Program Offerings

Please note the UW Flexible Option Pilot Program is now closed for registration. For more information sign up for the UW Flexible Option e-Newsletter.

Each module in this pilot program is self-paced and competency-based. That means that you study at your own pace and then take assessments (tests) to determine if you have mastered the material. You will begin by taking a pre-assessment of your knowledge. If you already have experience with one or more of these subjects, you may take a practice test to determine if you are ready to go straight to the final assessment.

For example, suppose that you are an adult student and you work in an office where you do statistical analysis on a regular basis. However, you’ve never taken a statistics course. In this case, you can contact a Student Services specialist in Independent Learning and sign up for the pilot Elementary Statistics class.

Once registered, you will gain access to a pre-assessment. The pre-assessment helps you understand your level of knowledge of the subject. Based on the results of the pre-assessment, you might choose to study the material further, or, if you are comfortable with the subject, you might choose to take a practice test to formally assess your knowledge. If you do well on the module practice test, then you can take the module exam without having to study the material—since you already know it. If you don’t do well on the practice test, then you’ll be pointed to materials to help you study. You will not be penalized in any way for testing your knowledge. The goal is your success.

The initial pilot program offerings include College Algebra, Elementary Statistics, and a Business Math and Personal Finance Certificate program. The module listings that follow provide detailed information regarding learning outcomes and links to recommended learning materials.

Credit Offerings

U3600-110 College Algebra (4 modules, 3 undergraduate credits)

Provides an introduction to elementary and advanced algebra. Topics include a definition of function; linear and nonlinear functions; graphs, including logarithmic and exponential; theory of polynomial equations; and systems of equations.

U3600-117 Elementary Statistics (4 modules, 3 undergraduate credits)

Provides a basic understanding and use of statistical concepts and methods to facilitate study and research in other disciplines. The sequence includes measures of central tendency; measures of variability; grouped data; the normal distribution; the central limit theorem; hypothesis testing; estimation; T-distribution; and the Chi-square test.

No partial credit is awarded for completing only individual modules in College Algebra and Elementary Statistics. Students must complete the entire module sequence to receive credit for the class.

Non-credit Offerings

Business Mathematics and Personal Finance Certificate

This non-credit program consists of five related course-equivalents which are quantitative in nature and deal with analytical skills. A certificate of completion will be issued to those who show mastery of the competencies in Business Math, Business Statistics, and Personal Finance. Two additional topics, Foundations of Business Math and Preparation for Business Statistics, are available for individuals who would like to brush up on math and analytical basics before attempting the other topics.

Required Core Courses

C216-OF39 Business Statistics (4 modules, 4 Continuing Education Units or CEUs)

Covers basic analysis of data using descriptive statistical measures and charting; calculation of basic probabilities; interpretation of data with confidence intervals and hypothesis testing, including means and proportions of simple populations; comparing means and proportions of two populations; and multiple comparisons (means and proportions of several populations).

C216-OF49 Business Math (2 modules, 2 CEUs)

Covers foundations of math, including whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and solving for unknowns; and percents and their applications, including percents, discounts, markups and markdowns, payroll, and sales, excise, and property tax.

C216-OF59 Personal Finance (2 modules, 2 CEUs)

Covers interest, including simple interest; promissory notes, simple discounted notes; effective interest; compound interest; present values; annuities; sinking funds; installment buying; and personal finance, including banking; cost of home ownership; life, fire, and auto insurance; and stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.

Optional Preparation Courses

C216-OF09  Foundations of Business Math (4 modules, 4 CEUs)

Covers whole numbers, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; rounding, order of operations, and averages; factors and prime numbers; fractions and mixed numbers; decimals, including converting to fractions; addition, subtraction, multiplication, division; proportions and percents; and signed numbers, variables, and linear equations.

C216-OF29 Preparation for Business Statistics (3 modules, 3 CEUs)

Covers integers, decimals and percents, and fractions; algebraic expressions, linear equations, and graphing lines in the coordinate plane; and descriptive statistics and basic probabilities.

In the non-credit Business Math and Personal Finance Certificate programs, successful completion of 1 module is equivalent to 1 CEU.