Flexible Option Programs
Flexible Option Overview
The UW Flexible Option is a new, innovative way to make degree and certificate programs more accessible, convenient, and affordable for adult and nontraditional students. Built on the long-standing foundation of high quality degree programs offered by University of Wisconsin System campuses, the UW Flexible Option includes self-paced, competency-based degree and certificate programs that allow students to make progress by demonstrating what they know, whether that knowledge was gained through prior coursework, military training, on-the-job training, or other learning experiences. Students must master identified competencies and pass assessments to demonstrate mastery.
UW-Parkside currently offers a bachelor of science in business administration (BSBA) degree completion program and a certificate in project management (PMGT) in the flexible option delivery mode. Details about UW-Parkside Flexible Options programs and the application and registration processes are available at http://flex.wisconsin.edu.
Policies
Flex option students participating in the BSBA degree program or the PMGT certificate program must follow the policies outlined by UW Parkside. Further information about policies is available in the policy section of the undergraduate catalog.
Flexible Option Admission Requirements
Flexible Option program admissions requirements are available at http://flex.wisconsin.edu.
Programs Offered
Business Administration Major Concentrations
- Agile Project Management
- Business Analytics
- General Business Administration
BABA 300X | Introduction to Business Analytics Applications | 1 cr
Introduces statistical techniques using spreadsheets to business applications in different functional areas.
Prerequisites: BAMA 300X; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BABA 301X | Visualization Tools for Data Analytics | 3 cr
Explores techniques for visualizing and analyzing business data.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BABA 302X | R Fundamentals for Business Analytics | 2 cr
Introduces the use of R as a statistical and visualization tool.
Prerequisites: BAMA 300X; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BABA 303X | AI and Machine Learning Business Applications using R | 1 cr
Introduces applications of R for machine learning and AI involving business data.
Prerequisites: BABA 302X; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BABA 304X | Python Fundamentals for Data Analytics and Machine Learning | 2 cr
Explores use of Python as a statistical tool for analyzing business data.
Prerequisites: BAMA 300X; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BABA 305X | Data Analytics Applications in Marketing and Sales | 1 cr
Explores applying data analytics tools to marketing.
BABA 306X | Data Analytics Applications in Human Resources and Strategic Management | 1 cr
Provides opportunity to apply data analytics tools to human resource management and strategic management.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BABA 307X | Data Analytics Applications in Operations and Supply Chain | 1 cr
Provides opportunity to apply data analytics tools for analyzing operations and supply chains.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and/or consent of program representative.
BABA 308X | Data Analytics Applications in Accounting | 1 cr
Covers the use of accounting data and analytics tools through financial statement analysis and anomaly detection in business transactions.
Offered: Yearly.
Courses in Flex Accounting and Economic
BAEF 100X | Microeconomic Market Analysis I | 1 cr
Analyzes both consumption and production sides of markets; identifies factors involved in changes in the equilibrium prices and production levels.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BAEF 101X | Microeconomic Market Analysis II | 2 cr
Introduces the process of creating a market analysis. Includes instruction related to writing a proposal, research paper, and creating a video presentation of research results.
Prerequisites: BAEF 100X; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BAEF 110X | Government Budget Process | 1 cr
Exposes students to the dynamic process of balancing government budgets. Covers topics such as the national debt, budget deficits, spending cuts, and the difficulties of balancing budgets.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BAEF 111X | Business Cycle Analysis | 2 cr
Explores the topic of economic recessions within a capitalist framework. Invites a deep understanding of fiscal and monetary policies that could be used to remedy the problem.
Prerequisites: BAEF 110X; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BAEF 200X | Financial Accounting: The Language of Business | 2 cr
Introduces basic accounting concepts including debts, credits, accounts, as well as the principles and constraints of accounting.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BAEF 201X | Financial Accounting: Ethics and Internal Controls | 1 cr
Examines an organization's system of internal controls focusing on ethics and improvements geared to enhance efficient operations and accurate accounting information.
Prerequisites: BAEF 200X; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BAEF 210X | Cost Accounting Fundamentals and Applications | 1 cr
Focuses on methods of cost accounting fundamentals including cost classification, overhead rate development and application, and various costing methods. Includes direct/indirect costs, product/period costs, direct materials/labor costs, and manufacturing overhead.
Prerequisites: BAEF 201X; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BAEF 211X | Master Budget and Variance Analysis | 1 cr
Highlights the process of preparing a master budget and completing an overall performance evaluation through a variance analysis. Includes a variety of budgets and topics such as sales, schedule of cash collections, production, direct materials, schedule of case disbursements, direct labor, manufacturing overhead, finished goods inventory, and selling and administrative expenses.
Prerequisites: BAEF 210X; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BAEF 212X | Using Managerial Accounting Information for Decision Making | 1 cr
Correlates accounting information with business decision-making by exploring the relationships between cost, volume, and profit, as well as complete calculations related to contribution margin, target profit, break-even analysis, margin of safety, and operating levels.
Prerequisites: BAEF 210X; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BAEF 300X | Capital Budgeting Techniques | 1 cr
Provides an opportunity to create a business report which includes various mathematical computations to determine a project's after-tax cash flow, net present value, internal rate of return, profitability index, and the minimum required rate of return.
Prerequisites: BAMA 102X; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BAEF 301X | Stock Market Performance | 1 cr
Offers the experience of preparing a stock market performance report, which includes analysis of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and the NASDAQ composite indexes.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BAEF 302X | Business Financial Ratio Analysis | 1 cr
Provides an opportunity to create an executive report, which will determine the valuation of a selected firm. Focuses on detailed analysis by use of four different financial calculators.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
Courses in Flex Business Analytics
BABA 300X | Introduction to Business Analytics Applications | 1 cr
Introduces statistical techniques using spreadsheets to business applications in different functional areas.
Prerequisites: BAMA 300X; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BABA 301X | Visualization Tools for Data Analytics | 3 cr
Explores techniques for visualizing and analyzing business data.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BABA 302X | R Fundamentals for Business Analytics | 2 cr
Introduces the use of R as a statistical and visualization tool.
Prerequisites: BAMA 300X; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BABA 303X | AI and Machine Learning Business Applications using R | 1 cr
Introduces applications of R for machine learning and AI involving business data.
Prerequisites: BABA 302X; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BABA 304X | Python Fundamentals for Data Analytics and Machine Learning | 2 cr
Explores use of Python as a statistical tool for analyzing business data.
Prerequisites: BAMA 300X; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BABA 305X | Data Analytics Applications in Marketing and Sales | 1 cr
Explores applying data analytics tools to marketing.
BABA 306X | Data Analytics Applications in Human Resources and Strategic Management | 1 cr
Provides opportunity to apply data analytics tools to human resource management and strategic management.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BABA 307X | Data Analytics Applications in Operations and Supply Chain | 1 cr
Provides opportunity to apply data analytics tools for analyzing operations and supply chains.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and/or consent of program representative.
BABA 308X | Data Analytics Applications in Accounting | 1 cr
Covers the use of accounting data and analytics tools through financial statement analysis and anomaly detection in business transactions.
Offered: Yearly.
Courses in Flex Leadership and Management
BALM 100X | Introduction to Business Administration | 1 cr
Orients student to the academic design of the major and to the professional competencies in their intended discipline.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BALM 200X | Analysis of a Selected Organization's Navigation of Law and Ethics | 3 cr
Examines negotiation, conciliation court rules and complaints, as well as the paperwork to form a limited liability company. Culminates in an interview with a business owner covering how the business owner plans for potential disputes, uses contracts, has selected a legal entity for the business, deals with government regulations, and the role ethics plays in the business operation.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BALM 300X | Introduction to the HRM Function | 3 cr
Explores the function of human resource management (HRM) within organizations, including how it contributes to organizational strategy, the difference between strategic and transactional HRM, and how HRM supports other business areas. Covers basic skills in the areas of job analysis, recruitment, selection, training, development, compensation, employee relations, employment/labor law, ethics, and performance management.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BALM 310X | Organizational Behavior and Leadership | 4 cr
Explores effective behavior in organizations covering the individual in the workplace, teams and team dynamics, and applying the knowledge in an organizational setting. Includes evaluating, assessing, and recommending appropriate communication styles and strategies related to specific business scenarios.
Prerequisites: ENGL 101; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BALM 320X | Project Planning, Requirements, and Stakeholder Management | 2 cr
Provides an opportunity for the creation of a comprehensive project plan. Requires completion of a project charter, project scope statement, cost benefit analysis, work breakdown structure, and other components using Microsoft Project.
Prerequisites: BAMA 102X, BAOS 300X; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BALM 321X | Project Budget, schedule, Quality and Risk Management | 1 cr
Applies critical path analysis, earned value analysis, risk analysis, probability impact matrix, project quality management tools, and project management process groups and knowledge areas to a given project scenario. Explains how the five process groups and ten knowledge areas interact with each other.
Prerequisites: BALM 320X; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BALM 400X | Strategic Management | 3 cr
Introduces strategic management, the different levels of planning in an organization, and the organizational structure as it pertains to planning. Includes the process of conducting a SWOT analysis of a local organization and its setting, seek out opportunities and risks, and provide a set of recommendations that will lead to a competitive advantage.
BALM 410X | Designing Solutions for Business Challenges | 4 cr
Identifies an organization and its business challenges, designs solutions, identifies one best possible solution, and formulates the solution. Includes design of a mechanism to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the solution on a regular basis.
Courses in Flex Marketing and Sales
BAMS 300X | Marketing Foundations Concepts and Application | 2 cr
Examines integration of the marketing function into the operation of a successful organization, including the role of marketing, the impact of the external environment on marketing strategies, market segmentation analysis, the concepts of the marketing mix, and conducting market research.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BAMS 301X | Marketing Plan | 2 cr
Develops and presents a comprehensive marketing plan for an organization's products and/or services.
BAMS 310X | Sales Concepts and Application | 1 cr
Examines the integration of the sales function into the operation of a successful organization, including the role of professional selling in meeting organizational objectives, the sales process, and the effectiveness of sales calls in the context of major sales models, buyer type, and buying situations.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BAMS 311X | Sales and Sales Territory Management Practicum | 2 cr
Provides an opportunity to execute a professional sales call, plan and organize sales activities, and evaluate the student's own strengths and weakness related to sales functions.
Prerequisites: BAMS 310X; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
Courses in Flex Math and Analysis
BAMA 300X | Business Analytics I | 2 cr
Performs data analysis, applying techniques such as probability, normal distributions, and applications of chi-Square. Analyzes a business scenario based on statistical results.
Prerequisites: BAOS 300X, BAMA 102X; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BAMA 301X | Business Analytics II | 2 cr
Continues to perform data analysis, applying various Regression and ANOVA techniques. Analyzes a given situation based on statistical results.
Prerequisites: BAMA 300X; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
MATH 105AX | Business Algebra Fundamentals | 2 cr
Models business scenarios using algebraic techniques and analysis to help solve business problems and make predictions. Successfully completing MATH 105AX, MATH 105BX, and MATH 105CX satisfies the UW-P computational skills requirement for flexible option students.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
Meets: MQR Math & Quantitative Reasoning, MQR-M Mathematics Skills
MATH 105BX | Money in the Bank: Application of Exponential and Logarithmic Functions | 1 cr
Covers evaluation of investment options, including factors such as interest rate, compounding period, and length of contract. Applies exponential and logarithmic functions to determine the best investment options. Successfully completing MATH 105AX, MATH 105BX, and MATH 105CX satisfies the UW-P computational skills requirement for flexible option students.
Prerequisites: MATH 105AX; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
Meets: MQR Math & Quantitative Reasoning, MQR-M Mathematics Skills
MATH 105CX | Application of Algebraic Methods to Model and Solve Business Problems | 1 cr
Models business scenarios using algebraic methods. Identifies and applies the best method to solve the business problems. Successfully completing MATH 105AX, MATH 105BX, and MATH 105CX satisfies the UW-P computational skills requirement for flexible option students.
Prerequisites: MATH 105BX; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
Meets: MQR Math & Quantitative Reasoning, MQR-M Mathematics Skills
Courses in Flex Operation Management
BAOS 300X | Sales Data Analysis and Communication Using Spreadsheets and Statistics | 2 cr
Delves into statistical concepts and how to compute them with spreadsheet formulas and other features.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BAOS 301X | Database Design and Development | 1 cr
Appraises data needs of a business scenario, developing database design, constructing database, designing and running queries and reports needed for business decisions.
Prerequisites: BAOS 300X; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BAOS 302X | Building Competitive Advantage Using Information Systems | 1 cr
Constructs information system based on processes of hypothetical scenario, identifies security vulnerabilities of that information system and articulates its competitive advantages.
Prerequisites: BAOS 300X; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BAOS 303X | Enterprise Systems and E-Commerce | 1 cr
Examines usefulness, design, documentation and infrastructure of E-Commerce systems. Presents plan in framework of communication to key stakeholders; explains measurement and monitoring of effectiveness of design.
Prerequisites: BAOS 300X; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BAOS 310X | Reshoring Product Manufacturing | 2 cr
Examines analysis of imported product, reasons for outsourcing, Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), TCO estimates, and recommends for manufacturing location.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BAOS 311X | Issues in Global Business | 2 cr
Examines economic, technological and cultural dimensions of doing business in a selected country for a hypothetical company; reports recommendations for expansion into market as a new sales territory.
BAOS 320X | Evaluating Competitive Priorities in Operations Management | 1 cr
Evaluates gap between expected and actual performance levels to improve efficiency of business management, using gap analysis technique; identifies resources needed to solve problems; recommends how to approach operations issues under resources constraints.
Prerequisites: BAMA 301X; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BAOS 321X | Improving Productivity in Operations | 2 cr
Identifies areas for improvement in operations productivity; develops plan for business performance improvement; describes expected results; discusses key competitive priorities defined by operations; evaluates extent of organizational support for these priorities.
Prerequisites: BAOS 320X; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BAOS 400X | Foundational Concepts in Supply Chain Management | 1 cr
Identifies different types of products, supply chain characteristics, and corresponding strategies for managing operations; evaluates gaps and alignments between competitive and supply chain strategies. Applies techniques to improve customer service; provides recommendations for customized service and omnichannel experience to customers; evaluates the role of technology in managing supply chains.
Prerequisites: BAOS 321X; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BAOS 401X | Sourcing and Supplier Management Strategies in Supply Chains | 1 cr
Analyzes sourcing strategies; applies purchasing portfolio model and strategic cost management to make sourcing decisions. Evaluates performance of suppliers; provides feedback to suppliers.
Prerequisites: BAOS 400X; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
BAOS 402X | Inventory Management and Distribution Strategies in Supply Chains | 1 cr
Formulates and applies various inventory models; calculate different types of costs associated with given inventory and distribution strategy; evaluates and selects potential for a new facility.
Prerequisites: BAOS 401X; admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
Courses in Project Management
PMGT courses that do not end with X are not part of the Flexible Option Programs.
PMGT 314X | PMP Exam Preparation | 1 cr
Discusses tips and best practices for preparing for the PMI certification exam.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
Offered: Yearly.
PMGT 315X | A System for Value Delivery | 1 cr
Explores a system of value delivery and how projects operate within a system to produce value for organizations and their stakeholders. Covers recognizing value delivery components and how they work together to deliver organizational value that is aligned with the organization’s strategy.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
Offered: Yearly.
PMGT 316X | Principles of Project Management | 1 cr
Explores project management principles as foundational guidelines for strategy, decision making, and problem solving in the context of the organization, project, deliverables, project team, stakeholders, and other factors.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
Offered: Yearly.
PMGT 317X | Stakeholder and Team Project Performance Domains | 1 cr
Explores the concept of project domains and team performance. Examines team dynamics and essential personal skills necessary to achieve project outcomes.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
Offered: Yearly.
PMGT 318X | Development Approach and Life Cycle Project Performance Domain | 1 cr
Explores activities and functions associated with the development approach, cadence, and life cycle phases of the project.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
Offered: Yearly.
PMGT 319X | Planning Performance Domain | 1 cr
Explores activities and functions associated with the initial, ongoing, and evolving organization and coordination necessary to deliver project deliverables and outcomes.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
Offered: Yearly.
PMGT 320X | Project Performance Domains | 1 cr
Explores activities and functions associated with establishing project processes, managing physical resources, fostering a learning environment, and delivering the scope and quality of the project.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
Offered: Yearly.
PMGT 321X | Measurement and Uncertainty Project Performance Domains | 1 cr
Explores assessment of a project's performance and how to manage uncertainty and risk.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
Offered: Yearly.
PMGT 322X | Tailoring | 1 cr
Explores how projects are deliberately adapted throughout the lifecycle in order to make them more suitable for the given environment and work.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
Offered: Yearly.
PMGT 323X | Models, Methods and Artifacts | 1 cr
Explores how leadership, communication, motivation, change, complexity, and team development affect models, methods, and artifacts used in project management.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
Offered: Yearly.
PMGT 324X | Agile Framework | 3 cr
Explores tools and situational guidelines for the various agile approaches available to project managers. Examines how new project managers understand and adapt the agile approach.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Flexible Option Program and consent of program representative.
Offered: Yearly.
PMGT 341 | Basics of Project Management | 3 cr
Covers Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK) specified by Project Management Institute (PMI) in detail. Includes life cycle, processes, integration, scope, time, cost, human resources, communication, risk and procurement.
Prerequisites: QM 210; completion of a minimum of 54 credits.
Offered: Fall.
PMGT 342 | Essential Personal Skills For Project Management | 3 cr
Provides a background in personal skills essential for effective project management, including general intelligence; emotional intelligence; groups and teams; project leadership; stress; ethics; and communication.
Prerequisites: None.
Offered: Fall, Summer.
PMGT 441 | Advanced Project Management Tools and Techniques | 3 cr
Covers advanced tools and techniques of project management, including Microsoft Project, and Microsoft Excel, Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), budgeting a project, scheduling a project using PERT/CPM, allocating scarce resources, critical chain and critical path, resource leveling, monitoring the project costs, evaluating and terminating a project. Multi-career cross-listing: CIS 641.
Prerequisites: PMGT 341.
Offered: Spring.
PMGT 442 | Project Management Simulation | 3 cr
Includes project scheduling, risk analysis, earned value, and teamwork. Applies project management skills to a simulated or live project, develop project justification and plan, and execute the plan and track performance. Multi-career cross-listing: CIS 642.
Offered: Spring.