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UW Flexible Option Info Kit
Overview
Learn how information is retrieved, organized, manipulated, repackaged, and applied in nearly every aspect of our increasingly digital culture and economy.
Now available in the UW Flexible Option format, the Bachelor of Science in Information Science and Technology (IST) degree immerses students in information science; information architecture; information organization, storage and retrieval; and applications of the Internet.
Offered by the UW-Milwaukee School of Information Studies (SOIS), this is the only IST degree program of its type in the state of Wisconsin. Focusing on a core set of IST competencies, students are encouraged to expand their skills and knowledge through a personally created degree plan built to match their career goals.
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.
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 Ideally Suited For Students Who:
- Working IT professionals who have completed some college, technical school, or
previous certification - Individuals who have significant experience as IT professionals
- Motivated, disciplined self-starters who can work independently
- Those who recognize the value of a University of Wisconsin degree
About the UW-Milwaukee School of Information Studies
- The only IT program of its kind in the state of Wisconsin
- SOIS continues to be an innovation leader in education—the IST has been offered on-site and online since 2003
- A mix of tenure-track faculty and IT professionals provides assessments and designs the curriculum
- 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.
Meet Our Faculty
Curriculum
In addition to the general education requirements and elective credits necessary for a UWM bachelor’s degree, the core competency sets in this information science and technology degree encompass the study of the concepts and tools of information science, information architecture, and information technology—all of which are fast becoming important tools of most disciplines.
- Information science is the study of the organization, storage, retrieval, dissemination, and use of information.
- Information architecture is the investigation, analysis, organization, and implementation of information content where users’ needs and specifications are of major importance.
- Information technology is the collection of tools that makes it possible to access and use information.
Program Requirements
The IST program includes a total of 120 credits. These credits are distributed in the following areas:
- Area I: General Education Requirements (21 credits)
- Area II: IST Core Competency Sets (27 credits) – See core competency sets below
- Area III: Information Studies Upper Division Electives (15 credits)
- Area IV: IST Cross-functional Electives (15 credits)
- Area V: General Electives (42 credits)
IST Core Competency Sets (Area II)
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.
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
Uses popular authoring tools to cover the basics of organizing information.
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 user’s perspective. Covers the various stages of systems analysis and outlines the appropriate methods for each stage.
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.
INFOST 440x—Web Application Development
The interactive web design server interaction. Special emphasis on database connectivity and application development on the Internet.
INFOST 490x—Senior Capstone
Analysis, creation, development and presentation of an information retrieval system project for an information organization.
Tuition
The UW Flexible Option offers working adults a more affordable way to earn a UW degree or certificate. Instead of paying by course or by credit, UW Flex lets you pay a flat rate for a three-month subscription period. You won’t spend valuable time or money sitting through courses you don’t need. If you already know the material, you may be able to pass assessments more quickly, and potentially accelerate your time to graduation.
During your subscription period, you are able to access learning materials, complete assessments, and receive academic support. Subscription periods begin on the second day of every month. You can choose from two subscription options, each with a different tuition, depending on the number of competency sets you wish to attempt during the subscription period. Not sure what a competency set is? Check out our sample competency set to see one for yourself.
- All-You-Can-Learn Option: Choosing this option allows you to enroll in two or more competency (skill) sets. You may enroll in as many competency sets as you can successfully master within a three-month period for a flat tuition rate of $2,250. This option is ideal for motivated learners who would like to earn their degrees or certificates more quickly.
- Single Competency Set Option: If you would like to study at a slower pace during a three-month subscription period, you may enroll in a single competency set. As with the All-You-Can-Learn Option, you must successfully demonstrate mastery of each competency in the set through a series of assessments. The tuition for this “one-set-per-subscription-period” model is $900. Note: After the tenth day of the subscription period, students who are enrolled in the Single Competency Set level are not eligible to add additional competency sets during their subscription period. Such students must wait until a subsequent subscription period to add additional competency sets.
| Subscription options | Term length | Tuition | Competency sets you can complete |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-You-Can-Learn | 3 months | $2,250 | 2 or more |
| Single Competency Set | 3 months | $900 | 1 |
Additional Fees: Tuition covers assessments and mentoring, but excludes the cost of books and other special materials that may be required for your program.
Admission
Ready to flex your potential and fulfill your goals and dreams? You’ve come to the right place!
If you haven’t already read our Frequently Asked Questions, please do so now to gain a better understanding of the UW Flexible Option before you apply for admission. You may apply for a start date five months in advance, but no later than one month in advance. All of your application materials must be received by us a full month in advance of your desired start date.
Guidelines and Applying for Admission
Our admission review process considers many factors when assessing your application for admission to a UW Flexible Option program. Your high school records, strength of prior college coursework, rigor of curriculum and academic readiness, test scores, grade point average, academic goals, relevant work experience, and your potential for success will all be considered. If you have not connected with one of our helpful UW Flexible Option Enrollment Advisers yet, please contact us at 1-877-895-3276 or via email at flex@uwex.edu to discuss your readiness for this program.
Some academic programs also require specific preparation before you will be considered for admission. The UW-Milwaukee Bachelor of Science in Information Science and Technology has the following requirement: For full admission consideration, previous IT experience is required. In addition to employment information you provide on the e-application for admission, you may be asked to provide a resume or additional employment-related information.
International students are not accepted into UW Flexible Option programs at this time.
Students New to UW Flexible Option
Once you have spoken with a UW Flexible Option Enrollment Adviser (1-877-895-3276) to determine whether this innovative education option is right for you, your next step is to formally apply. Keep in mind that when you apply to a UW Flexible Option program, you are applying to the institution granting the degree or certificate. The requirements for admission and graduation are the same as if you were applying to a traditional on-campus or online program.
To apply for admission to a UW Flexible Option program:
- Complete the online University of Wisconsin System Application for Undergraduate Admission, found at apply.wisconsin.edu.
- Submit the application processing fee. A $50 nonrefundable fee is required for students applying as degree-seeking candidates to a UW System campus. The fee is not required if any of the following is true:
> Your last campus at which you were pursuing a degree was one of the 2-year UW Colleges or UW Colleges Online, or
> You previously were pursuing a degree at the campus to which you are now applying, or
> You are pursuing a non-degree certificate program at UW-Milwaukee or UW-Parkside - Send transcripts. We require official transcripts, sent directly from your high school of graduation (beginning with grade 9) and all post-secondary institutions you have attended. If you did not graduate from high school, completion of a GED and an official copy of your scores are required. Please have your official transcripts sent either electronically via a secure credentialing service such as Parchment or Credentials or have your official transcripts mailed to:
UW Flexible Option Enrollment Team
UW-Extension – Continuing Education, Outreach & E-Learning
5602 Research Park Blvd., Suite 303
Madison, WI 53719 - Complete the Holistic Student Profile. Each student enrolling in UW Flexible Option is provided with academic guidance and coaching that is tailored to meet individual needs. To assist our team in preparing the best path for you, you are asked to complete our Holistic Student Profile. A link to this brief online survey will be provided when we receive your application.
- Complete Orientation, Part 1. After you have submitted your application, you will be sent a link to Orientation, Part 1. This required online orientation session will explain the key features of competency-based education, UW Flexible Option, what makes us different from other programs, tuition and financial aid opportunities, and next steps in the admission process.
- Be sure to review important dates to remember
Students Returning to UW Flexible Option
If you were previously enrolled in the UW Flexible Option and now wish to return after a period of time away, discover your next steps.
Residency Requirement
Most 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.
UW-Milwaukee’s resident credit policy
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).
Placement Tests
Placement tests are designed to measure prerequisite skills that help us place you into the correct college-level English and math competency sets.
You will be asked to take a placement test if:
- You are a new freshman student who has not previously attended college
- You are a transfer student who has not completed a transferable college-level English composition and/or math course
If you fit one of these categories but previously took placement tests for another UW campus within the last 2 years, you will not be asked to take the tests again.
During the application process for UW Flexible Option, you will be notified if a placement test is required. If you are required to take a test, an Admissions Specialist will explain the process and provide you with instructions to make arrangements. A variety of testing options are available to meet your needs.
It is important that you complete your placement tests in a timely manner—preferably as soon as possible after you learn they are required. Test results must be received by no later than the first day of the month prior to your subscription period start date. This allows your Academic Success Coach time to talk with you about the appropriate English or math level at which you should begin your studies, and ensures that you have enough time to enroll in your required competency set(s).
Still have questions about the admission process? Check out our Admission FAQ page.