Student walking into the red door entrance at the School of Education building.

The Master of Science in Education: Instructional Coaching is a convenient, fully online graduate degree offered through the Department of Educational Psychology in the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin Madison. Instructional Coaching is an integrated part of the degree, not a separate certificate.

The curriculum builds depth and breadth in knowledge and skills related to education and instructional coaching and integrates courses from three School of Education departments: Educational Psychology, Curriculum & Instruction, and Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis.

Teaching professionals can complete the degree in two years while learning from faculty in one of the leading educational psychology departments, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

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 The 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 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 2

General Information

  • The admissions deadline can be found in the table above. Applying early is important.
  • We use a "rolling admissions" process in which applications are reviewed as they are received.
  • Applicants are informed of their enrollment status within a few weeks of their applications.

Program Requirements

  • Undergraduate GPA of 3.00 or higher based on the last 60 credits earned from the degree granting institution.
  • One year or more of teaching experience.
  • Basic computer skills and equipment.
  • Teaching during the two years enrolled in the program is required. This can be part-time or full-time.

There are circumstances in which exceptions can be made regarding admissions requirements. Please contact us with questions.

Funding

Graduate School Resources

The Bursar’s Office provides information about tuition and fees associated with being a graduate student. 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

Information on financial aid is available through the UW–Madison Office of Student Financial Aid.

Students enrolled in this program are not eligible to receive tuition remission from graduate assistantship appointments at this institution.

On This Page

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

Review the Graduate School minimum degree requirements and policies, in addition to the program requirements listed below.

Major Requirements

Mode of Instruction

Face to Face Evening/Weekend Online Hybrid Accelerated
No No Yes 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 18 credits
Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement 15 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimim 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/UW-1203
Other Grade Requirements n/a
Assessments and Examinations None.
Language Requirements None.

Required Courses

CURRIC 731Collaborative Teamwork for Inclusive School Reform3
ED PSYCH 752Engaging with Education Research3
ED PSYCH 633Supporting Students' Social/Emotional Well-being3
ELPA 640Legal Rights and Responsibilities for Teachers3
ED PSYCH 640Foundations of Instructional Coaching3
ED PSYCH 501Thinking and Learning3
ED PSYCH 791Master of Science for Professional Educators Capstone4
ED PSYCH 642Assessment Analysis and Instructional Decision-Making4
ED PSYCH 643Practicum for Instructional Coaching4
Total Credits30

Sample 2-Year Schedule

Summer I
CURRIC 731Collaborative Teamwork for Inclusive School Reform3
ED PSYCH 752Engaging with Education Research3
Fall I
ED PSYCH 640Foundations of Instructional Coaching3
ED PSYCH 501Thinking and Learning3
Spring I
ED PSYCH 642Assessment Analysis and Instructional Decision-Making4
Summer II
ED PSYCH 633Supporting Students' Social/Emotional Well-being3
ELPA 640Legal Rights and Responsibilities for Teachers3
Fall II
ED PSYCH 791Master of Science for Professional Educators Capstone4
Spring II
ED PSYCH 643Practicum for Instructional Coaching4
Total Credits30

Other Policy

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 or graduate degree programs.

Graduate School Policies

The UW-Madison Policy Library reflects the Graduate School’s official policies relevant to graduate students. Programs may set more stringent policies than the Graduate School. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.

Major-Specific Policies

Prior Coursework

Graduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions

No credits from other institutions are allowed to transfer toward the degree.

Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison

With program approval, students may transfer up to 4 credits from other institutions or in coursework numbered 300 or above from the undergraduate career completed at UW-Madison. Transfer credits from other institutions must be equivalent rigor of UW-Madison courses numbered 300 and above. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a master's degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

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

Credits earned as a professional student at UW-Madison are not allowed to transfer.

Credits Earned as a University Special Student at UW-Madison

With program approval, students may transfer up to 12 University Special student credits of coursework numbered 300 or above with the "Grad 50%" designation. However, these credits are not allowed to count toward the 50% graduate coursework minimum unless numbered 700 or above or are taken to meet requirements of a capstone certificate and has the "Grad 50%" designation. 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.

Credits Per Term Allowed

12 credits

Time Limits

Refer to the Graduate School: Time Limits policy. 

Grievances and Policies

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

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Professional Development 

Graduate School Resources

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

Learning Outcomes

  1. Integrate research and data into professional practice to inform decision-making, assess instructional strategies, and measure impact on student achievement.
  2. Apply knowledge of learning and motivation theories to design, implement, and evaluate instructional coaching practices that improve teaching and learning outcomes.
  3. Collaborate with fellow educators, families, community members, and school/district/organizational staff to create supportive, inclusive, and linguistically responsive learning environments that help all learners meet high standards and reach their full potential.
  4. Demonstrate commitment to ethical practice and lifelong learning by engaging in reflection, self-assessment, and ongoing professional learning as an instructional leader.
  5. Display advanced skills in instructional coaching, including observation, feedback, facilitation of reflective practice, and collaborative goal setting.