UW-Madison - Transfer Admission Requirements

Transfer Admission Requirements

University of Wisconsin-Madison ~ Spring 2010

Minimum GPA and Credit Requirements:

Admission is competitive and selective. Admission decisions are based on GPA, intended major, rigor and breadth of curriculum, appropriateness of previous work for continued study at UW-Madison, and other predictors of success. There can be no assurance of admission based on a given GPA.

Applicants must have earned at least 24 applicable semester credits prior to transfer. Applicants must have completed high-school-level algebra and plane geometry, college preparatory math, and two high-school years or two college semesters of the same foreign language.

Some admission preference will be given to UW Colleges transfers. UW System transfers seeking major programs not available at their current campuses will also receive some preference.

Admission to the campus does not guarantee admission to the major or professional program. Admission to the major or professional program requires a separate major declaration or application for admission directly to the program. The following list shows majors and corresponding minimum GPA requirements.

GPA Requirements for Transfer Students in Selected Programs/Majors:

Important Notes:

This listing provides a brief synopsis of requirements for each of the majors most frequently asked about. Many majors, not listed here, have differing course sequences and GPA requirements. Please consult the major department for detailed information.
2. GPAs noted below refer to major program requirements for selection of already enrolled students. These GPAs are not qualifications for assured admission to the campus.

Business—Prospective transfer students who matriculated into a postsecondary campus earlier than summer 2008 and do not fall under the School of Business’s 10-semester rule: These prospective transfer students are not eligible to apply for direct admission to the Wisconsin School of Business at the same time that they apply for admission to UW-Madison. In order to be eligible for admission to the Wisconsin School of Business, these students must complete a minimum of 12 credits in residence at UW-Madison, 54 credits, and the pre-business course requirements. These requirements can be completed or in the process of being completed at the time of application to the Wisconsin School of Business. The minimum of 12 credits in residence is needed to establish a UW-Madison GPA. Admission decisions are based on the GPA of pre-business courses taken at UW-Madison, the GPA of Business and Economics courses taken at UW-Madison, and nonacademic strengths such as leadership, community service, and other life experiences. Admission is highly competitive because of enrollment limitations. Students with 100 or more credits are not eligible to apply for admission. See www.bus.wisc.edu/undergrad for details.

Prospective transfer students who matriculated into a postsecondary campus in summer 2008 or later or who fall under the School of Business’s 10-semester rule: Prospective transfer students who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply for direct admission to the Wisconsin School of Business at the same time they apply for admission to UW-Madison:

Enrolled at a Wisconsin public college or university
Will complete a minimum of 24 total credits at a Wisconsin public college or university
Will complete all pre-business course requirements before transferring to UW-Madison

Application for direct admission is made the semester prior to transferring to UW-Madison. If the above criteria for direct admission are not met, a minimum of 12 credits in residence at UW-Madison and the pre-business course requirements must be completed or in the process of being completed in order to apply to the Wisconsin School of Business. Admission decisions for those eligible for direct admission are based on the GPA established in pre-business requirements, cumulative GPA, and personal characteristics that contribute to the overall strength and diversity of the Wisconsin School of Business student body. These characteristics include, but are not limited to, strength of character, ability to overcome adversity, leadership, and work experience. Admission is highly competitive because of enrollment limitations. See www.bus.wisc.edu/undergrad for details. Admission decisions for those who are not eligible for direct admission are based on the considerations stated above in the section for prospective transfer students who matriculated into a postsecondary campus earlier than summer 2008 and do not fall under the School of Business’s 10-semester rule.

Computer Science—Admission consideration requires a 2.6 GPA in required computer science courses (UW-Madison CS 240, CS 302, CS 367). Transfer students are not admitted directly to the major.

Dance—This major requires an audition completed in the year prior to admission. Contact the program for audition dates and additional information. A 2.5 cumulative GPA is required. The cumulative GPA is calculated from the last 60 credits for applicants with more than 60 credits.

Education—Admission is limited and competitive in most programs, with selection based on a combination of GPA and nonacademic factors. The cumulative GPA is calculated from the last 60 credits. Admission consideration criteria for limited enrollment programs are listed below. These teacher certification programs admit students once a year, for the fall semester only, except Art Education, which admits for the spring semester only. A February 1 program application deadline applies for all programs except Art Education.

Elementary Education—Either 2.5 GPA or minimum PPST scores; 40 credits earned by the end of fall semester of application year; essay; autobiographical sketch; letters of recommendation; program application.

World Language: French, German, Spanish—Minimum 54 credits; 2.5 cumulative GPA; minimum credits in major; 2.5 GPA in major courses; PPST scores; résumé; documentation of completed immersion experience; letters of recommendation; videotape or audiotape in the target language; program application. Program admission criteria may change for fall 2010 admission.

Special Education—2.5 cumulative GPA; PPST scores; program application; written statement of purpose; résumé; letters of recommendation; 40 credits earned by the end of fall semester of application year.

Secondary Education: English, Math, Science, Social Studies—Minimum 54 credits; 2.75 cumulative GPA; minimum credits in major; 2.75 GPA in major courses, PPST scores; essay; autobiographical questionnaire; letter(s) of recommendation; program application.

Art Education—Minimum 72 total credits; 36 credits of studio art; 6 credits of aesthetic requirement; 2.5 cumulative GPA; PPST scores; samples of art work; résumé; written statement; program application. Admission effective for spring semester; the October 1 application deadline may be extended to December 1 if spaces are still available.

Physical Education Teacher Certification Program—Minimum 54 credits; 2.75 cumulative GPA; completed prerequisites; 30 hours experience in two PE settings; minimum PPST scores; purpose statement; program application.

Engineering—Admission consideration requires a minimum 24 total credits (at least 17 credits need to be in required math/science courses), including GER Communication Part A and the equivalent of these UW-Madison courses: EMA 201 or Physics 201; Chem 109 or Chem 103–104; and Math 221 and Math 222. A minimum 2.5 GPA is required in the 17-credit math/science sequence and any additional courses taken in statistics, chemistry, physics, computer science, and mathematics. Admission is based on program capacity. For most programs, the cumulative GPA required is usually a 3.0 minimum. Admission to Biomedical Engineering and Engineering Physics is regularly more competitive. Admission to other engineering degree programs may become more competitive without notice if demand trends change. Admission to the engineering degree programs requires admission to the College of Engineering. Prospective transfer students who will not have completed the required courses (see above) by the anticipated time of transfer either should remain at their current campus to complete the courses or should apply for admission to the College of Letters and Science and complete the courses at UW-Madison.

Journalism—Admission to the major in Journalism is competitive and is based on a variety of academic and nonacademic factors. Each fall and spring semester, 100 students are admitted. Transfer students must complete one semester at UW-Madison to establish a UW-Madison GPA before applying to the major. Students must have earned a minimum of 40 credits, either at UW-Madison or via transfer credit, and meet course prerequisites before starting the major. For more information, visit www.journalism.wisc.edu/students/undergraduate/prospective.

Kinesiology—Admission is limited and competitive. The cumulative GPA is calculated from the last 60 credits for applicants with more than 60 credits. These programs admit students once a year—for the fall semester only. The program application deadline is February 1.

Athletic Training and also Exercise and Movement Science Options—Minimum 54 credits; 2.75 cumulative GPA; completed prerequisites; 2.75 GPA on prerequisites; autobiographical sketch; personal statement; letters of recommendation; program application.

Nursing—Admission to the program is available for the fall semester only. To be considered for admission, the following academic requirements must be completed by the end of the spring semester: (1) minimum 54 degree credits of previous college work with a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA; (2) the following prerequisites with a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA (four of the seven prerequisites must be completed by the end of the previous fall semester): chemistry; biochemistry or microbiology; human anatomy; human physiology; introductory psychology; introductory sociology; and human growth and development. All prerequisites must be completed by the end of spring semester. Applicants must also submit a personal statement. Application to the program is in addition to application to the campus. The application deadline for the program is February 1. Because of enrollment limitations, it is likely that the GPA required to be competitive may be well above the required 2.75 minimum.

Pharmacy—The Doctor of Pharmacy meets the educational requirement for licensure as a registered pharmacist. The B.S. in Pharmacology & Toxicology, which does NOT meet the educational requirement for licensure as a registered pharmacist, is also offered.

Pharm. D.—Admission consideration requires 62 credits of specified pre-pharmacy course work, Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) scores, and other items. Admission is very competitive because there are many more applicants than available spaces in the program. A number of factors are considered. All materials (except PCAT scores) must be postmarked by the deadline of November 1, 2009.

B.S. Pharmacology & Toxicology—Admission consideration requires 60 credits of specified pre-pharmacology / toxicology course work and other items. A number of factors are considered; academic achievement is the primary criterion. All materials must be postmarked by the deadline of February 1, 2010.

Admission to both programs is for fall semester only. Note that application deadlines and other information are subject to change. For the most current information and application materials, please consult the School of Pharmacy Web site, or contact Student & Academic Affairs Office via e-mail (pharminfo@pharmacy.wisc.edu) or by phone ((608) 262-6234).

Rehabilitation Psychology—Admission consideration requires a 2.5 cumulative GPA, 40 credits earned by the end of the semester the application is filed, and program application. The application deadline is October 1 for spring semester admission or February 1 for fall semester admission. The cumulative GPA is calculated from the last 60 credits for applicants with more than 60 credits.

Anticipated Application Deadlines/Priority Dates:

Applications are accepted beginning February 1, 2009.
The application deadline is October 1, 2009. Decisions are made starting in October 2009.
Exception: For Doctor of Pharmacy deadlines, visit www.pharmacy.wisc.edu.

Registration Dates:

All admitted transfer students are required to attend SOAR (Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration).

Special Information:

Admission requirements and dates may be modified because of changing enrollment demands.

Special Note for UW System Transfer Applicants:

The UW System undergraduate transfer policy states that priority for admission will be given to UW Colleges transfers and other UW System transfers from campuses where a major is not available, subject to the limits of a campus’s enrollment target. All UW System campuses have Guaranteed Transfer agreements with the UW Colleges. Students admitted under these agreements should follow the requirements of the agreement. The stipulations of these agreements are not included in this listing.