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UW Flexible Option Info Kit
Overview
Earn the IT degree you need to stay competitive in a changing workplace.
You have been working in IT and have not had time to finish your degree. You have thought about earning your bachelor’s degree to stay competitive at work, but have struggled to find a respected online IT degree program that fits your life rather than forcing you to change your life to earn your degree.
Now, here is a chance to use credits you have already earned to move ahead with your degree.
The UW-Milwaukee School of Information Studies Bachelor of Science in Information Science and Technology —offered in the UW Flexible Option—is designed to help you achieve your goals, on your schedule, and on your budget. As a competency-based program, you will build on your existing IT knowledge and skills.
The Bachelor of Science in Information Science and Technology (IST) combines core IT skills like front-end web design, programming, and project management, with electives that you choose. Offered by the UW-Milwaukee School of Information Studies (SOIS), the unique curriculum of this accredited degree will make sure you are learning the skills employers are looking for.
As a result, earning this bachelor’s degree will position you for career growth and set you apart from the competition. For example, our graduates have advanced their careers as Web Developers, Systems Administrators, Security Analysts, Database Administrators, in IT Support Services roles, and more. Additionally, many more have used this degree to grow into leadership positions.
Benefits of a Competency-Based IT Program
The UW Flexible Option is designed for self-motivated students who didn’t have time for a traditional college experience. This is because the competency-based format of the UW Flexible Option puts you in control of earning your degree. The program works well for students who are balancing work and family responsibilities. Furthermore, you will build on the knowledge and skills you already to advance more quickly through the program.
- Start any month, and enroll in a 12-week term (we call them ‘subscription periods’)
- Benefit from no live log-on times, and take breaks when you need
- Take as many or as few courses at a time as you want
- No deadlines, group work, or class discussions
- Completely online—work where, and when, you choose
Who Should Enroll?
The UW Flexible Option has helped many IT professionals—like you—achieve their goal of earning a degree. The innovative features of our competency-based approach honor your existing experience while giving you the tools you need to master the content that’s new to you.
The unique features of the UW Flexible Option mean this style of learning may not be the best for everyone. Generally, our most successful students are those who are:
- Motivated, disciplined self-starters
- Comfortable holding themselves accountable to a self-set schedule
- Capable of thriving in an independent learning environment
About the UW-Milwaukee School of Information Studies
SOIS is a leading and collaborative school, advancing knowledge and preparing students from diverse backgrounds to be successful information professionals within their communities. SOIS continues to be an innovation leader in education—the IST program has been offered on-site and online since 2003. This degree is taught and designed by a mix of tenure-track faculty and IT professionals. Especially unique is that students can personalize and custom-design their degree plans based on transfer credits and elective credits to maximize their career options.
Accreditation
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges & Schools.
Curriculum
Gain Skills That You Can Apply Right Away in Your Career
You will study things like front-end web design, database management, information architecture, human-computer interaction, information organization, storage and retrieval, and applications of the Internet. The IST program prepares graduates to be IT leaders in our increasingly digital culture and economy. Our students work with our Career Services Advisor to help identify opportunities to apply this degree to your career.
Program Learning Outcomes
“My bachelor’s degree in IST has opened the doors to software and web development projects I would have otherwise not qualified for.” – Tyler Coady, 2017 graduate
Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Information Science and Technology (IST) program will be able to:
- Analyze complex information and technology needs, and to apply principles of information science and other relevant disciplines to identify and implement solutions.
- Design, implement, evaluate, and administer information systems to meet a given set of requirements – including user and organizational needs — in diverse environments.
- Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
- Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in the design, implementation, and evaluation information technology solutions.
- Recognize organizational and social responsibilities as information professionals and make informed judgments based on legal and ethical principles
Program Curriculum
The IST program is a total of 120 credits. Click on each heading to see the coursework available in each area! Note that the specific courses that you’ll need to take may vary based on your transfer credits and degree plan, and you may consult with your Academic Success Coach if you have questions about your degree requirements.
Here are some of the exciting projects you will complete and what you will learn in your courses.
Area I: General Education Requirements (21 credits)
General Education Requirements must be completed by all students to earn a UW-Milwaukee degree. Your Academic Success Coach (ASC) will help you understand your general education requirement needs and options to complete them based on your transfer credit evaluation.
Area II: IST Core (27 credits)
The following nine courses (27 credits) are required.
INFOST 110x—Introduction to Information Science and Technology
Introduces basic issues in information science, including the nature of information, information policy, knowledge organization, information services, and the relationships between information technologies and society.
INFOST 210x—Information Resources for Research*
Introduction to research processes necessary for effective, college-level, library research. Emphasizes analysis of research questions, development of search strategies, and critical evaluation of materials. *This is not required for students admitted to the program June 2018 or later.
INFOST 230x—Organization of Knowledge
An interdisciplinary introduction to information and knowledge organization, including principles of conceptual systems in various disciplines and their relevance and application to knowledge organization.
INFOST 240x—Web Design I
In this course students will learn the basics of the WWW, how to create web pages using HTML, and how to control the look and feel of web pages through the use of CSS.
- Students will learn how to work with fonts and graphic elements in HTML and CSS.
- Learn how to work with the WordPress content management system to create and manage a website.
- Development of websites will focus on the perspective of the end user.
- Learn the basics of web usability, accessibility, and search engine optimization.
INFOST 310x—Human Factors in Information Seeking and Use
Overview of human information needs, seeking, and processing, including human factors in the design, development and evaluation of information services.
INFOST 340x—Introduction to Systems Analysis
Theories, principles, and tools for planning, organizing, assessing, and evaluating information. Emphasizes the importance of the user’s perspective. Covers the various stages of systems analysis and outlines the appropriate methods for each stage. Apply and improve your Vizio and PowerPoint skills in this course.
INFOST 350x – Introduction to Application Development
Introduction to the fundamental concepts of application development. Basic application development concepts will be explained, analyzed, and practiced.
INFOST 410x—Database Information Retrieval Systems
Introduces the design and development of different types of electronic information systems, including database types, design issues, application development, and software selection and evaluation. Tools you will work with are SQL, MySQL, and Query by Example.
INFOST 440x—Web Application Development
The interactive web design server interaction. Special emphasis on database connectivity and application development on the Internet. In this course, you will work with PHP and MySQL, Javascript, and XML integration with PHP.
INFOST 490x—Senior Capstone
Analysis, creation, development and presentation of an information retrieval system project for an information organization. In this course you will use Microsoft Project, PowerPoint and Visio (Vmware Fusion for Mac).
Area III: Information Studies Upper Division Electives (15 credits)
Choose 15 credits of electives that are at the 300 level or above. Some examples include:
INFOST 320x – Web Design II
Examination and utilization of advanced technologies and practices being employed in web usability and design. In this course, you will be working with HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript, focusing on Document Object Model, jQuery, and APIs.
INFOST 330x – Electronic Information Retrieval Systems
Examination and utilization of advanced technologies and practices being employed in web usability and design.
INFOST 370x – Data Analysis & Visualization for the Information Professional
Introduction to data analysis and visualization using simple statistical analyses to create graphical depictions of data that can improve comprehension, communication, and decision making.
INFOST 375x – Multimedia Web Design
Fundamentals of interactive Web development and scripting, allowing students to create Web animations and render interactivity of information on the Web.
Certificate Option:
Additionally, the UW Flexible Option offers a certificate that you can earn, which may help satisfy your Area III requirements for your IST major:
Area IV: IST Cross-functional Electives (15 credits)
Choose 15 credits of electives from each of the following areas: business, communications, technical arts, philosophy/psychology, & information science. Some examples include:
INFOST 120x – Ethical Issues in Information Technology
This course provides a comprehensive overview of the ethical issues in contemporary information and communication technologies.
INFOST 250x – Internet Communications & Information Transfer
Special emphasis will be upon the Internet and information communications and new communication technologies influencing information services. Prerequisite: INFOST 110x.
BUS 101x – Introduction to Business
Introduction to the role of business in the modern political, social and economic environments – including topics in management, marketing, finance, entrepreneurship and more! Provides highlights of these various business topics and describes career opportunities as well.
ENG 206x – Introduction to Business and Technical Communications
Students will learn to assess communication situations using core rhetorical principles of audience, purpose, and context, and, after study and practice, will demonstrate their competency in producing key verbal and written genres such as email, memos, letters, presentations, and reports.
EGR 110x – Engineering Graphics
An introductory course in engineering graphics focusing on graphical communication. The course incorporates computer aided drafting (CAD) with engineering applications using 2-D drawing and 3-D modeling techniques.
And more!
Area V: General Electives (42 credits)
Your Academic Success Coach will assist you with the selection of general electives that are appropriate to your career goals to complete the 120 total credit requirements for the IST Degree.
Additionally, the UW Flexible Option offers a related certificate that you can earn, which can help satisfy your general elective requirements for your IST major:
Faculty
“Everything I’ve learned applies to my work” – Cathy Zornes, 2018 graduate
In this program, your coursework is designed by expert UW-Milwaukee faculty. Check out our faculty directory to learn more about the School of Information Studies faculty team.
Residency Requirements
University of Wisconsin System campuses require students to complete a specific number of credits “in residence” to earn a degree. (“Resident credits” are credits earned at the campus granting the degree.) Transfer students are responsible for fulfilling these residency requirements.
Transfer students must complete at least 30 credits with UWM, even if this brings the total number of earned credits beyond the total number of credits required for the degree. For example, if you enter a UW Flexible Option program with 100 transferable credits, you must complete 30 credits with UWM to receive the bachelor’s degree (even though normally the degree requires 120 credits).
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: For a flat tuition rate of $2250, you can enroll in as many courses as you have time for. You can add additional courses in your subscription period if you finish others early.
- Single Course Option: Choose to focus on only one course at a time. The tuition for this option is $1125. In this option, you may not add additional courses during your subscription period if you finish the first one early. 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 Information Science & Technology (IST) must have at least one year of professional IT experience and a cumulative GPA of 2.00 from all accredited institutions.
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 a UW Flexible Option program, 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.
