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Master's Degree FAQ
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1. Why should I pursue a Master’s degree at UWSP?
The School of Education faculty members at UWSP are
committed to a quality education, which expands one’s
expertise in teaching and other educationally related
positions.
2. What types of Master’s degrees are available?
Master’s of Science in Education-Elementary Education is
for those interested in elementary education and/or persons
with less than two years of teaching experience. After two
years of teaching experience, one could transfer to the
Master’s of Science in General Education, if desired.
Master’s of Science in Education-General Education is for
those with a total of two or more years teaching
experience, with interests in education, certification/
specialization in education, and/or courses in other
departments at UWSP. The most flexibility is present with
this option.
3. How do I go about applying to UWSP?
Call the Graduate School of Education for an application
(715-346-4301) OR
Go to the UW-System website and apply online
www.apply.wisconsin.edu. Then indicate the UW-Stevens
Point campus OR
Click on the Electronic Application for Admission to
Graduate Study at the bottom of this or any other Graduate
page.
4. What happens to my application?
First, you will receive acceptance into UWSP Graduate
Study. Then, your file is forwarded to Graduate Advising,
School of Education, if you indicated a desire for a
Master’s degree in education. Lastly, you will receive
acceptance from the Graduate Advising Office of the
School of Education.
5. Once admitted to Graduate study in the School of Education,
how do I go about getting my courses started?
With your acceptance letter, you will receive a tan-colored
working copy of your program of study, a document on
which you can plan what you want to study. By looking
through the UWSP catalog, you can determine which
courses could meet your future needs.
6. There is a huge array of courses available, how do I decide
what is right for me?
We encourage graduate students to decide what will work
for them, rather than our dictating what we hypothesize
they need. Undergraduate students, follow a prescribed
program. In contrast, graduate students decide what is
most pertinent for them.
You may ask yourself:
What are my future goals? Do I want to
change my concentration in education?
What skills could I develop that will enhance
my skills as a teacher for now and five years
from now?
Am I interested in an avenue of research (an
area of specialization), which could be
supported in my Master’s program?
Do I want to pursue a Master Educator’s
License?
Do I want another certification, which could
expand my present and future roles?
Professional
Development Network
Education
Graduate Courses
7. I want a master’s degree, but I still cannot decide which
courses to take? Could I meet with an advisor?
Although we would prefer that you submit a draft Program
of Study, the Coordinator of Graduate Studies, Dr. Patricia
Caro, can help you brainstorm alternatives. In the end, your
program will be your choice, but Dr. Caro can facilitate a
reflective discussion about your draft of courses.
Once your draft of the Program of Study is received, we
will try to match you with an advisor who has interests and
expertise in the areas you are pursuing. In that manner,
your advisor can help facilitate your selection of options for
your final program plan. However, you can also request a
specific advisor.
8. How do I fill out this working copy of my Program of Study for
my master’s degree?
The working copy is a rough draft. It is only after your
face-to-face meeting with your advisor that your program
becomes final.
Even with your final program, it is not unusual for program
plans to be changed due to other alternatives or courses
becoming available. There is always flexibility associated
with each Program of Study.
9. What are the key components of a working copy?
There are three key areas regardless of the type of
master’s program you seek. These three areas are:
Foundations, Curriculum, and Research. One course is
taken in each area based on the array presented on the
School of Education-Graduate Advising information sheet.
For example, under the Foundations area, you may take
one out of the four available options. In Curriculum, each
graduate student takes Education 721 – Fundamentals of
Curriculum. Then, under Research you may complete one
of the three research options given.
The remaining 21 credits vary according to the type
of degree sought and your choice of courses. Your
working copy is divided into discrete sections in order
to make it easy to write down your choices.
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