Glossary

Continuing education

Continuing Education (CE) hour

A nationally recognized way of recording your participation in noncredit professional development. One hour of continuing education instruction equals 0.1 CEUs. Ten continuing education hours equal 1 CEU.

Continuing Education Unit (CEU)

A nationally recognized way of recording your participation in noncredit professional development. One hour of continuing education instruction equals 0.1 CEUs. A six-hour workshop equals 0.6 CEUs.

Learning Format

Accelerated

A course or program that delivers the same learning at a faster pace and in a shorter amount of time than the traditional version. Accelerated courses or programs have a more intense workload in order to meet the condensed timeline.

Evening/Weekend

An in-person course or program that meets only in the evenings and/or on weekends. Unless otherwise noted, evening and weekend classes take place on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus.

In person

A course or program that is delivered entirely or mostly face-to-face. Unless otherwise noted, our in-person classes take place on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus.

Hybrid

A course or program that is delivered via both in-person and online formats. Unless otherwise noted, our in-person classes and programs take place on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus. The online portion may be delivered synchronously, asynchronously or a combination of the two. See the course page for more information about course delivery and how you can expect to learn.

Online

A course or program that is delivered completely online. There are multiple types of online courses::

Live online — A course or program that is delivered online, with real-time lectures, lessons and discussions presented via web conferencing or virtual classroom software. Assignments and projects may be scheduled for completion outside of class.
Self-paced online — A course or program that is delivered online, with no class meetings or fixed deadlines. These courses may be started anytime, with a completion time that may vary from anywhere between one month and two years. (See the course page for specific completion requirements.) Students work independently through a web-based learning management system to complete lessons and assignments and to interact with instructors.
Group-paced online — A course or program that is delivered online with the same group of students, with no or very few real-time class meetings. Students work through a web-based learning management system to complete lessons, with set due dates for assignments and frequent opportunities to interact with instructors and other students through discussion boards and other virtual tools.

Program/Degree Type

Bachelor’s degree

A degree awarded upon the completion of an academic program that requires four to five years of full-time equivalent preparation. A bachelor’s degree is typically required for acceptance into a graduate program.

Doctoral degree

The highest level of academic degree, awarded upon the completion of a PhD program, which takes, on average, four to seven years to complete. A doctorate degree is typically a basic threshold for certain professional roles, including the licensed practice of medical care, professorship or professional research.

Graduate-level certificate

Graduate-level certificates, called capstone certificates at UW–Madison, generally focus on professional skills and certification in a particular discipline, and typically take a year to complete. This type of certificate helps individuals advance in their current field or obtain an advanced position in another field.

Master’s degree

A degree awarded upon the completion of a graduate program where students specialize in an area of study; typically takes one to two years to complete. Depending on the field, graduates may qualify for work in an advanced or executive-level position.

Specialist degree

A specialist degree is an advanced graduate degree that provides deeper education and training in a particular area of study. Traditionally earned after a master’s degree but before or in lieu of a doctorate, a specialist degree may include practical field work or an internship.

Courses, badges and certificates

Courses, badges and certificates are used to demonstrate acquired training and knowledge in a specific area to employers, professional organizations, peers and others. Each course, badge or certificate awards a certain number of continuing education units (CEUs); these are noted on each class page.

At UW–Madison Continuing Studies, how you earn a course completion, badge or certificate varies by program. In some cases, you may earn a badge or certificate by completing a single course; in other cases, you must take a series of courses — or “stack” courses — to earn a badge or certificate. Please see your program of interest for more information.

Course

A course provides information and/or skills in a particular area(s) and may be used to demonstrate specific training or knowledge. Course completion varies by program; see your program of interest for more information.

Badge

A badge is a uniquely valuable digital credential that demonstrates a learner’s mastery of a particular set of knowledge or skills through evaluation by a qualified professional. How you earn a badge varies by program; see your program of interest for more information.

Certificate

Certificates can be earned through the successful completion of one comprehensive program or a collection of courses or badges that demonstrate your mastery of skills and knowledge. How you earn a certificate varies by program; see your program of interest for more information.