Application process

School Psychology (MSEd and EdS)

Admission Requirements

Eligibility for admission to the School Psychology program is based on the UWL requirements for admission to graduate study. Successful completion of an undergraduate course in statistics is also required.

The GRE is not required for application to this program.

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.

School psychology graduates are prepared to earn their Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential, which streamlines licensure processes in the majority of states.

If you need more information or have questions about our program, please contact us!

How to apply

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 and Applicant Dashboard Examples

WINGS	Applicant Dashboard
WINGS example	Applicant 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.

Personal statement

This program requires submission of a personal statement. This statement should describe your interest in school psychology and explain why you would be effective in this field. A typed, one- to two-page document should be an adequate length. This statement will be evaluated as an example of your professional writing skills. The program faculty typically consider the following components in a personal statement:

Interest in and motivation for a career in school psychology
Relevant experience(s), which may include leadership opportunities, working across disciplines, working with preK-12 students and/or in preK-12 settings, volunteering, and/or work experience.
How lived experiences, identities, and/or other factors might prepare candidates for success in the school psychology graduate program and in the profession.

Applicants are encouraged to seek feedback on their personal statement from resources such as their academic advisor, career services center, a campus writing center, and/or other mentors/peers prior to submission. If you have questions about the personal statement, please reach out to the Program Director.

Recommendations

You will need to supply contact information for 3 professional references.

At least one reference should come from a faculty member who can speak to your academic preparation and qualifications. The others may come from instructors, employers, supervisors, or professional colleagues.

Download this Reference Form and email it to your reference providers for them to complete. They will upload the form when they submit your reference.

You will submit your recommendation request(s) using the Applicant Dashboard by providing the name and email address for each reference. The system will automatically send the reference an email, including a link through which their recommendation should be uploaded to your application file. Your reference(s) should receive the emailed link within one business day of your request.

It is your responsibility to notify your reference(s) of the emailed request (they may need to check spam/junk folders) and provide information regarding deadlines for completion of the recommendation.

You will be able to monitor the status of your recommendation requests, resend requests, and change reference information on Applicant Dashboard. Please contact gradstudies@uwlax.edu with questions.

Resume

This program requires submission of a resume.

GRE scores - not required

GRE Scores are not required for admission consideration to the program.

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.
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

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 specified deadline. Applicants to programs leading to endorsement for licensure 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.

Deadlines

The application submission deadline is the first Friday in December.

It may take a number of weeks to complete a graduate program application. Please plan accordingly and allow sufficient time for transcripts and recommendations to be received.

Admissions decisions will be made in late February/early March. Candidates will be notified by email of admission or placement on the wait list.

The national deadline to accept an offer of admission to a graduate school psychology program is April 15. Before or after that date, applicants on the wait list may be offered admission, depending on the number of available seats in the program.

Selection process

After the application deadline has passed, submitted materials are reviewed by the Admissions Committee, which may consist of core Program Faculty, affiliate faculty, and the Program Director. Selected materials are also reviewed by graduate assistants in the School Psychology program.

The focus of the Admissions Committee is assessing applicants’ potential to complete graduate studies, professional work characteristics, and potential as a future school psychologist to impact the lives of children. The UWL School Psychology program prepares students to meet the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) professional work characteristics (below), and these are some factors that are considered in making admissions decisions:

effective interpersonal skills
responsibility,
adaptability,
initiative,
dependability,
technological competence,
advocacy skills,
respect for human diversity, and
a commitment to social justice and equity.

A subset of applicants will be invited for an interview with the Admissions Committee.

As part of the interview process, applicants will also have the opportunity to speak with current school psychology students.

School Psychology