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UW Flexible Option Info Kit
Overview
Today’s employers are looking for employees who possess not only strong technical skills, but also the ability to lead and manage complex projects involving diverse teams. Validating your project management skills with a certificate from a respected educational institution enhances your value as an employee as well as a job candidate. And now, that certificate is within reach for more working adults than ever.
For the first time, the business department at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside is offering its successful Project Management Certificate in the self-paced and competency-based UW Flexible Option format. At last, you can earn the project management credential you need to get ahead—without sacrificing your commitments to work and family.
The UW Flexible Option is especially designed for motivated adult learners 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 returning adult learners 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 Project Management Certificate program is ideally suited for:
- Any professional holding a traditional undergraduate degree or at least 60 college credits who would like to gain mastery of project management
- Individuals who have at least five years of business experience, preferably at mid-level management or above or at an entrepreneurial firm
- Entrepreneurs who would like to feel more comfortable leading projects within their own organization
- Motivated, disciplined self-starters who can work independently
- Busy professionals who do not have time for a traditional face-to-face certificate program
- Anyone who desires the prestige and value of a University of Wisconsin credential
About the UW-Parkside Business Department
Located in Kenosha, WI, the epicenter of the mega region between Milwaukee and Chicago, the University of Wisconsin-Parkside is dedicated to providing students with quality instruction and a strong return on their investment. The business department is accredited by AACSB International – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International, which is the gold-standard accrediting body that fewer than 5% of business programs internationally are recognized by. Students in the business department learn and master an industry-informed curriculum, in skills ranging from marketing, project management, accounting, supply chain management, and strategic planning. UW-Parkside is especially known for its affordability and student-centered approach to learning.
Accreditation
University of Wisconsin-Parkside is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges & Schools. The business department is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business-International (AACSB).
Meet Our Faculty
Curriculum
Students will develop competencies in project management that are critical to a wide range of business, administrative, and creative roles. Competencies include:
- Project lifecycle
- Project scope analysis
- Interpersonal skills
- Work breakdown structure
- Creating and monitoring a budget
- Risk analysis
Competency Sets
PMGT 341: BASICS OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT
In this competency set you will learn the basics of executing and completing projects efficiently.
Analyze the fundamental concepts of project management in an organizational context.
- Describe the importance of project management in the context of various organizational cultures and strategies
- Compare and contrast project, program, and portfolio management
- Distinguish between different types of organizations and their influence on project management
Analyze the full project life cycle and appropriate project management processes, process groups, and knowledge areas.
- Analyze the interrelationship between project life cycle, process groups and knowledge areas
Create a comprehensive project plan.
- Develop a project management plan that documents the actions necessary to define, coordinate, and measure all project activities
Demonstrate the ability to work in teams, manage team members, and interact with stakeholders.
- Select appropriate communication tools and methods to communicate with identified stakeholders
Plan and monitor project budget and schedule.
- Evaluate project schedules for time of completion, resources, and costs using tools and techniques of project time management
- Plan and estimate project costs and evaluate project progress in relation to the budget using tools and techniques of project cost management
Evaluate project quality and risk using the basic tools of project risk and quality management.
- Evaluate project quality using project quality management processes and tools
- Identify, evaluate, and document project risks and opportunities given a specific scenario
Identify, develop, and manage project resources.
- Demonstrate how teams are assigned and formed, and describe the stages of team development
Describe and apply processes related to project procurement management.
- Demonstrate knowledge of processes related to the procurement of products, resources, and services from outside the project team
PMGT 342: ESSENTIAL SKILLS FOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT
In this competency set, you will gain understanding of the skills required to successfully manage projects from conception to completion.
Analyze the fundamental concepts of project management in an organizational context.
- Describe the importance of project management in the context of various organizational cultures and strategies
- Summarize the typical components of the project management system and the processes that are considered essential to any project
- Articulate primary and secondary stakeholders for a project management task
Demonstrate the ability to work in teams, manage team members, and interact with stakeholders.
- Select appropriate communication tools and methods to communicate with identified stakeholders
- Recognize sources of conflict when working in teams and with stakeholders
- Describe professional and personal elements for constructing an effective project management team
- Describe various leadership styles and articulate which style is most appropriate for a specific project management situation
- Describe strategies to resolve conflict
- Demonstrate ability to provide effective and timely performance feedback
Identify, develop, and manage project resources.
- Demonstrate how teams are assigned and formed, and describe the stages of team development
- Identify the elements that make up an effective project management team
Articulate the importance of ethical considerations in every aspect of a project’s operations.
- Describe processes of ethical decision-making
- Identify ethical issues in a project management scenario
PMGT 441: PROJECT MANAGEMENT TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
In this competency set you will become proficient in the skills needed to turn project management theory into practice.
Analyze the fundamental concepts of project management in an organizational context.
- Describe the importance of project management in the context of various organizational cultures and strategies
- Compare and contrast project, program, and portfolio management
- Distinguish between different types of organizations and their influence on project management
Create a comprehensive project plan.
- Develop a project management plan that documents the actions necessary to define, coordinate, and measure all project activities
Demonstrate the ability to work in teams, manage team members, and interact with stakeholders.
- Select appropriate communication tools and methods to communicate with identified stakeholders
Plan and monitor project budget and schedule.
- Evaluate project schedules for time of completion, resources, and costs using tools and techniques of project time management
- Plan and estimate project costs and evaluate project progress in relation to the budget using tools and techniques of project cost management
Evaluate project quality and risk using the basic tools of project risk and quality management.
- Identify, evaluate, and document project risks and opportunities given a specific scenario
Navigate a project’s scope, resource, and scheduling constraints.
- Demonstrate the ability to optimize schedules to maximize efficiency and to meet project deadlines
Analyze the technical and interpersonal aspects of project execution and control.
- Demonstrate knowledge of how changes to project scope may affect the projectʹs schedule, cost, and quality, and how to evaluate the impact and recommend a solution that produces the desired project product
Describe essentials of project auditing and project termination/closing.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the tools and techniques for auditing and evaluating a project
PMGT 442: PROJECT MANAGEMENT SIMULATION
In this competency set, you will practice the skills you have learned in a realistic project management simulation.
Navigate a project’s scope, resource, and scheduling constraints.
- Demonstrate ability to optimize the project schedule by allocating resources to the critical path
- Demonstrate the ability to optimize schedules to maximize efficiency and to meet project deadlines
Create a comprehensive project plan.
- Develop a project management plan that documents the actions necessary to define, coordinate, and measure all project activities
- Compare the components and interactions of the various processes of the project plan with the project management software (MS Project)
Analyze the fundamental concepts of project management in an organizational context.
- Describe a project management strategy for a new project that meets stakeholder expectations in a given organizational context
Analyze the full project life cycle, appropriate project management processes, process groups, and knowledge areas.
- Analyze each of the project phases that make up a typical project, then apply the project management processes that occur with each project phase
- Apply the project management deliverables that are produced by project managers in each project phase
Evaluate project quality and risk using the basic tools of project risk and quality management.
- Evaluate project quality using project quality management processes and tools
- Identify, evaluate, and document project risks and opportunities given a specific scenario
- Analyze core quality processes and integrate each process in a project in planning and managing projects
Define stakeholder expectations and initiate a project successfully.
- Create a project charter that describes the business needs of a project scenario
- Develop a sequence of categorized project management processes and activities that will meet stakeholder expectations
Demonstrate the ability to work in teams, manage team members, and interact with stakeholders.
- Select appropriate communication tools and methods to communicate with identified stakeholders
- Recognize sources of conflict when working in teams and with stakeholders
- Apply a problem-solving process that focuses on confronting and resovling a given problem
Plan and monitor project budget and schedule
- Identify necessary resources, labor and material resources, and estimate how many units of each are required to meet project expectations for a given project
- Apply fundamental types of time and cost-estimating approaches to manage the timeline of a given project
Describe the contextual relationship between the project and the organization that hosts the project.
- Demonstrate knowledge of key linkages between organizational and project‐level issues including decision making, motivation, and project roles
- Demonstrate knowledge and skills in procurement, supply‐chain management, finance, cost management, and other business aspects of projects
Articulate the importance of ethical considerations in every aspect of a project’s operations.
- Demonstrate knowledge of situations involving unethical project activities, and best practices for whistle blowing and ethical decision making
Describe essentials of project auditing and project termination/closing
- Demonstrate knowledge of the tools and techniques for auditing and evaluating a project and describe the processes related to project termination
Tuition
The UW Flexible Option offers working adults like you a more affordable way to earn a certificate. Instead of paying by course or by credit, you pay a flat rate for a three-month subscription period. If you already know the material, you may be able to pass assessments more quickly and potentially accelerate your time to graduation.
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 courses you wish to attempt during the subscription period.
- All-You-Can-Learn Option: Choosing this option allows you to enroll in two or more courses. You may enroll in as many courses as you have time for within a three-month period for a flat tuition rate of $2,250. You can add additional courses in your 3 month term if you finish others early. This option is ideal for learners who would like to earn their certificate more quickly.
- Single Course Option: If you would like to study at a slower pace during a three-month subscription period, you may enroll in a single course. The tuition for this option $900 through June, 2020. Starting in July 2020, it will be $1,125. Students who are enrolled in the Single Course Option are not eligible to add additional courses during their subscription period. 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 | $900 (through June, 2020) |
| Single Option | 1 | $1,125 (starting July, 2020) |
Additional Fees: Tuition does not include any textbook or special course material costs. There are no segregated fees in the UW Flexible Option, which saves you hundreds of dollars per credit hour.
Admission
To be considered for admission to the Project Management Certificate Program , complete the following action items:
- Submit the e-application and the $50 application fee* apply.wisconsin.edu
- Send official college transcripts from all institutions attended
- Send high school transcript or GED/HSED scores (not required if earned bachelor’s degree)
- Complete Holistic Student Profile & Orientation Part 1 (sent after e-application is received)
*Application fee is not required if you were previously enrolled in a degree program at UW-Parkside, UW-Extension BSBA, UW Colleges, or UW Colleges Online.
You may apply up to five months in advance of your desired start date. All application materials must be received at least one month in advance of your start date.
Schedule an advising call at 877-895-3276 or contact us at flex@uwex.edu to learn more about our certificate programs.
Send official transcripts electronically or mail to:
University of Wisconsin Flexible Option
Admissions Office
5602 Research Park Blvd., Suite 303
Madison, WI 53719
If you were previously enrolled in Flex and now wish to return, discover your next steps.
Holistic Admissions Review
Our admission 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.
The UW Flexible Option is only admitting domestic students at this time. A domestic student is someone who is either a U.S. Citizen, a U.S. Permanent Resident, or holds Refugee, Asylee, or Jay Treaty status. All applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores or similar proof of English proficiency.
Still have questions? Check out our Admission FAQ page.