Professional Studies in Education

An Outstanding Ranking from
Best Accredited Colleges for our
Reading Program!

The UWL Institute for Professional Studies in Education is ranked #1 in Wisconsin and #6 nationally on the Best Accredited Colleges' list of best online Master's in Reading and Literacy program. We are the only Wisconsin program to make it in the top 50 national placings. Sign up now for our quality program!  See the top 50 placings here.best accredited badge

We are Ranked by US News and World Report!

 UW-L’s Professional Studies in Education is ranked as having top online graduate education programs nationally. The program fosters collaboration and builds comradery by using a learning-in-community model allowing educators to share common values, beliefs, and emotions about education. Additionally, a supportive learning environment, constructivist, and experiential learning approach actively shapes educators’ learning experiences.

Tuition as low as $396/credit 

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Most programs offered online.

Congratulations to Our Recent Graduates!

Green Bay cohort of MSED Learning Community GraduatesCongratulations to our recent graduates! 

Amy Oliver to receive
Altman Teacher Education Award

As an educator, Amy Oliver, UWL Educational Leadership Facilitator, has never believed that efforts to support students and families should be limited to the eight hours of a school day or the four walls of a classroom. 

“It is her drive to engage at the community level that sets Amy apart,” says Isaac Hoffman, director of the La Crosse Area Family Collaborative. “She’s constantly engaging directly with families not only about ways to improve their social and academic success, but also on how she can contribute to strong children, strong families and strong communities.” 

When Oliver, principal of Hintgen Elementary School in La Crosse, noticed that children in the local neighborhood were displaying signs of stress and trauma, she rallied a multidisciplinary team to address the problem. 

The result was the Hintgen-Huber Project, established in 2018 to provide much-needed resources including a community center, a neighborhood outreach coordinator and holistic case management and support for families navigating challenges. 

The project was a major success, leading to better outcomes across the neighborhood and further illustrating Oliver’s impact as both an educator and a community leader.  

Her dedication to students and families was the impetus behind her selection for the 2026 Burt and Norma Altman Teacher Education Award from UW-La Crosse, recognizing outstanding educators who have made significant contributions to children and communities. 

“Her leadership, compassion and relentless determination to positively impact the lives of every child she encounters make her an outstanding candidate for recognition from her alma mater,” Hoffman says of Oliver, who earned her bachelor’s degree from UWL in 2005 and her master’s degree from UWL in 2008. “Her hands-on approach is inspiring for all and sets the tone for a supportive “do whatever it takes” mentality when supporting students and families.” 

Oliver has been the principal of Hintgen Elementary since 2016. Previously, she was a principal and K-8 coordinator in the Galesville-Ettrick-Trempealeau School District, a school-wide facilitator in the Madison Metropolitan School District and an elementary school teacher in the Sun Prairie and Janesville school districts. 

At UWL, she also served as an adjunct professor of education for three years, starting in 2020, and later as an adjunct professor in the university’s Institute for Professional Studies in Education (2024-25). 

Every step of the way, Oliver has put students and families first. 

In La Crosse and the other districts in which she has worked, Oliver has coordinated school-community partnerships, collaborated closely with parent-teacher organizations and gone above and beyond for the families she serves. 

Her work has not gone unnoticed in the community and even across the state. 

In 2020, Oliver received a Principal Leadership Award from the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation, which honors excellent school administrators throughout Wisconsin. 

“Amy’s commitment to serving her community outside the school walls represents the leadership that is needed to support the adaptive challenges facing schools today,” says Curt Teff, director of Community Services for the School District of La Crosse. “Her desire to transform the lives of those she serves makes her an excellent choice for this impact award.” 

Why should you choose one of our graduate programs?

Communities of learning

Students get their money's worth!

UWL also earned a spot on the Best Value Schools list, which weighs both academic quality and affordability for out-of-state students receiving need-based financial aid. It is the No. 2 Best Value School among public universities in Minnesota and Wisconsin. 

Experience transformation

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