This is a named option in the Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis M.S.
The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents approved the cooperative master of science degree program in educational leadership and policy analysis between the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the UW-Whitewater campus on February 5, 1982.
The cooperative program provides the opportunity for educators in the northeastern and central regions of Wisconsin to obtain a master of science degree with certification (principal, director of instruction, director of special education and pupil services) in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. All required course work will be offered on the Whitewater campus.
Students must be admitted simultaneously to UW-Madison and UW-Whitewater. Program admission will be to the UW-Madison Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis and to the UW-Whitewater Department of Curriculum and Instruction as a special student. The Graduate School at UW-Whitewater processes graduate special student admission. Upon completion of the approved program, students will be awarded a master of science degree from UW-Madison.
Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.
Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online.
Fall Deadline | July 1 |
Spring Deadline | November 1 |
Summer Deadline | March 1 |
GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) | Not required. |
English Proficiency Test | Every applicant whose native language is not English or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English must provide an English proficiency test score and meet the Graduate School minimum requirements (https://grad.wisc.edu/apply/requirements/#english-proficiency). |
Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT) | n/a |
Letters of Recommendation Required | 3 |
M.S. applicants should hold a teaching license and are required to upload the following items to the online application.
1. Essay statement (not to exceed two pages) that addresses the following:
- Your area of interest (task or functional area of administration)
- Your career goals (i.e., why the applicant is interested in pursuing a degree in educational administration)
- Your professional objectives and how the UW-Madison program will contribute toward the applicant's role as a school/institution leader (if seeking certification, be sure to explicitly state what certification or certifications are being sought.)
2. Unofficial transcripts. Official transcripts will be requested prior to Graduate School admission.
3. Resume or CV.
4. Three letters of recommendation. We require recommendations from three (3) people who are qualified to evaluate the academic and professional competence of the applicant. When completing the online application, submit names and emails of those requesting recommendation from; recommendations are sent electronically to your application.
5. Supporting document if undergraduate GPA is below 3.00. In statement, explain why GPA does not accurately reflect high potential to serve in leadership roles.
International students are NOT eligible for this program.
Graduate School Resources
Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.
Program Information
Students enrolled in this program are not eligible to receive tuition remission from graduate assistantship appointments at this institution.
Minimum Graduate School Requirements
Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements, in addition to the program requirements listed below.
Named Option Requirements
MODE OF INSTRUCTION
Face to Face | Evening/Weekend | Online | Hybrid | Accelerated |
---|---|---|---|---|
Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
Mode of Instruction Definitions
Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students are able to complete a program with minimal disruptions to careers and other commitments.
Evening/Weekend: Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules. Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.
Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.
Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats. Contact the program for more specific information.
Online: These programs are offered 100% online. Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.
CURRICULAR REQUIREMENTS
Minimum Credit Requirement | 30 credits (15 UW–Madison credits and 15 UW–Whitewater credits) |
Minimum Residence Credit Requirement | 15 credits at UW–Madison |
Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement | 15 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Details can be found in the Graduate School’s Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) policy (https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244). The remainder of the 30-credit requirement: 15 credits are UW–Whitewater coursework. |
Overall Graduate GPA Requirement | 3.00 GPA required. This program follows the Graduate School's GPA Requirement policy (https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203). |
Other Grade Requirements | n/a |
Assessments and Examinations | n/a |
Language Requirements | n/a |
Required COURSES
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
UW-Whitewater Coursework | ||
Introduction to Elementary and Secondary Education (EDADMIN 728) | 3 | |
School-Community Relations (EDADMIN 734) | 3 | |
Supervision of Instruction (EDADMIN 769) | 3 | |
The School Principalship (EDADMIN 776) | 3 | |
Practicum in ELPA (EDADMIN 793) | 3 | |
UW-Madison Coursework | ||
ELPA 735 | Leadership for Equity and Diversity | 3 |
ELPA 832 | Resource Allocation for Equity and Social Justice | 3 |
ELPA 847 | Instructional Leadership and Teacher Capacity | 3 |
ELPA 840 | Public School Law | 3 |
ELPA 863 | Race, Class and Educational Inequality | 3 |
Optional Coursework for Additional Licensure, Director of Instruction | ||
ELPA 860 | Organizational Theory and Behavior in Education | 3 |
ELPA 875 | Theory and Practice of Educational Planning | 3 |
75-hour field experience | ||
Optional Coursework for Additional Licensure, Director of Special Education and Pupil Services | ||
ELPA/RP & SE 835 | Leadership for Inclusive Schooling | 3 |
ELPA/ED POL/ED PSYCH/RP & SE 842 | Legal Foundations of Special Education and Pupil Services | 3 |
75-hour field experience |
The program includes a practicum experience that requires 150 contact hours for an initial administrator license and an additional 75 hours for each additional administrative license. Cooperative program students enroll in their practicum at UW-Whitewater and complete the required hours under the guidance of the UW-Whitewater cooperative program director.
Submission and approval of an online portfolio is required for both degree completion and certification. Portfolio requirements are available on the department website in the program handbook.
Students in this program may not take courses outside the prescribed curriculum without faculty advisor and program director approval. Students in this program cannot enroll concurrently in other undergraduate, graduate or certificate programs.
Graduate School Policies
The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.
Named Option-Specific Policies
Prior Coursework
Graduate Work from Other Institutions
None allowed.
UW–Madison Undergraduate
None allowed.
UW–Madison University Special
With program approval, students are allowed to count no more than 6 credits of coursework numbered 300 or above taken as a UW-Madison special student. If necessary to meet the Graduate School minimum graduate credit requirements for the degree, special student coursework may need to be converted to graduate credits. Once converted, students are assessed the difference in tuition between special and graduate tuition. Coursework earned five or more years prior to admission to a master's degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.
Probation
This program follows the Graduate School's Probation policy.
ADVISOR / COMMITTEE
This program follows the Graduate School’s Advisor policy.
CREDITS PER TERM ALLOWED
12 credits
Time Limits
This program follows the Graduate School's Time Limits policy.
grievances and appeals
These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:
- Bias or Hate Reporting
- Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
- Hostile and Intimidating Behavior Policies and Procedures
- Dean of Students Office (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
- Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
- Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
- Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
- Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
- Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
- Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
- Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)
Any student who feels that they have been treated unfairly by a faculty or staff member has the right to complain about the treatment and to receive a prompt hearing of the grievance, following these grievance procedures. The complaint may concern course grades, classroom treatment, program admission, or other issues. To insure a prompt and fair hearing of any complaint, and to protect both the rights of the student and the person at whom the complaint is addressed, the procedures below are used in the School of Education.
The person whom the complaint is directed against must be an employee of the School of Education. Any student or potential student may use these procedures unless the complaint is covered by other campus rules or contracts. The following steps are available within the School of Education when a student has a grievance:
- The student should first talk with the person against whom the grievance is directed. Most issues can be settled at this level. If the complaint is directed against a teaching assistant, and the student is not satisfied, the next step would be to talk to the TA's supervisor, who is usually the course professor. If the complaint is not resolved satisfactorily, the student may continue to step 2.
- If the complaint does not involve an academic department, the procedure outlined in Step 4 below should be followed. If the complaint involves an academic department, the student should contact the chair of the department. The chair will attempt to resolve the problem informally. If this cannot be done to the student's satisfaction, the student may submit the grievance to the chair in writing. This must be done within 60 calendar days of the alleged unfair treatment.
- On receipt of a written complaint, the chair will refer the matter to a departmental committee, which will obtain a written response from the person at whom the complaint is directed. This response shall be shared with the person filing the grievance. The chair will provide a timely written decision to the student on the action taken by the committee.
- If either party is not satisfied with the decision of the department, they have five working days from receipt of the decision to contact the dean's office (at the number below), indicating the intention to appeal. If the complaint does not involve an academic department in the school, the student must contact the dean's office within 60 calendar days of the alleged unfair treatment.
- In either case, there will be an attempt to resolve the issue informally by the associate dean. If this cannot be done, the complaint can be filed in writing with the dean's office. This must be done within 10 working days of the time the appealing party was notified that informal resolution was unsuccessful.
- On receipt of such a written complaint, the associate dean will convene a subcommittee of the school's Equity & Diversity Committee. This subcommittee may ask for additional information from the parties involved and may hold a hearing at which both parties will be asked to speak separately. The subcommittee will then make a written recommendation to the dean of the School of Education who will render a decision. Unless a longer time is negotiated, this written decision shall be made within 20 working days from the date when the grievance was filed with the dean's office.
Questions about these procedures can be directed to the School of Education Dean's Office, 377 Education Building, 1000 Bascom Mall, 608-262-1763.
State law contains additional provisions regarding discrimination and harassment. Wisconsin Statutes 36.12 reads, in part: "No student may be denied admission to, participation in or the benefits of, or be discriminated against in any service, program, course or facility of the system or its institutions or center because of the student's race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, disability, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status or parental status." In addition, UW–System prohibits discrimination based on gender identity or gender expression. Students have the right to file discrimination and harassment complaints with the Office of Compliance, 361 Bascom Hall, 608-265-6018, uwcomplianceoffice@wisc.edu.
Other
Funding is not offered along with offers for admission.
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