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Graduate students

UW-L offers numerous graduate programs that offer close interaction with excellent faculty through coursework, research, independent studies, internships and numerous other experiences. Visit the UW-L Graduate Catalog for a detailed description of each graduate program or contact the Office of University Graduate Studies for additional information on UW-L graduate programs. UW-L is a member of the Council of Graduate Schools and has several programs with national accreditation.

Degree-seeking students:

If you’re seeking admission for a graduate program, you must complete a graduate admission application. To get one, contact UW-L Admissions.

In accordance with the University of Wisconsin System policies, all graduate students applying to a degree program must submit a nonrefundable $45 application fee. If you delay your enrollment, the application fee will apply to the next semester and/or summer session. It is your responsibility to have all official post-secondary educational transcripts (undergraduate and graduate) of previously established academic records, bearing the official seals of the institutions where course work was taken, sent directly from the registrar of each institution to the UW- L Admissions Office (115 Graff Main Hall, 1725 State Street, La Crosse, WI 54601). You do not need to send UW-L transcripts. To transfer appropriate credits into your program, you must also include a written request to the graduate program director.

Special nondegree students:

If you have a bachelor's degree and want to enroll in certain courses, but do not want to pursue a graduate degree program, you may be admitted with special nondegree status. In that case the $45 fee would not apply. You could choose to audit classes, in which case you wouldn’t have to take exams and you wouldn’t receive credit.

If you decide to enter a degree program later, you will be considered for admission provided you have a "B" average in graduate work and meet all program requirements. 

No more than 12 credits earned as a special nondegree student may be applied toward a degree program at UW-L. Further, deans and/or program directors/coordinators may accept or reject credit taken as a graduate special nondegree student.  A special student who doesn’t meet the minimum 2.50 grade point average admission requirement won’t be accepted in any graduate degree program, and credits earned as a special nondegree student will not apply toward a degree. All graduate level work, including courses taken at other accredited institutions, will be included when computing your grade point average. 

Graduate students admitted with academic deficiencies:

If you have been admitted to a graduate program, in spite of academic deficiencies, you may be classified with the appropriate special student designation. As the deficiencies are resolved, you may be admitted to the graduate program with appropriate graduate classification and you would be exempt from the "12 credits as a special nondegree student" restriction. See Special nondegree students.

Admission guidelines:

To qualify for unconditional admission to graduate study, you must have:

  1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
  2. (a) An overall undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.85 on a 4.00 scale, or
    (b) An average of at least 3.00 in the last half of all undergraduate work, or
    (c) An average of at least 3.00 for no less than 12 semester credits of graduate study at another accredited graduate school (not applicable to the MBA Program).
  3. Departmental or school/college approval to enter the graduate program chosen.
  4. Satisfactory scores in all tests required by established program, department or college policy.

Admission on probation:

If you have an undergraduate grade point average between 2.50 and 2.84 and are otherwise qualified, you may be admitted to graduate programs on probation if there is evidence of your ability to do satisfactory graduate work.

If you have earned at least six credits in an accredited graduate school with grades of "A" or "B," you may be admitted on probation if you meet all other requirements. If your undergraduate grade point average is below 2.50, you may be allowed to take six semester credits of advanced undergraduate or graduate course work (specified by the appropriate program director). If you earn a "B" or better in each course, you may be granted admission on probation, however, these credits will not apply to a graduate degree.

Probation regulations:

If you entered on probation, after completing nine graduate semester credits with a cumulative graduate grade point average of 3.00 or better, you will be removed from probation. If you haven’t attained the required 3.00 or better, you will be dismissed.

If you were admitted in good standing but have less than a 3.00 grade point average after nine semester credits of course work, you will be placed on probation until you earn enough grade points to bring your overall average to 3.00. If you fall below a 3.00 semester average during any semester while on probation, you will be dismissed.

If you were admitted on probation and taken off probation you may be returned to probationary status without dismissal. If you fall below a 3.00 semester average during any semester after being returned to probation, you will be dismissed.

Graduate reentry:

If you voluntarily interrupted university enrollment for one semester or longer while in good academic standing, apply for reentry to the Director of University Graduate Studies through the Office of Records and Registration. Summer session is not considered a semester for reentry purposes. Apply at least one month prior to the beginning of the planned term of reenrollment.

International student admission:

UW-L has designed admissions procedures to help international students who want to earn graduate degrees at UW-L. If you aren’t a U.S. citizen or a permanent U.S. resident, contact the Office of International Education.