This is a named option in the Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis M.S.
This named option is a specialized program of study within our Master’s degree program. It provides all coursework necessary to meet the requirements for licensure as a school principal in the state of Wisconsin (licensure also requires a Master’s degree). It replicates the campus program resulting in the same degree and eligibility for licensure. The UW–Whitewater Cooperative Program, an existing departmental named option, similarly provides training for school administrators. A second departmental named option resulting in a Master’s degree, the Global Higher Education Program, serves a different population of students who are training for work in post-secondary education.
The mission of the department is to create, evaluate, exchange, and apply knowledge about leadership, learning, and organizational performance to prepare scholars and scholar practitioners who cultivate equity and educational opportunity in a diverse and changing world. The purpose of the Wisconsin Idea Principal Preparation Program directly relates to this mission as the program is designed to train school leaders in a program with an explicit emphasis on equity and opportunity for all children in elementary and secondary schools.
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.
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 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:
- 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.
- Describe evidence of your instructional excellence with a range of diverse learners.
- Describe evidence of leadership excellence related to equity and diversity.
- Is there anything else you would like us to know about why you would be an excellent candidate for this program on social justice?
2. Unofficial transcripts. Official transcripts will be requested prior to Graduate School admission.
3. Resume or CV.
4. 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
Modes of Instruction
| Face to Face | Evening/Weekend | Online | Hybrid | Accelerated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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 |
| Minimum Residence Credit Requirement | 16 credits |
| Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement | 24 out of 30 total credits must be completed in graduate-level coursework. Details can be found in the Graduate School's policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244 |
| Overall Graduate GPA Requirement | 3.00 GPA required. This program follows the Graduate School's policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203. |
| Other Grade Requirements | n/a |
| Assessments and Examinations | None. |
| Language Requirements | No language requirements. |
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | 30 | |
| Note: Students may take ELPA 703 in the first summer and ELPA 847 in the second summer as determined by the department. | ||
| Leadership for Equity and Diversity | ||
| Resource Allocation for Equity and Social Justice | ||
| Instructional Leadership and Teacher Capacity | ||
| Internship in Educational Administration | ||
| School-Level Leadership | ||
| Race, Class and Educational Inequality | ||
| Community, Opportunity, and Justice | ||
| Public School Law | ||
| Evaluating and Supporting Quality Classroom Teaching | ||
| Technology and School Leadership | ||
| Optional/Additional 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. | ||
| Legal Foundations of Special Education and Pupil Services | ||
| Theory and Practice of Educational Planning | ||
| Leadership for Inclusive Schooling | ||
| Organizational Theory and Behavior in Education | ||
| Note: Students may take ELPA 847 in the second summer and ELPA 703 in the first summer as determined by the department. 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. | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
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.
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
With program approval, students are allowed to count 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 five or more years prior to admission to the master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.
UW–Madison Undergraduate
With program approval, 6 credits of coursework numbered 500 or above from a UW–Madison undergraduate degree are allowed to count toward the degree. Coursework earned five or more years prior to admission to a master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.
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 follow the Graduate School's Probation policy.
ADVISOR / COMMITTEE
This program follows the Graduate School's Advisor policy and Committees 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
Students in the Wisconsin Idea Principal Preparation Program are not permitted to seek double or dual degrees.
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