UWW Individualized Degree Program
"The advisors, teachers, and participants were very supportive and encouraging. UWW provided a college education that was accessible to me. My degree provided opportunities that would not have been available to me." (learn more…)
—UWW graduate
The Individualized Degree Program allows UWW students to create an individual concentration based on a foundation of UWW interdisciplinary courses. This foundation is capped by courses in departments related to the student's special interest. With a curriculum that develops the skills needed to grow and thrive in a fast-paced, complex world, this program draws students seeking online or blended courses in the fields of health and human services, education (non-licensure), journalism studies, arts administration, and business. It is also attractive to any student interested in other areas who can design a program from courses available at times or in a format allowing the student to take them. All UMass Amherst courses are available to the UWW student, and those offered specifically through Continuing & Professional Education are most likely to meet their scheduling demands.
Possible Individualized Concentrations
Many UWW individualized degree students will fall into the broad areas of Arts Administration, Business Studies/Organizational Leadership, Education (non-licensure) , Health and Human Services, and Journalism Studies , as described below. Students may also design degrees in other topics not listed here. (See a detailed list of possible concentration topics...)
Arts Administration Individualized Concentrations - online
Students who are community arts leaders, artists, volunteer board members, civic leaders, or otherwise involved in the practical aspects of arts management can develop a degree based on the nation’s leading provider of professional arts education, the UMass Amherst Arts Extension Service. In the UWW Arts Administration online curriculum, UWW students have access to arts management colleagues in a wide array of arts and cultural organizations from around the world. Learn more…Business Studies Individualized Concentrations - online
Individualized degree students wishing to complete their first bachelor's degree by pursuing concentrations in business studies and organizational leadership may choose from a collection of courses offered by the UMass Amherst Isenberg School of Management and other departments to round out the UMass Amherst UWW degree. Most of these courses are offered online. Concentrations in this area would include all non-profit and business-related topics, such as marketing, accounting, management, fund-raising, information management, arts management, or associated fields. Learn more…Criminal Justice Individualized Concentrations - online
Students interested in studying the field of criminal justice online will now be able to through UWW's focus of study in Criminal Justice. This area of study is designed to help meet the growing demand for professionals working in public safety, judiciary, corrections, policing, homeland security, victim services, social services and a host of other related fields. The UWW Criminal Justice focus allows students to study in a program organized by UMass Amherst’s nationally ranked department of sociology. All courses forming the UWW Criminal Justice focus are offered fully online. Learn more…Education Individualized Concentrations - online
Students interested in the areas of early care and education (without state licensure), alternative education, or child and youth development can design a degree through the individualized degree program that incorporates learning acquired working with children in a wide range of situations—sports, family or group child care, scouting, youth groups, and more. UWW offers a full set of online courses for those pursuing a concentration related to early care and education and the completion of your first ever bachelors degree. Learn more…Health and Human Services Individualized Concentrations - blended
Students pursuing a career in one of the many health and human services fields will be able to design their first ever bachelors degree based on the necessary skills and knowledge essential to those fields. These might include concentrations in developmental disabilities, health care administration, youth at risk, substance abuse counseling, health and wellness promotion, community health education, or associated fields. You will find the flexibility to design a degree program that is right for you. Learn more…Journalism Studies Individualized Concentrations - online
Students wishing to study writing or journalism online can gain the knowledge and skills they'll need to better work in this ever-changing field through UWW’s individualized concentrations in Journalism Studies. In this innovative and nationally known online program, adults with prior experience in the field can study with award-winning instructors and top professional journalists, who offer specialized coursework not available through on-campus programs. This same faculty teaches in the Certificate of Journalism program, recently named a Program of Excellence by the University Continuing Education Association (UCEA) — the most prestigious award given in the field of distance learning. Learn more…Note: UWW also offers a special bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts and Young Children’s Learning, a Educator Licensure Program for public school paraprofessionals and others who seek Massachusetts teacher licensure in elementary and early childhood education and is separate from the UWW Individualized Degree option. Students in the Educator Licensure Program attend live classes weeknights on-campus at UMass Amherst. Learn more…
Individualized Degree Core Curriculum
All individualized degree students are required to include the following three-credit courses in their areas of concentration:
- UWW 191G Frameworks of Understanding
- Two of the four professional development courses:
- UWW 370 Writing About Experience
- Five upper-level courses specific to their concentrations
(A student may elect to take a third UWW professional development course, if appropriate to the area of study, to substitute for one of the upper-level concentration courses.)
An individualized degree student may elect to complete the concentration with credits earned through additional courses, the prior learning evaluation process, or other ways of earning credit toward the degree.
