This is a named option in the Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis MS.

The program is designed for current teachers and school or system leaders who are committed to becoming effective leaders of schools that eliminate inequities in student learning for all students in the schools and systems they serve. At the completion of the 14-month program, candidates will receive a master of science in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis and be eligible for endorsement for a Wisconsin administrator license for the principalship.

Admissions

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 This program does not admit in the fall.
Spring Deadline This program does not admit in the spring.
Summer Deadline April 15
GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) Not required.
English Proficiency Test Every applicant whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not exclusively in English, must provide an English proficiency test score earned within two years of the anticipated term of enrollment. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Requirements for Admission policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1241.
Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT) n/a
Letters of Recommendation Required 3

Deadline

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the cohort reaches capacity. The final deadline for applying is April 15 for a summer start.  In most cases, applicants will be informed of an admission decision within 3-4 weeks of receiving your completed application. The K-12 Leadership named option of the Master of Science in Educational Leadership admits applicants for a summer admission to the program only.

Application

This program's courses are delivered on the UW-Madison campus. Applicants interested in completing classes at external campuses like UW-Whitewater or UW-Green Bay should apply to the UW-Whitewater Cooperative Program named option or Wisconsin Idea Principal Preparation Program named option, respectively.

Applicants should hold a teaching license. Applicants must upload the following items to the online application.

  1. Essay statement (not to exceed two pages) that addresses the following:
    1. Describe evidence in your educational practice of your commitment to addressing equity/social justice issues and a desire to lead with a focus on eliminating inequities.
    2. Describe evidence of your instructional excellence with a range of diverse learners.
    3. Describe evidence of leadership excellence related to equity and diversity.
    4. Is there anything else you would like us to know about why you would be an excellent candidate for this program focused on social justice?
  2. Unofficial transcripts. Official transcripts will be requested prior to Graduate School admission.
  3. Resume or CV.
  4. Three letters of recommendation. Recommendations from three (3) people who are qualified to evaluate the academic and professional competence of the applicant are required. When completing the online application, submit the 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 a statement, explain why GPA does not accurately reflect high potential to serve in leadership roles.

International degree-seeking applicants are not eligible for this program.

Funding

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 Resources

While the department funds full-time PhD students we are unable to provide funding for Master's students. In consultation with one's advisor, students are encouraged to seek positions in other areas that are related to their own research and professional interests. The University student job center posts some opportunities. The department also forwards job postings from other areas on campus to department students.

On This Page

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 typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.

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
Minimum Residence Credit Requirement 16 credits
Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement 24 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244.
Overall Graduate GPA Requirement 3.00 GPA required. Refer to the Graduate School: Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203.
Other Grade Requirements None.
Assessments and Examinations Students must complete an online portfolio. Portfolio requirements are provided by the Director of the K-12 Master’s Leadership program.
Language Requirements None.

Required Courses

All courses are required. There are no electives in the program.

Core Courses
Note: Students may take ELPA 703 in the first summer and ELPA 847 in the second summer as determined by the department.
ELPA 735 Leadership for Equity and Diversity3
ELPA 832 Resource Allocation for Equity and Social Justice3
ELPA 847 Instructional Leadership and Teacher Capacity3
ELPA 900 Internship in Educational Administration3
ELPA 845 School-Level Leadership3
ELPA 863 Race, Class and Educational Inequality3
ELPA/​INTER-HE  770 Community, Opportunity, and Justice3
ELPA 840 Public School Law3
For those who wish to complete coursework for licensure as a Director of Special Education and Pupil Services, add ELPA/​RP & SE  835. For those who wish to complete coursework for licensure as a Director of Instruction, add ELPA 860.
ELPA 703 Evaluating and Supporting Quality Classroom Teaching3
ELPA 844 Technology and School Leadership3
Optional/Additional Courses - Not Required Courses
For those who wish to complete coursework for licensure as a Director of Special Education and Pupil Services, add ELPA/​ED POL/​ED PSYCH/​RP & SE  842. For those who wish to complete coursework for licensure as a Director of Instruction, add ELPA 875.
ELPA/​ED POL/​ED PSYCH/​RP & SE  842
 Legal Foundations of Special Education and Pupil Services
ELPA 875
 Theory and Practice of Educational Planning
ELPA/​RP & SE  835
 Leadership for Inclusive Schooling
ELPA 860
 Organizational Theory and Behavior in Education
Total Credits30

Practicum

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. Practicums are completed under the guidance of department faculty.  Students may also be eligible for a Director of Instruction (6 additional credits) and/or Director of Special Education and Pupil Services license (6 additional credits) by completing additional course work and an additional 75 hour practicum for each license.  

Submission and approval of an online portfolio is required for degree completion and certification. Portfolio requirements are available on the department website in the program handbook.

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 Credits Earned at Other Institutions

If applicable to degree completion, and with program approval, students may transfer no more than 9 credits of graduate coursework in educational leadership from other institutions and 6 credits of graduate coursework in areas other than educational leadership from other institutions. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to the master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison

If applicable to degree completion and with program approval, 6 credits of coursework numbered 500 or above from a UW–Madison undergraduate degree may transfer. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements. Undergraduate transfer credits are not permitted from other institutions.

Credits Earned as a Professional Student at UW-Madison (Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary careers)

Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.

Credits Earned as a University Special Student at UW–Madison

With program approval, students may transfer no more than 6 credits of coursework numbered 300 or above taken as a UW–Madison University Special student. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

Probation

Refer to the Graduate School: Probation policy.

Advisor / Committee

Refer to the Graduate School: Advisor policy.

An advisor generally serves as the thesis advisor. In many cases, an advisor is assigned to incoming students. Students can be suspended from the Graduate School if they do not have an advisor. An advisor is a faculty member, or sometimes a committee, from the major department responsible for providing advice regarding graduate studies.

A committee often accomplishes advising for the students in the early stages of their studies.

Credits Per Term Allowed

12 credits

Time Limits

Refer to the Graduate School: Time Limits policy.

Grievances and Appeals

These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:

School of Education Grievance Policy and Procedures

The following School of Education Student Grievance Policy and associated procedures are designed for use in response to individual student grievances regarding faculty or staff in the School of Education.

Any individual student who feels they have been treated unfairly by a School of Education faculty or staff member has the right to file a grievance about the treatment and receive a timely response addressing their concerns. Any student, undergraduate or graduate, may use these grievance procedures, except employees whose complaints are covered under other campus policies. The grievance may concern classroom treatment, mentoring or advising, program admission or continuation, course grades (study abroad grade complaints are handled through International Academic Programs), or issues not covered by other campus policies or grievance procedures. 

For grievances regarding discrimination based on protected bases (i.e., race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, etc.), contact the Office of Compliance (https://compliance.wisc.edu/eo-complaint/).

For grievances or concerns regarding sexual harassment or sexual violence (including sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, stalking, and sexual exploitation), contact the Sexual Misconduct Resource and Response Program within the Office of Compliance.

For grievances that involve the behavior of a student, contact the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards in the Dean of Students Office at https://conduct.students.wisc.edu/).

For grievances about, or directed at, faculty or staff in a School of Education department, unit, or program, students should follow these steps:

  1. Students are strongly encouraged to first talk with the person against whom the concern is directed. Many issues can be settled informally at this level. If students are unable to resolve concerns directly or without additional support, step 2 or 3 should be pursued.
  2. If unresolved after taking or considering step 1:
    1. If the concern is directed against a teaching assistant (TA), and the student is not satisfied, the student should contact the TA's supervisor, who is usually the course professor. The course professor will attempt to resolve the concern informally.
    2. If the concern involves a non-TA instructor, staff member, professor, academic department, or School of Education office or unit, the student should contact the chair of the department or the director of the office or unit, or their designee. The chair or director, or their designee, will attempt to resolve the concern informally. If the concern is about the department chair or office/unit director, the student should consult the School of Education Senior Associate Dean for guidance.
  3. If the concern remains unresolved after step 2, the student may submit a formal grievance to the chair or director in writing within 30 business days1 of the alleged unfair treatment. To the fullest extent possible, a formal written grievance shall contain a clear and concise statement of the issue(s) involved and the relief sought.  
  4. On receipt of a written grievance, the chair or director will notify the person at whom the grievance is directed with a copy of the written grievance. The person at whom the complaint is directed may submit a written response, which would be shared with the student.
  5. On receipt of a written grievance, the chair or director will refer the matter to a department, office, or unit committee comprised of at least two members. The committee may be an existing committee or one constituted for this purpose. The committee, or delegates from the committee, may meet with the parties involved and/or review any material either party shares with the committee.  
  6. The committee will provide a written description of the facts of the grievance and communicate recommendations to the department chair or office/unit head regarding how the grievance should be handled.
  7. The chair or director will offer to meet with the student who made the grievance and also will provide a written decision to the student, including a description of any related action taken by the committee, within 30 business days of receiving the formal grievance.
    1

    For the purpose of this policy, business days refers to those days when the University Offices are open and shall not include weekends, university holidays, spring recess, or the period from the last day of exams of fall semester instruction to the first day of spring semester instruction. All time limits may be modified by mutual consent of the parties involved.

If the grievance concerns an undergraduate course grade, the decision of the department chair after reviewing the committee’s recommendations is final. 

Other types of grievances may be appealed using the following procedures:

  1. Both the student who filed the grievance or the person at whom the grievance was directed, if unsatisfied with the decision of the department, office or unit, have five (5) business days from receipt of the decision to contact the Senior Associate Dean, indicating the intention to appeal.   
  2. A written appeal must be filed with the Senior Associate Dean within 10 business days of the time the appealing party was notified of the initial resolution of the complaint.
  3. On receipt of a written appeal, the Senior Associate Dean will convene a sub-committee of the School of Education’s Academic Planning Council. This subcommittee may ask for additional information from the parties involved and/or may hold a meeting at which both parties will be asked to speak separately (i.e., not in the room at the same time).
  4. The subcommittee will then make a written recommendation to the Dean of the School of Education, or their designee, who will render a decision. The dean or designee’s written decision shall be made within 30 business days from the date when the written appeal was filed with the Senior Associate Dean.  For undergraduate students, the dean or designee’s decision is final.

Further appealing a School of Education decision – graduate students only

Graduate students have the option to appeal decisions by the School of Education dean or designee by using the process detailed on the Graduate School’s website.

Questions about these procedures can be directed to the School of Education Dean's Office, 377 Education Building, 1000 Bascom Mall, 608-262-1763.

Resources

Other

Funding is not offered along with offers for admission.

Professional Development

Graduate School Resources

Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career. 

People

Faculty: Professor Anjalé (AJ) Welton (chair); Professors Conrad, Eckes, Halverson, Kelley, Miller, Wang, Winkle-Wagner; Associate Professors Burt, Hillman; Assistant Professors Grooms, Henry, McQuillan, Saldana, Yu; Clinical Professors Crim, Li, Sramek, Salzman, Soffa-Jimenez