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ADMISSIONS & APPLICATIONS REQUIREMENTS and PROCEDURES

Thank you for your interest in the MSPE program. We believe this program offers educators exciting opportunities for professional development, leading to a Master of Science Degree in Educational Psychology.

Individuals applying to the MSPE program must apply to both the UW-Madison Graduate School and to the Department of Educational Psychology. While you can complete much of this application online, you will need to forward some items to the appropriate departments through the mail. It is strongly recommended that you send in all mailed items at one time, making sure that the items are in separate envelopes, as indicated.

MSPE PROGRAM TUITION, FEES, AND FINANCIAL AID:

The tuition and fees for MSPE are:

• Summers – Graduate tuition as listed for Residents and Non-Residents (6 credits), includes “Seg Fees” because students are on campus part of that time. This pays for campus technology resources, support from DoIT, MERIT library, computer learning hardware and software used by instructors and TA’s, as well as campus gym facilities.
• Fall & Spring semesters – Graduate tuition as listed for Residents and Non-Residents (3 credits), does NOT include “Seg Fees” but does include a $150 Technology Fee that pays for off-site student support from DoIT, MERIT library, computer learning hardware and software used by instructors and TA’s, Adobe Connect licensing, and other departmental support and assistance.
• See http://registrar.wisc.edu/tuition_&_fees.htm for information
• You may qualify for resident tuition if you graduated from a Wisconsin High School and your parents are still permanent residents in Wisconsin. See more on this appeal process at http://registrar.wisc.edu/appealing_the_non-resident_status.htm

Independent Study (1 credit)
If you are applying for financial aid you may be required to enroll for a minimum of 4 credits. Because the MSPE courses in Fall and Spring are 3 credits each you can arrange with your instructor to sign up for 1 credit of Independent Study so that you meet that requirement. Ask the Financial Aid office for more information.

Information on financial aid is available through the UW-Madison Student Financial Services Office.

Students are responsible for purchasing required materials, such as a book of readings or computer disks, for their courses. Instructors will make information available to MSPE students upon enrollment.

The fees for summer classes are paid on a per-credit basis. For example, Summer, 2009, Wisconsin resident MSPE students enrolled for 6 graduate credits and paid $2506 in tuition. Fees are subject to change.

Some scholarships may be available. Check with the Department of Educational Psychology.

Remember that when you are applying to the MSPE program at the University of Wisconsin you are must apply to BOTH the Graduate School AND to the School of Education Department of Educational Psychology.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION:

• Undergraduate GPA of 3.00 or higher
• Completion of on-line forms including both the department and the graduate school (for application information contact the Graduate Admission Coordinator at 608-262-1427 OR by e-mail at edpsych@.education.wisc.edu)
• Basic computer technology skills and equipment
• Letter of interest, including why you think the MSPE program is a good match for your professional development
• Currently teaching PK-12 and at least two years of teaching experience (strongly recommended)
• Two letters of recommendation; at least one must be from your administrator or supervisor
• Undergraduate transcript
• Transcript of graduate work (if any)
• GRE scores are not required

APPLICATION PROCESS:

• Applications for the Summer 2012 cohort will be accepted beginning in September, 2011, so it is not too early right now to begin to gather your letter of recommendation and your original transcripts and to be thinking about your statement/reason for study.
  
• Upon admission to the Graduate School and the Department of Educational Psychology, students become part of a 2-year cohort group, completing the 24-credit masters degree by taking the sequence of courses listed at the "Courses" link.

APPLY TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL:

If you are applying to the Master of Science for Professional Educators (MSPE) program, you will need to select the correct program option in the Graduate School's online application form. On the Application Information webpage of the form, select "Educational Psychology - Prof Educator MSPE (Distance)" in the first drop down menu field:

Submit the Grad School application on-line. Do NOT mail any paper copies of the application materials to the Graduate School. Pay your application fee ($56 non-refundable) via credit card, wire transfer or e-check.

Please see the Graduate School Application Checklist for more information.

APPLY TO THE EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT:

The  MSPE application deadline is May 1, 2012. Please ignore the March 1, 2012 deadline stated on the Graduate School application for the Ed Psych Dept.

• Statement of Reasons for Graduate Study. Include the following topics in your statement:
  • TEACHING (current and past teaching experience)
  • TECHNOLOGY (information on your level of technology skills, ways you have used technology in your learning and teaching, and your access to the technology needed to complete this degree program)
  • GOALS (career goals and reasons for pursuing graduate studies)
  • INTERESTS (specific topic(s) of interest in education)
  • RECOGNITIONS (special recognitions you may have received and/or contribution to the field)
  • COMMITMENT and motivation to complete this challenging graduate program
  • OTHER (anything else that you would like us to know about your special needs or interests)

• ORIGINAL transcript from each undergraduate institution attended
  
• Two letters of recommendation (at least one from school administrator or department chair). Please enter the recommender's email address on the Graduate School application. The recommender will be contacted to provide an electronic letter of recommendation. If you prefer to have the recommender write a letter (hard copy) and include it in your application materials, you are welcome to do so. Simply choose which format you prefer (electronic or hard copy) and send only one.

  Mail these materials to:

  Graduate Admissions
  Department of Educational Psychology
  1025 W. Johnson Street
  Madison, WI 53706-1796

   

If dropping off in person: Educational Sciences, Room 859

If you have any questions, please contact us:

608-262-1427
or
mspe@education.wisc.edu

Comments or Problems: Eric Simons.

© Copyright 2008 The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System