Admission and Application Information: Mathematics Education

Admission to the School of Education as a Pre-Professional Student

New freshmen and transfer students are admitted directly to the School of Education as Pre-Secondary Education students (PRS classification). On-campus students wishing to be admitted as Pre-Secondary Education students must formally apply for admission to the School of Education. These students should go to the "Forms" quick link on the front page of this site for a pre-professional application form; choose the "Pre-Teacher Education" link. Contact EAS, B117 Education, 608-262-1651, for more details.

Admission to the Professional Program for Fall 2009

Resources limit the number of students who can be served by UW-Madison Secondary Education teacher preparation programs. Thus, admission to this Secondary Education program is limited and may be competitive. Over the last few years 14-15 students have been admitted annually to this program. Obtaining or exceeding the minimum criteria for eligibility does not guarantee admission. Requirements and admission criteria may change from one admission period to the next.

Applicants who are not already enrolled on the UW-Madison campus must be admissible to the University to enroll in a School of Education professional program. Thus, program admission is contingent upon admission to the campus. Admission to UW-Madison requires a separate application and admission process. See the UW-Madison Undergraduate Admissions website--http://www.wisc.edu/admissions--for application information.

Applicants to these programs will be admitted once a year, during the Spring Semester. Admission decisions will be based on course work completed through the preceding Fall Semester. Admission is provisional until Spring Semester work has been completed and posted and Education Academic Services staff have verified that students have submitted PPST/Praxis I scores, met minimum grade-point averages, and earned minimum credits in their major. Admitted students will begin the sequence the following Fall Semester.

Click here to see a video of a recent presentation on program admissions by a faculty member of the Secondary Mathematics program.

Eligibility for Admission for Fall 2009

To be considered for admission, students must meet the following criteria by the end of Spring Semester, 2009:

• Total Credits: Earn 54 or more transferable semester credits (junior standing).
• Major Credits: Complete a minimum of 28 semester credits of the major.
• Cumulative Grade-Point Average: Earn a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale). Note: Both the cumulative GPA and the cumulative GPA based on the last 60 credits will be calculated. The higher will be used for program selection. See Last 60 Credits Rule, below. Grade-point averages are based on all transferable college level course work attempted.
• Submit Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST)/Praxis I scores by March 1, 2009. The PPST is a basic skills test offered by Educational Testing Service (ETS) and required for admission to all state teacher preparation programs by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Designed to measure reading, writing, and mathematics skills, the PPST is available in two formats, paper-based and computer-based. The paper-based format is currently given on the UW-Madison campus. A fee is required of the student. State minimum scores on the PPST/Praxis I are Reading, 175; Mathematics, 173; and Writing, 174. While all applicants must submit scores, applicants who have not earned minimum scores will be considered for admission. Find important registration information at the ETS website (http://ets.org/praxis/index.html)and additional details at the "More Information for Undergraduates > Praxis I/PPST" page on this website. Important note: The UW-Madison School of Education’s institutional recipient code is 1846; use of another code will prevent Education Academic Services from receiving scores.
• Submit application materials (available October, 2008) by February 1, 2009. These are expected to include the following:
  • Autobiographical questionnaire.
  • Recommendation. One recommendation form or letter from a supervisor, preferably one familiar with the applicant’s work with young people.
  • Essay. See the application materials for more information.
  • Additional materials. One (optional) item that the applicant believes distinctly shows proficiency on one or more of the criteria.

IMPORTANT: Changes in Program Eligibility for Fall 2010

The minimum cumulative grade-point average for this program will change to at least 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale). In addition, applicants must have earned a minimum 2.75 grade-point average on all completed major courses.

Selection Procedures for Fall 2009

A holistic judgment of each eligible applicant is made by a panel of Mathematics faculty and staff. Each judge considers the applicant’s proficiency or potential proficiency on each of the criteria below by examining the contents of the applicant’s file.

1. Is the applicant well-qualified academically? Is this academic background consistent with the needs of the profession?
2. Is the applicant thoughtful and reflective about the meaning of teaching? Are the applicant’s motivations for entering the profession worthwhile and do they reflect a commitment to professional improvement?
3. Does the applicant show the ability and genuine commitment to work with all children, not just the privileged or highly motivated?
4. Is the applicant capable of working effectively with other professionals in the school, parents, caregivers, and members of the community outside of school?
5. Does the applicant bring unique qualities to the cohort and the profession? These may include ethnic background, being the first in the family to attend college, unusual work experiences, etc.

Applying for Certification in More than One Subject Area

Students may apply to two certification programs. Eligibility requirements must be met and separate applications must be filed for each area of interest. Students must be admitted as a major in at least one of the program areas–it is not possible to be admitted to Secondary Education only in a minor program area. Certification in two subjects requires the consent and cooperation of the faculty coordinators of both subject areas. While multiple majors or major-minor combinations are feasible and may be advantageous as a career strategy, the additional subject area course work may require extra time beyond the sequence to complete course work. Students are encouraged to work closely with their EAS academic advisor to coordinate the requirements of multiple certifications.

Alternative Academic Options

Regrettably, nearly every year some students are denied admission to this program. Students are encouraged to develop alternative academic options for this possibility. Confer with your EAS advisor for recommended academic programs and additional advising resources. Consult "More Information for Undergraduates > What if I don't get admitted?" on this website for more information.

Criminal Background Investigation and Disclosure Statement

Criminal background checks will be run on all students at admission. Results of these checks will be reviewed by School of Education faculty and staff. Positive results will result in additional information requests and may be shared with staff at field placement sites. Criminal background checks may also be run on students by school districts. Field site staff have the authority to determine the appropriateness of a student placement. Applicants must also complete a disclosure statement indicating (1) whether they have been admitted to, then withdrawn from, asked to withdraw from, or been dropped from a student teaching, clinical experience, or other intern/practicum program, and (2) if they have ever been placed on probation or disciplined by any college or university for academic dishonesty. See Associate Dean Jeffrey Hamm at EAS if you have questions about these processes.

Last 60 Credits Rule

Two grade point averages will be calculated to determine candidates' eligibility and selection to programs. GPAs will be calculated using (1) all transferable college level course work attempted, and (2) the last 60 credits attempted. The higher GPA of these two will be used for purposes of admission. If fewer than 60 credits have been attempted, all credits will be used to calculate the GPA. Graded graduate course work will also be used in all GPA calculations. ("Attempted" course work indicates course work for which a grade has been earned.)

The use of the last 60 credits does not supersede other eligibility requirements. For example, when a minimum GPA on prerequisite courses is required, or a minimum major GPA is required to be eligible for admission, all required courses will be used in calculating this GPA. This will include courses taken prior to the last 60 credits. A cumulative GPA, however, will still be calculated based on the last 60 college credits attempted.

Currently, retention and graduation GPAs are based on all credits attempted at UW-Madison as an undergraduate student. If each semester's GPA after admission to the program meets the required GPA for retention, the student will be allowed to continue and complete the program.

Contact EAS for additional information regarding the interpretation of this policy.

Students with a Previous Degree

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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