Questions?

Credit vs. Non-Credit

Should I take an Essentials course for credit or non-credit?
The decision is yours as to whether you take an Essentials course for non-credit or credit. The following information may help you decide which way you wish to go.

Credit

Will receive university credit which can be applied to 120-credit undergraduate requirement
May be used as an elective in some undergraduate programs
Will be graded on homework, quizzes and tests
Will receive a final grade
Will register as a special student
No charge for renting textbooks through the University Bookstore

Non-credit

You may put less pressure on yourself than if you were taking it for credit
Lower course fees
Easy registration process
Will need to purchase, rather than rent your textbooks
You will earn a Certificate in Business Administration from UW-Eau Claire Continuing Education

Requirements

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 want to apply to the MBA program but haven’t taken one of the foundation courses required for admission to the MBA program. Can I use an Essentials course to fulfill this requirement?
No. Essentials courses will not fulfill this requirement. 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.

I have already taken Accounting 201 and 202. Will these courses count towards the Essentials certificate program?
If you have completed both Accounting 201 and 202 with a grade of C or better, you can substitute these courses for the Essentials of Accounting course.

Can I substitute the on-campus BSAD 100 course for the online BSAD 100 course?
Yes, you may substitute the on-campus course for the online course as long as you received a C or better in the on-campus course.

Can I take an Essentials course for a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) “grade”?
Yes, you can take Essentials courses on an S/U basis if you do not plan to use the courses to fulfill requirements for the Essentials of Business Administration certificate.

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, The Essentials For Credit coordinator, for more information.

Online Courses

I’ve never taken an online course. What’s it like?
Online classes are similar to traditional classes in many ways. You have an instructor, a textbook, classmates, assignments, discussions, 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

Cost

How much do Essentials courses cost?
The cost of an Essentials course is determined by whether you take a course for non-credit or credit. The cost for a non-credit course is $175 for Intro to the World of Business course and $350 for each of the other courses. The cost of a credit course is your normal tuition and fees plus $135 per credit. 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 more information, see The Essentials: Technology Requirements

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

Other

Can I rent my textbooks or do I have to buy them?
That depends on whether you are taking your Essentials course for non-credit or credit.

If you are taking your course for non-credit, you will most likely purchase your textbook online. We will suggest sources that carry the required book.
If you are taking your course for credit, you can rent your textbooks through the UW-Eau Claire Bookstore. There is no charge for rental as your tuition and fees covers this expense.