Graduate School Application Materials
The Graduate School only accepts the on-line application form on their website:
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 on-line application form. On the Application Information webpage of the form, select Educational Psychology - Prof Educator MSPE (Distance) in one of the drop down menu fields.
You will need to provide your references' names and addresses for the graduate school on-line application. The graduate school will contact the references with instructions for submitting their on-line recommendation.
DO NOT send the graduate school any paper documents (transcripts, letters, etc.).
Department Application Materials
Please carefully follow all instructions to ensure the timely processing of your application materials. If you have questions, please contact the department's Graduate Admissions Office at 608/262-1427 or email edpsych@education.wisc.edu.
Place application materials in one envelope and mail to:
Graduate Admissions
Department of Educational Psychology
1025 West Johnson Street
Madison, WI 53706-1796
Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume
Include a comprehensive listing of academic awards, teaching or research experiences (information is used in nominating students for fellowships and making decisions about funding).
Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
Applicants are required to take the GRE. For more information on taking the GRE, please visit the Educational Testing Service (ETS) website. The department does not require a subject test.
The scores will arrive at the UW electronically and are automatically linked to your application.
Guidelines for submitting GRE scores to UW-Madison:
- Request from ETS that your scores be sent to UW-Madison.
- Use the institution code of 1846 for UW-Madison.
- Use the Department code of 3403 for Educational Psychology.
Official scores for the GRE must be received at the department by the December 1 application deadline. If the official scores will not be available for submission by the application deadline, you may do the following:
- Submit your UNOFFICIAL scores for temporary use by the department until the official scores are available by entering the scores on the graduate school's on-line application form OR send them via email (edpsych@education.wisc.edu) to the department immediately after the test is taken.
- If the scores are sent via email, the department will add the information to your other application materials once they have been received.
"Reasons for Graduate Study" Statement of Purpose
Applicants can either enter their statement on the graduate school on-line application website or send the statement (with the rest of their materials) directly to the department. Helpful hints to prepare your statement can be found on the graduate school’s website.
Guidelines for writing the statement of purpose:
- The statement is essential for faculty to gain insight into your academic, research, and career goals.
- Provide a very detailed description of the types of topics and academic areas you wish to study, as well as outlining any specific research questions you have or lines of research you wish to pursue while you are in graduate school.
- Include a sentence indicating which area of the department you wish to study in – Human Development, Learning Sciences, Quantitative Methods or School Psychology.
- If you have an advisor preference for a specific faculty member in your area of study, you may indicate this preference in your statement.
School Psychology Questionnaire
If applying to the School Psychology area, complete the Questionnaire for Admission to Student Teaching or Other Intern/Practica Programs
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
1) Applicants whose native language is not English - or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English - must provide an English proficiency test score by taking the TOEFL test.
2) Scores are accepted if they are within two years of the start of the admission term:
- Country of citizenship does not exempt applicants from this requirement.
- Language of instruction at the college or university level, and how recent it has been, are the determining factors in meeting this requirement.
3) Applicants are exempt IF:
- English is the exclusive language of instruction at the undergraduate level OR;
- They have earned a degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university not more than 5 years prior to the anticipated semester of enrollment OR;
- They have completed at least two full-time semesters of graded course work (exclusive of ESL courses) in a U.S. college or university, or at an institution outside the U.S. where English is the exclusive language of instruction, not more than 5 years prior to the anticipated semester of enrollment.
4) The minimum scores required by the Department are:
- 580 for paper-based test
- 237 for computer-based test
5) Applicants must take an English assessment test upon arrival IF:
- Paper-based test score is below 580
- Computer-based test score is below 237
6) Depending on your scores you may need to register for any recommended English as a Second Language (ESL) course in the first semester you are enrolled.
7) Guidelines for submitting scores to UW-Madison:
- Request from the testing company that your scores be sent to UW-Madison.
8) Guidelines for submitting scores to the Department:
Official scores for the TOEFL must be received at the department by the December 1 application deadline. If the official scores will not be available for submission by the application deadline, you may do the following:
- Submit your UNOFFICIAL scores for temporary use by the department until the official scores are available.
- Either send the unofficial scores with the other application materials OR via email (edpsych@education.wisc.edu) to the department immediately after the test is taken.
- If the scores are sent via email, the department will attach the scores to your other application materials once they have been received.
Transcripts
1) Original transcript from each institution attended.
2) International applicants need to submit:
- Official transcripts or academic records from each institution attended in the original language with official English translations.
- Official certification of degrees and dates awarded including seals and signatures in ink from the institution’s authorized official in original language and English.