Students with a Previous Degree (Second Degree versus Special Students)

Persons who already hold an undergraduate degree are admitted to the School of Education as either an Education Special student or a Second Degree student, depending on their interests and academic background. The term Special student indicates that the student has an interest in pursuing certification in a subject area studied during the initial degree; the student does not receive a degree for this "certification only" course work. Second Degree students are seeking a second, unrelated degree from the School of Education, which may, or may not, include teacher certification. Candidates for limited enrollment programs must meet all admission eligibility requirements for the program and must compete with the eligible applicants for program admission.

Special students

Applicants must file an undergraduate application with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Education Special students not yet admitted to a professional program are given an EDS classification, are not eligible for financial aid, and enroll last with the other special students on campus. Candidates seeking Special student status in open enrollment programs must obtain written permission for admission from the relevant program coordinator and must submit a professional program application to Education Academic Services. Candidates seeking admission to a limited enrollment program must meet all admission eligibility requirements for the program and must compete with other eligible candidates for program admission. Applicants admitted to a certification professional program become Education Certification Special students (EDCS classification) to distinguish them from Special students not so admitted. Students with an EDCS classification may be eligible for financial aid. Continuing EDCS students may register with undergraduates having junior status.

Second degree candidates

Students who wish to earn a second baccalaureate degree in the School of Education must file an undergraduate application with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and must file a professional program application with Education Academic Services. Second Degree students not yet admitted to a professional program are given a pre-professional classification. Second degree candidates must:

• be seeking a new major that is substantially different from their previous degree work;
• complete at least 15 upper-level credits in the new major;
• complete at least 30 credits beyond their previous course work.

The determination of whether a student should be admitted as a second degree candidate or Education Special student is made by the faculty advisor after analyzing the student's remaining requirements. The faculty advisor will determine the specific remaining requirements for students admitted to a program. In addition to completing the requirements specific to the program(s) of interest, returning students must also complete any relevant campus-wide requirements, complete the requirements specific to individual program areas such as the Environmental Education, Multicultural and Human Relations, and Cooperatives requirements, and satisfy any high school deficiencies identified at the time of admission to UW-Madison. Students are strongly encouraged to discuss their academic plans with the faculty advisor.

Comments or Problems: easinfo@education.wisc.edu.
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