Admission requirements
See below for the admission requirements information for graduate students in each degree and certificate area:
Professional licensure disclosure
- If you plan to apply for licensure in a state other than Wisconsin after completion of this program, you should contact that state's appropriate licensing board and refer to the Professional Licensure Disclosure to determine whether this UWL program meets licensure requirements in a specific state.
How to apply
Please thoroughly read all of the five bullet points below so your application gets completed correctly and won't be delayed.
Contact the graduate program
We encourage you to make contact with our program to introduce yourself and ask any questions. This is also a great resource if you are unsure of which degree/certification is the best option for you. Complete the form below to initiate this contact!
Program application assistance
Marketing Specialist
271 Morris Hall
cgeorge@uwlax.edu
608.785.5409
Specialty areas:
Application Process Questions
Registration Questions
Program Questions
Marketing
Web site maintenance
Budget
Submit a UW System application
- Follow the link to the UW System application. Register as a new user, unless you already have an account.
- The email you enter on this application will be used to send you important information related to completing your graduate school application. You should use an email address that you monitor on a regular basis.
- There is a $56 UW System application fee, which you can pay online at the time of application. Alternatively, you can send a check (payable to UWL) to the address below. *Application fee assistance is available to McNair Scholars.
Graduate Admissions Office
1725 State Street
La Crosse, WI 54601
Watch your email
Following UW System Application submission, you will receive two emails.
The first email is an invitation to your WINGS Student Center and includes information about your NETID/WINGS Username. Access your WINGS Student Center to check the status of your application fee and transcripts.
The second email provides login information for your Applicant Dashboard. This email will be sent within 3 business days of submission of your UW system application; you may need to check your junk/spam email folders. You will use your Applicant Dashboard to submit the supplemental application materials described below (including reference requests) for this program. If you have problems with the Applicant Dashboard, please contact gradstudies@uwlax.edu.
WINGS (example) |
Applicant Dashboard (example) |
 WINGS example |
 App Dashboard example |
Submit transcripts
Request that ALL previously attended institutions of higher education send official transcripts to the UWL Admissions Office. This includes college level courses taken while in high school. If you enrolled in fewer than 10 undergraduate semester credits at an institution, you do not have to send an official transcript unless the courses completed are prerequisites for the graduate program. Additional transcripts may be required at the university or graduate program's discretion. All graduate transcripts must be submitted. UWL accepts transcripts mailed directly from the issuing institution(s) or through an electronic secure document sending service. Transcripts should be sent to:
UWL Admissions Office
1725 State Street
La Crosse, WI 54601
admissions@uwlax.edu
- Applicants can check transcript status via their WINGS account.
- Applicants who are current UWL undergraduate students/alumni do not need to request formal transcripts for UWL coursework. Admissions can access your UWL transcript.
- It may take a week or more for transcripts to be received/uploaded to your application file. Please plan accordingly in order to meet application deadlines.
Log in to Applicant Dashboard to submit supplemental application materials
All supplemental application materials and information listed below will be submitted via your Applicant Dashboard. You will receive an email invitation to login to your Applicant Dashboard within 3 business days of UW System Application submission. Contact gradstudies@uwlax.edu with questions.
Licenses or certifications
- Submit a current license/certification as indicated below:
- Teaching license or certificate upload required for:
- Reading Teacher (1316) - MSED
- Reading Teacher (1316) and Reading Specialist (5017) - MSED
- Reading Teacher (1316) - Certificate
- Reading Specialist (5017) - Add-On
- Reading teaching license or certificate upload required for:
- Reading Specialist (5017) - MSED
- Teaching license or certificate upload required for:
Resume
This program requires submission of a resume that documents your full-time regular teaching experience in a K-12 classroom and current teaching position in a K-12 classroom.
Additional requirements for international applicants
In addition to the application requirements listed above, international applications will need to submit the following items:
- Transcript information: As noted above, official, certified or attested transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended must be submitted. Additionally, documents issued in languages other than English must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
- Proof of English language proficiency: Non-native English speakers must submit evidence of one the following language proficiency requirements for admission:
- TOEFL score (within last 2 years) of at least 79 iBT or 550 pBT - Institution Code: 1914
- IELTS score (within last 2 years) of at least 6.0
- Duolingo English Test (DET) score of at least 110
- 60 PTE score
- A bachelor’s or higher degree from UWL or another approved institution where English is the sole language of instruction.
- Degree must be earned within two years of expected enrollment in this UWL graduate program.
- Applicant must have attended the institution for a minimum of two years.
- Proof of funding: Submit a bank statement and completed Affidavit of Support form.
- Applicants who require F-2 visas for dependents (spouse and/or children) must submit additional proof of funding and passport copies for each dependent.
- Applicants who require F-2 visas for dependents (spouse and/or children) must submit additional proof of funding and passport copies for each dependent.
- Passport information: Submit a photocopy of the photo page of your passport.
Please contact International Admissions at intladmissions@uwlax.edu if you have questions. Each of the items listed in this section "Additional requirements for international applicants" can be sent directly to the UWL Admissions Office.
UWL Admissions Office
1725 State Street
La Crosse, WI 54601
USA
Next steps
Application Review
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Your application will be reviewed as soon as it is complete.
Criminal Background Check
The WI Department of Public Instruction (DPI) requires that candidates for admission to a teacher education, administration, or pupil services program successfully pass a criminal background check (CBC) as one criterion for admission. By applying for admission to one of these programs, candidates agree to provide the necessary personal information to UWL in order to initiate their CBC and to complete their portion of the process prior to the deadline specified in their admission letter. Program candidates are responsible for all costs associated with their criminal background check(s). Admission decisions are contingent upon a successful CBC clearance decision by the UWL Office of Field Experience. Specific instructions on completing the required consent form and CBC will be sent by the UWL Office of Field Experience to the email address included on the UWL application for admission. Questions can be directed to soefieldexp@uwlax.edu.
Completion Requirements
Eligibility for Reading Teacher (1316) and Reading Specialist (5017) certification is contingent upon:
- Completion of Reading Teacher and Reading Specialist Program coursework, associate experiences, and artifacts.
- Cumulative graduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher.
- Passing score on the WI Foundations of Reading Test or hold a WI Lifetime Administrator License.
- Completion of DPI employment verification form indicating at least six semesters of employment as the teacher of record in K-12 schools or hold a WI Lifetime Teaching License
Out-of-state applicants
This program may meet other states' licensing requirements. An applicant's state may or may not require that the applicant get a Wisconsin teaching license to be endorsed for their program of study. The Wisconsin licensing process may include taking coursework in Native American Studies (ACT 31). The applicant should check with their state licensing board prior to applying to ensure they understand the appropriate pathway to meet their state's licensing requirements