• Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Skip to main navigation
  • Skip to current students navigation

Site Header Phone Number

1-877-895-3276

Site Header Chat

Chat OnlineChat Offline

Site Header Apply

Apply Now

Site Header Current Students Navigation

Current Students

Click a link below for program specific Canvas access and resources.

  • Degrees

    • Arts & Science
    • Business Administration
    • Diagnostic Imaging
    • Health Sciences
    • Information Science & Technology
    • Nursing Degree (RN to BSN)
  • Certificates

    • Business & Technical Communication
    • Project Management
    • Substance Use Disorders

University of Wisconsin Flexible Option

Site Header Main Navigation

Menu

  • Programs
    • Degrees

      • Associate of Arts & Science
      • Business Administration
      • Diagnostic Imaging
      • Health Sciences
      • Information Science & Technology
      • Nursing Degree (RN to BSN)
    • Certificates

      • Business & Technical Communications
      • Project Management
      • Substance Use Disorders
  • Getting Started
    • Program Admission

      • Associate of Arts and Science
      • Business Administration
      • Diagnostic Imaging
      • Health Sciences
      • Information Science and Technology
      • Nursing Degree (RN to BSN)
    • Certificate Admission

      • Business & Technical Communications
      • Project Management
      • Substance Use Disorders
    • Technology Requirements
    • Veterans
  • Tuition & Financial Aid
    • Tuition

      • Payments & Refunds
      • Withdrawals
    • Financial Aid

      • Financial Aid Overview
      • Types of Aid
      • Applying for Financial Aid
      • Cost of Attendance
      • Disbursements & Refunds
      • Maintaining Eligibility
      • Impacts of Enrollment Changes
      • Repeating a Course and Financial Aid
      • Net Price Calculator
    • Quick Links

      • Academic Calendar
      • Academic Plan of Study (APS)
      • Definition of Terms
      • Establishing Attendance
      • Financial Aid FAQs
      • Financial Aid Forms
      • Financial Aid Tools
      • Make Payment
      • Contact Us
  • Stories & News
  • About
    • How UW Flexible Option Works
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • What is Competency-Based Education?
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Annual Report
    • Academic Calendar

Site Header Search

Search Site

Show Search

The UW Flexible Option and Competency-Based Learning

Introducing a Smart New Way to Earn a University of Wisconsin Degree or Certificate

You had always meant to earn a degree. But somehow, life had other ideas. Before you knew it, you were working full time—maybe even supporting a family. By then, traditional college courses were no longer an option. That’s why we created the UW Flexible Option. Made for busy adults, the UW Flexible Option lets you start when you want. Advance at your pace. Test when you’re ready. And earn credit for what you already know. It’s more than flexible—it’s focused on you.

Led by partnerships throughout the UW System and UW Extended Campus, the UW Flexible Option draws upon the expertise of UW faculty to offer a more personalized, convenient, and affordable way for adults and other nontraditional students to earn a University of Wisconsin degree or certificate.

UW Flex Option annual report

The UW Flexible Option’s self-directed, competency-based degree and certificate programs let you start any month, work at your own pace, and earn credit using knowledge you already have—whether that knowledge was gained through prior coursework, military training, on-the-job training, or other learning experiences.

The focus is on learning, not class time

Unlike traditional semester-based classroom and online programs, the UW Flexible Option awards credit based on competency, not class time. You make progress by passing a series of assessments—tests, papers, and other projects—that prove you have mastered competencies—the skills and knowledge identified by UW faculty as essential to your chosen degree or certificate. As soon as you demonstrate mastery of an area, you earn credit and move on to the next competency and assessment.

You’re in charge, but your coach is always there

You work on your own, but receive support from an Academic Success Coach who serves as your link to the program. This dedicated coach will personalize your lesson plans, help you prepare for assessments, and help you select the learning resources—such as textbooks, websites, and open online courses—you need to succeed.

A respected University of Wisconsin degree or certificate

Because UW Flexible Option programs are created by the same expert faculty as traditional UW programs, using the same rigorous content and standards, you can look forward to graduating with the same recognized and respected UW credential as students who attend classes on campus.

UW-Milwaukee, UW-Parkside, and UW Colleges are the first UW institutions to offer competency-based learning programs in the Flex format. Several other UW System institutions are working to offer competency-based learning options for their degree programs in the future.

To find out more about how the UW Flexible Option works, visit our FAQs page.

ACCREDITATION

hlc-accred-logo.originalUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee & UW-Parkside are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges & Schools. 

 

 

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

Primary Sidebar

Quick Links

  • How UW Flexible Option Works
  • Academic Success Coaches
  • Key Terms
  • Veterans
  • Technology Requirements
  • Current Students

FIND OUT IF UW FLEXIBLE OPTION IS RIGHT FOR YOU

Contact an Enrollment Adviser to assess your unique situation and help you decide if the UW Flexible Option is the right fit for your life. Call or email us today!

Toll Free: 1-877-895-3276
Local: 1-608-262-2011

Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT

Email: flex@uwex.edu


Ready to Get Started?

Apply Now

Footer

Pages

  • UW Flexible Option Programs
  • Getting Started
  • Tuition & Financial Aid
  • Current Students
  • Stories & News

Connect

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube

Contact

Flexible Option Enrollment Team
University of Wisconsin Extended Campus

1-877-895-3276
flex@uwex.edu
Fax: 608-262-4096

Technical Support

1-877-724-7883 (toll free)
Web Form

UW Extended Campus

A Collaboration of the University of Wisconsin System

University of Wisconsin System

The University of Wisconsin System is comprised of UW-Eau Claire, UW-Green Bay, UW-La Crosse, UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Parkside, UW-Platteville, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Stout, UW-Superior, UW-Whitewater and UW Extended Campus.

Copyright © 2021 Board of Regents - University of Wisconsin System. All Rights Reserved.
Site Map | Privacy Policy | Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.