in all areas of health and healthcare.
The research activities of the UWM College of Health Sciences faculty and staff encompass groundbreaking urban and population studies, pioneering biomedical research investigations, advances in movement science, ingenious rehabilitation research and development, innovative applied clinical technologies, and novel disease-prevention approaches. These activities are supported by the resources of four academic centers and 13 state-of-the-art laboratories within the college, and millions of dollars in funds from reputable institutions such as the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Department of Education.
Accreditation
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges & Schools.
MEET OUR FACULTY
Curriculum
This degree completion program requires a minimum of 120 credits for completion. Upon admission to UWM and confirmation of your active registry, you will be awarded 60 credits toward completion of your degree. The remaining 60 credits include General Education Requirements necessary for a UWM bachelor’s degree, any elective requirements, and the unique coursework that defines this program:
Lower Division Coursework
HS 102x—Healthcare Delivery in the United States
Introduces health care delivery focusing on consumers, providers, organization, financing, quality and utilization of services, health planning, and political and governmental impacts.
BMS 205x—Introduction to Diagnostic Medicine
Imparts knowledge and application of the mechanisms, procedures, physiological basis, decision-making, and evidence based protocols used to diagnose health and disease.
HCA 220x—Leading Healthcare Professionals
Explores effective healthcare leadership of self, others, and groups in complex healthcare settings. Emphasizes the leader understanding his or her own temperament and values in a healthcare context.
ENG 206x—Introduction to Business and Technical Communication
Offers practice assessing communication situations using core rhetorical principles of audience, purpose, and context, and, after study and practice, allows students to demonstrate their competency in producing key verbal and written genres such as email, memos, letters, presentations, and reports.
CGS MAT 215x (or equivalent)—Elementary Statistics
The primary aim of the course is a basic understanding and use of statistical concepts and methods to facilitate study and research in other disciplines. Includes measures of central tendency, measures of variability, grouped data, the normal distribution, central limit theorem, hypothesis testing, estimation, T-distribution and chi square test.
BMS 245x—Client Diversity in Health Sciences
Explores cultural self-awareness, rules, behaviors, and biases of diverse societies, as well as the interprofessional application of effective service delivery in the health professions to culturally diverse individuals and families (Required for Cultural Diversity general education requirement).
Upper Division Coursework
BMS 314x-Human Pathophysiology I
Study of human pathological processes. Emphasis on interrelationships among organ systems and deviations from homeostasis. Students will demonstrate a detailed knowledge of pathophysiology, including the etiology, pathogenesis, pathology, pathophysiology, clinical features, treatment and prognosis of commonly occurring diseases.
BMS 315x-Human Pathophysiology II
Continuation of Human Pathophysiology I. The overall focus of this course is the study of human pathological processes. Emphasis is on interrelationships among organ systems and deviations from homeostasis.
KIN 400x—Ethics and Values in the Health and Fitness Profession
Exploration of morality and ethics and their importance in the allied health professions.
NURS 453x (or equivalent)—Information Management and Healthcare Technology
Introduces computer and information/decision science to support quality and safety in health care. Explore informatics issues and examine nursing’s role in healthcare technology. Opportunities to use and master various healthcare technologies and healthcare data will be given.
HS 311x—Law For Healthcare Professionals
Explores law and ethics as they relate to health care. Topics include ethical decisions, contracts, liability, malpractice, informed consent, HIPAA, litigation, healthcare technology, and trial proceedings.
DMI 458x—Seminar in Advanced Medical Imaging (formerly BMS 458)
Compares and contrasts normal and pathological anatomy cases combining ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and other technologies and their optimal clinical applications..
DMI 463x—Seminar in Education and Management in Medical Imaging (formerly BMS 463)
Explores problem solving techniques for management issues relating to diagnostic medical sonography, as well as educational strategies employed in ultrasound education.
DMI 496x —Professional Growth and Career Advancement in Diagnostic Imaging Professions (formerly BMS 496)
In this course learners will gain an appreciation for career growth and advancement opportunities through review and critique of their professional image and social media presence, opportunities for involvement as volunteers and leaders in professional associations, researching legislative, lobbying and advocacy efforts for imaging careers, reviewing the emerging trends in certification and recertification and efforts to create career pathways for mid-level providers (advanced practice). Knowledge of topics is achieved through review of past, current and trending efforts in all topics stated. Participants will display their understanding by responding to thought provoking assessment that requires researching literature and available media sites devoted to the latest information on career growth and advancements of imaging professionals.
Program Certificates
Depending on your unique academic plan of study, you may be able to supplement your bachelor’s degree with a UW-Milwaukee certificate as part of your enrollment in the UW Flexible Option. You may choose to earn one (or more) of the following certificates. Please consult with your Academic Success Coach to learn more about how these programs might fit in your academic plan.
Tuition
The UW Flexible Option offers working adults – like you – a more affordable way to finish a degree. Your coursework takes place in subscription periods – rather than semesters. These subscription periods start every single month, and are approximately 12 weeks long.
Instead of paying based on your course or credit load, you choose between two flat rate tuition plans. Our unique subscription period structure and flat-rate tuition model means you are in control of both your schedule and your cost.
Financial Aid is available for this program.
- All-You-Can-Learn Option: Choosing this option allows you to enroll in as many courses as you have time for within the subscription period for a flat tuition rate of $2,250. You can add additional courses in your subscription period if you finish others early.
- Single Course Option: You may also decide you would like to focus on just one course at a time. The tuition for this option is $1,125. In this option, you are not eligible to add additional courses during your subscription period if you finish the first one early. In this case, you must wait until your next subscription period to add additional courses.
| Subscription Option | Courses you can take | Tuition |
| All-You-Can-Learn | 2 or more | $2,250 |
| Single Option | 1 | $1,125 |
You can switch back and forth between these tuition options with each new subscription period. For example, perhaps over the summer you do the Single Course option because your family is home on summer break, but once the kids go back to school in the fall you switch to the All-You-Can-Learn option.
Are there any additional fees?
There are no segregated fees with this program, which saves you hundreds of dollars per credit hour. However, your tuition does not include the cost of textbooks or other special materials that may be required for individual courses.
Admission
Finishing your degree is closer than you think! Schedule an advising call at 608-262-2011 or contact us at flex@uwex.edu.
Minimum Academic Requirements
Candidates for the Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences Diagnostic Imaging degree must have an Associate Degree in a related field (e.g. diagnostic imaging, medical sonography, radiography), or a hospital-based diagnostic imaging training program. You must also have an electronic copy of an active ARRT, ARMRIT, ARDMS, or CCI registry card.
NOTE: Prior college transcripts from which you may transfer credit must be accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization recognized by the CHEA (Council for Higher Education Accreditation).
How to Apply
- You may apply up to five months in advance of your desired start date. See Steps to Apply.
- If previously enrolled in Flex, please review our returning student admissions process.
Transfer Credit Evaluations
- Transfer credit is awarded for college-level coursework completed at regionally accredited institutions. See Transfer Credit Evaluations for more information.
- Learn more about how credit by exam and military coursework may apply towards your degree.
Still have questions? Check out our Admission FAQ page.