PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
Master's Degree Programs
Fine tune your skills to unlock your potential in education.
Whether you’re seeking a pathway to teaching college courses or looking to raise the ceiling within your current role, a Master of Professional Studies from UW-Whitewater will help you maximize your growth potential as an educator.
Our professional studies degree program offers advanced coursework focused on research, practice, and professional voice. Choose from emphases in curriculum and instruction, information, technology, and libraries, or reading instruction and dyslexia — in any program, you’ll develop expertise to drive meaningful improvements in teaching and learning.
With no GRE or admission test required, start your professional studies in education journey at UW-Whitewater when you’re ready – either the spring, summer, or fall term. Work through this 30-credit program at your pace — full-time students can finish in as few as three semesters — and enjoy convenient course times, condensed scheduling, and online class options.
CAN WE BRAG A LITTLE?
Gain an edge in your educational career. Our graduates are in demand, with all recent professional studies students finding employment. (2022-23 research report respondents)
Educating teachers was UW-Whitewater’s original mission during our founding in 1868 – we’ve got more than 155 years of experience championing future teachers and leaders. You’ll enjoy our small class sizes and the availability of our award-winning faculty.
What our Professional Studies students do
Read, analyze, and evaluate educational research
Learn best practices and industry trends
Engage in hands-on training with experienced faculty
Why study Professional Studies at UW-Whitewater?
Choose your area of focus
With a base of the program’s core courses, students in the MSE in Professional Studies program can choose from three emphases to best fit their strengths and interests:
- Curriculum and instruction
- Information, technology and libraries
- Reading instruction and dyslexia
In the curriculum and instruction emphasis, practicing teachers improve their own craft, eventually engaging in action research in their own classroom. The cohort-based, hybrid curriculum and instruction degree program allows teachers to learn with colleagues in their own district and to discuss and research topics relevant to their teaching practice. The program meets for courses in person in the evenings, so it’s designed for working teachers.
The information, technology and libraries emphasis prepares students to be leaders and library media specialists in Wisconsin schools. The program puts an emphasis on professional collaboration with classes and lessons designed to help students become future-ready librarians who are prepared to identify and implement best practices in school library media centers. The program is designed to support working professionals, both those already in libraries and those who are hoping to transition to the field. Classes are provided online with in-person weekend residencies once per semester. Students are given the opportunity to learn from instructors who have recently worked in K-12 spaces.
The reading instruction and dyslexia emphasis equips educators with dual licensure as a Wisconsin Reading Teacher and Reading Specialist, along with a Certificate in Dyslexia and Language-Based Learning Disabilities. This 35-credit program provides advanced training to meet the growing demand for specialists in reading and dyslexia intervention, preparing graduates for impactful roles such as reading teacher, specialist, coach, and dyslexia interventionist. With flexible, asynchronous coursework, this program is ideal for professionals seeking to enhance their expertise and make a lasting difference in K-12 literacy.
A value that’s best in the state
UW-Whitewater offers the best value of any Universities of Wisconsin school, and the MSE in Professional Studies program is no exception to this. Wisconsin residents pay a cost of $585.74 per credit, while non-residents pay $1,200.20 per credit for the 2024-25 academic year. See our Tuition and Fees web page for complete information.
Students completing a degree program may be eligible for financial aid in the form of grants, loans, scholarships, or employment. All of these make up a “financial aid package” and may be offered singly or in various combinations. Priority for aid is based on financial need and how promptly applications are filed. To find out if you qualify, or if you have other financial aid questions, contact the financial aid staff member assigned to you by last name, e-mail uwwfao@uww.edu or call 262-472-1130.
What our graduates do
Receive salary increases or promotions
Teach post-secondary courses
Work as library or technology specialists
Careers: What can you do with an MSE in Professional Studies?
Here are some of the places where our recent graduates have been hired or have been employed:
- University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
- University of Wisconsin-Platteville
- Milwaukee Area Technical College
- Mukwonago Area School District
- Trevor-Wilmot Consolidated School District
- Special Olympics of Wisconsin
- Beaver Dam Unified School District
- Big Bend Elementary School
- Platteville School District
- School District of Bloomer
- Madison Metropolitan School District
- School District of Waukesha
- School District of La Crosse
- Blair-Taylor School District
- Milwaukee Public Schools
- School District of Janesville
Here are some of the titles they hold:
- Computer science and math teacher
- School library media specialist
- Athletic director
- English teacher
- Biology/chemistry teacher
- Elementary education teacher
- Physical education teacher
- Technology teacher
- Advanced learning program teacher
- Student operations coordinator
- Special education teacher
- Bilingual teacher
- Literacy teacher
- Library media director
- Teacher librarian and textbook coordinator
- Bilingual student recruiter
- Innovation specialist
Our Professional Studies faculty
The MSE in Professional Studies program is housed in UW-Whitewater’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction, which is dedicated to a democratic, just, and equitable vision of PreK-12 schools and institutions of higher education. We prepare pre-service teachers and scholar practitioners to be lifelong learners and agents of change. We challenge, engage, and inspire students through innovative, transformative approaches that emphasize the diversity among learners, contemporary research, and meaningful integration of technologies.
Want to learn more about the MSE in Professional Studies graduate program?
Sign up for an information session | 262-472-1078 | tillettw@uww.edu
UW-Whitewater offers the following graduate degrees in Professional Studies:
- Master of Science in Education — Professional Studies, curriculum and instruction emphasis
- Master of Science in Education — Professional Studies, information, technology, and library emphasis
- Master of Science in Education — Professional Studies, reading instruction and dyslexia intervention emphasis
To qualify for admission to the MSE in Professional Studies program students must meet graduate admission criteria.
Deadlines vary by term and can be found on the graduate admission deadlines website.
Additional requirements for admission to the MSE in Professional Studies program:
- Please upload a personal statement (2-3 pages) describing the reason behind your decision to pursue this degree, your short- and long-term career goals, and the value you believe you will add to the learning experience of your fellow students.
- Complete a background check through ViewPoint. Instructions can be found in the background checks under the graduate program application process admission information.
All requirements can be submitted during the application process.
If you do not meet the graduate admission criteria, please email us at edonline@uww.edu to determine if you could be admitted on a contingent basis.
International students must meet additional criteria and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Contact us at grad@uww.edu for information and assistance.
State-specific Professional Licensure information for this program can be found on the university's Institutional Research Assessment and Planning website.
