Admissions and Aid

Learn about the Special Education PhD program, including funding, and chat with current students and a faculty member.

Upcoming virtual info sessions:

• Wednesday, November 15th, 2023 at 5:00pm CST | Register for the Zoom link

Contact Kayla Armstrong (armstrongalf@wisc.edu) if you’d like to meet one-on-one!

Learn about the master’s in Special Education with Teacher Certification, how to apply, and much more!

Information regarding application requirements and funding information also provided.

Check of the Professional Degrees & Certificates page for more information on upcoming webinars.

Contact Kayla Armstrong (armstrongalf@wisc.edu) if you’d like to meet one-on-one!

Learn about the master’s in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, chat with current students, and learn about what you can do with a master’s in Rehab Counseling!

Upcoming virtual info session:

• Coming soon!

Contact Kayla Armstrong (armstrongalf@wisc.edu) if you’d like to meet one-on-one!

Learn about the undergrad programs!

Information regarding application requirements, different named options including the new Early Childhood Special Education option, and program sequence information.

Contact Rebecca Bradbury (rebecca.bradbury@wisc.edu) if you’d like to meet one-on-one!

Currently, the Rehabilitation Counselor Education PhD program is the only program that requires a GRE or MAT score. For up-to-date admissions information, please visit that program’s admission page.

International applicants may require additional documents.  Please see the Graduate School’s Requirements for Admission for more details.

Special Education Master’s

• 2 letters of recommendation
• Resume or CV
• Statement of Purpose
• Unofficial transcript(s)

Special Education PhD

• 3 letters of recommendation
• Resume or CV
• Statement of Purpose
• Writing Sample (maximum 15 pages)
• Unofficial transcript(s)

Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling MS

• 3 letters of recommendation
• Resume or CV
• Statement of Purpose
• Unofficial transcript(s)

Rehabilitation Counselor Education PhD

• 3 letters of recommendation
• Resume or CV
• Statement of Purpose
• GRE or MAT scores
• Writing Sample (maximum 20 pages)
• Unofficial transcript(s)

No, our programs are fully in-person. We pride ourselves in building a community of teachers, researchers, and advocates in our programs. This is accomplished through in-person courses, seminars, and research.

The RPSE department, along with the School of Education, offers a variety of funding opportunities for it’s master’s and doctoral students.  Please see our Funding and Financial Aid page for up-to-date information.

Applicants are expected to meet general requirements for admission to the Graduate School. The admissions committee considers a variety of factors including academic preparation, letters of recommendation, personal statement, and professional experiences.

Rehabilitation Counselor Education

The following factors will be considered by the admissions committee: aptitude for doctoral-level study, relevance of prior academic work and career goals, stated goals for doctoral study, employment history, potential success in forming effective counseling relationships, respect for cultural differences, evidence of writing and research skills, letters of recommendation, and scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

Special Education

Applicants are expected to meet general requirements for admission to the Graduate School. The admissions committee considers a variety of factors including aptitude for doctoral-level study, relevance of prior academic work and career goals, stated goals for doctoral study, respect for cultural differences, evidence of writing and research skills. Recommendation letters are also considered. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for admission to this program.

Admission requirements for international applicants varies by country.  Please see the Graduate School’s Requirements for Admission, choose the country, and read the requirements carefully.  TOEFL and IELTS requirements are also found on this page.

Master’s program applicants should describe their interest in the field, relevant professional experience, research experience, and professional goals. There is no word or length requirement but 1-2 pages is preferred.

Doctoral program applicants are encouraged to discuss the above as well as their research interests and a potential faculty advisor they would like to work with.  There is no word or length requirement but 2-3 pages is preferred.

Please address any past academic issues or concerns.

For information about reentry into the major as an undergraduate student, please visit the Transfer and Reentry page. For information about reentry into the major as a graduate student, please contact Kayla Armstrong (armstrongalf@wisc.edu).