Questions?

Requirements

Do Essentials courses count towards the 120-credit graduation requirement for UW-Eau Claire?
Yes, Essentials courses do count towards UW-Eau Claire’s 120-credit graduation requirements. Courses may also count as electives in certain degree programs. Contact Cynthia Hofacker, Essentials Program coordinator, for more information.

Can I use an Essentials course to fulfill a course requirement for a business major or minor?
No. Essentials courses will not fulfill requirements for any College of Business major or minor program, including the health care administration undergraduate degree program.

I think I “might” want to major in business. Can I take an Essentials course to help me decide?
Yes, taking an Essentials course, like Essentials of Marketing, for example, may help you decide if you are interested in majoring in marketing as Marketing 330 (the course business students must take) isn’t available to students who haven’t met College of Business admission requirements. However, the Essentials of Marketing course will NOT count toward College of Business requirements. If you do decide to major in marketing, you will still need to take Marketing 330.

Will Essentials courses transfer to another university?
As with any transfer course, you should contact the registrar at the university where you will be transferring to confirm acceptance of coursework and transfer of credits.

Can I use an Essentials course to fulfill MBA Program course prerequisites?
No. Essentials courses will not fulfill these requirements. You may satisfy MBA program course prerequisites by completing undergraduate courses at UW-Eau Claire (or comparable undergraduate courses at other universities), or by completing accelerated, graduate foundation courses offered by UW-Eau Claire and its partner schools in the University of Wisconsin MBA Consortium.
» Visit the MBA website to learn more.

Certificate

Can I get the Essentials certificate if I am a business major?
No. Students working towards a business major, business minor, or health care administration major are not eligible for the Essential certificate.

How many Essentials courses should I take during a semester, if I want to complete the Essentials certificate in less than one year?
As with all course work, your personal schedule determines the time you have available for coursework. Most students take one or two online courses within an academic term to complement their face-to-face class schedule or work load.

Is there a minimum GPA to earn the Essentials Certificate?
Your overall GPA for courses applied toward the certificate must be 2.25.

I was a business major but I changed my major. Can I count any of the courses I took toward the Essentials Certificate?
Yes, you can count ACCT 201, ACCT 202, BSAD 100, BSAD 305, FIN 320, IS 240, MGMT 349, and MKTG 330 towards similar Essentials courses. Your overall GPA on courses submitted for the certificate must be 2.25 or higher.

Will completion of the Essentials certificate be noted on my transcript?
Yes, when you have completed the courses required for the certificate, you will need to complete the certificate completion form. Return the completed form to the Cynthia Hofacker, Essentials Program coordinator.

Online Courses

I’ve never taken an online course. What’s it like?
Online classes are similar to traditional college courses in many ways. You have a professor, textbooks, classmates, discussions, assignments, quizzes and tests. The difference? Everything is done online. You are able to access lecture notes, reference materials, and assignments.
» For more information, or to see what an online class looks like, see the Essentials: Online Classes

How much time would I be expected to put toward an online course?
You can expect to put eight to ten hours per week into your two-credit online course.

Cost

How much do Essentials courses cost?
The cost of an Essentials course is your normal tuition and fees plus $135 per credit. Tuition and fees are based on the number of credits you register for. “Normal” tuition and fees are based on a 12-18 credit load for fall and spring semesters, and a 6-9 credit load for summer. Visit the Business Office website for more information about tuition and fees.
» For more information, see the Essentials: Registration Information

Technology

How do I know if I have the right hardware and software for my Essentials course?
For a list of the minimum hardware and software you need to take an Essentials course, see the Essentials: Technology Requirements. If you still have questions, contact the Essentials technology consultants at bizd2lhelp@uwec.edu or 888.832.7090.

Where can I go to buy discounted software?
Students in Essential courses can buy popular software packages at substantial discount through the Wisconsin Integrated Software Catalog, an online catalog.

Other

Can I rent my textbooks or do I have to buy them?
Yes, you can rent your textbooks if you are taking Essentials courses for UW-Eau Claire credit. You will rent them through the UW-Eau Claire Bookstore.