Applicants for Departmental Master's Degrees Should Take the Following Steps: 1. Seek admission to the UWM Graduate School A. Complete the Online Application
B. Read the instructions carefully and complete the forms accurately. Please be sure to indicate clearly the emphasis in Adult and Continuing Education Leadership. If you have any questions you may contact the Graduate School at (414) 229-4982.
C. An undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 is required for clear admission. Students with less than a 2.75 G.P.A. may be admitted on probation if satisfactory evidence of ability to perform graduate study successfully is provided (graduate course work completed that shows academic ability; GRE scores, Miller Analogy Test scores, etc.).
D. Applicants with low undergraduate grade point averages (UGPA's) may be required to take one or more graduate courses to indicate their ability to perform satisfactorily in graduate studies. Applicants with UGPA's below 2.75, who have already satisfactorily completed several graduate courses here or elsewhere, may have these courses used to qualify them for admission. Courses used to qualify for admission would not be accepted to satisfy degree requirements.
E. Students who wish to transfer credits from other campuses to their UWM programs must fill out an "Application for Transfer of Credit" available from the Graduate School in Mitchell Hall. The application should be completed during the first semester following admission, or as soon as possible following completion of such a course. Up to 12 graduate credits may be transferred with the approval of the Graduate School and the advisor.
F. For detailed information on Graduate School requirements, see the Graduate School Bulletin available at the Graduate Student Services Office, Room 261, Mitchell Hall.
2. Allow for action on your applicationThe Graduate School will send your application to the Department of Administrative Leadership for review and recommendation. The Graduate School will notify you of the final action on your application.
3. Plan your programIf action on your application is favorable, you will receive a letter from the Department Chairperson suggesting an advisor to consult concerning your Master's Degree program. The advisor will assist you in planning your program. In preparation for your first conference you should plan a tentative program using the Guide Sheets included in this brochure. This should be done as soon as possible after admission. You should let your advisor know the courses for which you enroll each semester; any changes in an approved program must have advisor approval. Your advisor will be glad to discuss with you any questions you may have in relation to your professional objectives and your studies at UWM.
4. Note time limitsMaster's degree programs must be completed within seven years of admission. For students in full-time residence, it is possible to complete master's degree requirements in one academic year, plus one or two summers. Part-time students are likely to require from three to five years to complete degree requirements, depending on whether or not they attend summer sessions.
5. Complete a Master's comprehensive examination Graduate School regulations require all students to complete a final comprehensive examination for the Master's Degree. This examination ascertains whether or not each student is able to apply knowledge, understandings and concepts included in the Master's program to questions, situations or problems of an administrative nature. In the past, this has taken the form of a three to four hour written essay examination consisting of three or four questions.
It is most important that the candidate notify the departmental secretary in writing of his/her intention to take the examination no later than the second week of the semester of the examination. In addition, a formal application to take the examination must be filed with the Graduate School Office early in the semester.
The candidate's application to take the examination will be approved only if:
1. All required course credits have been completed, or will be completed by the end of the semester the examination is taken, including removal of all incompletes. An overall GPA of 3.0 or better is required.
2. All off-campus graduate credit to be included in the program has been approved. This requires a formal application for transfer of off-campus graduate credit to UWM (forms available from the Graduate School Office), and receipt by the Graduate School of transcripts of all such credit.
6. Departmental grade requirementsStudents who receive a grade of "C" or below in any departmental course, or a "B-" in two departmental courses, may be dropped from the program.
