The University of Wisconsin is also featured in our ranking Top 25 Online Master’s in Project Management Degree Programs.

Online Project Management Degree Program

The University of Wisconsin offers one of the only Master of Science in Project Management degree programs that is available entirely online. This accredited program uses the Project Management Body of Knowledge curriculum to ensure that each student develops the knowledge they need when working in this field. It also has accreditation from the Project Management Institute and is one of the only online programs with accreditation from that organization.

U.S. News & World Report ranks this program as one of the best online business programs for graduate students today. One reason for that recognition is because the university offers emphasis areas in integrated supply chain management, human capital administration and managing engineering programs. Students can select that emphasis area that best aligns with their career goals, but they also have the option of enrolling in a general program that briefly goes over all these specialty areas.

Though some students may need to take up to nine credit hours of foundation courses before starting the program, all students will take 15 credits of core courses that include Project Management Techniques I and II and Project Scope Management. The program also features a Project Management Capstone that allows students to showcase their skills in a final project or paper. Students must take at least three classes from within their emphasis areas too. The University of Wisconsin also offers a few graduate project management certificate programs that students can complete in lieu of this degree program.

About University of Wisconsin

The University of Wisconsin ranks as the state’s largest individual college campus and as its largest school system. Its official name is the University of Wisconsin – Madison, which sets it apart from all the other schools in the system. The university also goes by other names such as Wisconsin and UW-Madison, though some also call it just Madison. Plans existed for a new university called the University of the Territory of Wisconsin as early as 1838, but the university did not open until 1848. Its founders used the Wisconsin Method of education, which called for students and faculty to work together to find solutions to problems faced by citizens across the state.

There are now several campuses that exist as part of the UW system, including those in Green Bay and Milwaukee. The university system also includes 10 junior colleges that only offer classes for freshmen and sophomores. Students take two years of classes at one of those campuses and later transfer to a full university. Both Washington Monthly and ARWU rank Wisconsin within the top 20 of all colleges in the United States, while Times and U.S. News & World Report rank the university as one of the world’s best schools. The Madison campus sits on more than 900 acres of land and enrolls more than 43,000 students every year.

University of Wisconsin Accreditation Details

Wisconsin has regional accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS), which means that it prepares students for studying at the graduate or doctoral levels. This also gives students the chance to use credits they received from another college in the degree program they want to enter. Wisconsin also has the specialty accreditation that lets students know that certain degree programs will better prepare them for the future. The online project management program that the university offers has accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). AACSB accreditation also applies to all the business programs available online and off.

University of Wisconsin Application Requirements

Students hoping to enter the online project management program must submit a completed application before one of the three deadlines posted by the university. Wisconsin has a July 15 deadline for the fall semester and a deadline of December 1 for the spring semester. It will also accept applications until April 15 for those who want to start in the summer.

Wisconsin offers full enrollment to students who took graduate classes in the past and maintained a grade point average of at least 3.0 in those classes. It will also accept students who have a bachelor’s degree and an undergrad GPA of at least 2.5. Students with only a bachelor’s degree must show that they earned that degree within the last five years. If the student earned a bachelor’s degree more than five years ago, the university requires that they take some graduate courses before enrolling. It will give students who do not meet all requirements a trial enrollment.

Once a student finishes the application, he or she will submit it and pay a $56 fee. The university accepts credit and debit card payments online and allows students to send checks to its Distance Learning Center. Students must also submit official transcripts from the schools they attended. Wisconsin will not accept unofficial transcripts and will not process an application packet until it receives official transcripts. Students must also submit professional resumes that show all the academic and professional experiences they have in project management and business.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Wisconsin charges all graduate students taking online classes at the same rate instead of basing their rates on whether they live in or outside of the state. Graduate students will pay a $25 registration fee each semester before they can register for any classes. Students can request a full refund prior to the end of the registration period. The university also charges $675 per credit hour for any online classes that a student takes. Students are responsible for their own expenses as well as any supplies they might need in their classes.

Graduate students may qualify for one of the two types of loans available from the federal government. The first of those is an unsubsidized loan, which is a loan dispersed at the beginning of the semester. Many students make payments while in grad school to reduce the interest that builds on their loans. The government also offers PLUS loans that can significantly reduce the amount that students pay out of pocket for any of their classes. Some graduate students may want to consider alternative or private student loans, which have higher interest rates. These loans are available from many different sources and lenders. The University of Wisconsin offers help for students who want to learn about their loan options.