Transfer Admission Requirements

The Bachelor of Business Administration Program (BBA) has an annual application available during the first two weeks of each March for students interested in enrolling in Undergraduate Business for the ensuing fall term only. Admission decisions are based on the completion of four Pre-Business courses, cumulative GPA, resume, and essay. Admission is competitive due to enrollment limitations. Students will be notified of their acceptance in June, no later than July 1. Once enrolled at UW–Madison, students may apply a maximum of one time within their first four semesters (fall/spring). Direct Transfer-eligible students that are admitted and enroll at UW–Madison, but are denied to Business, may apply a second time within their first four enrolled semesters (fall/spring) at UW–Madison if they are otherwise eligible.

Pre-Business prerequisite courses can be completed prior to transferring to UW–Madison. An AP score of ‘4’ or higher or equivalent college coursework (as determined by UW–Madison) will be accepted for these four courses. College course equivalencies can be reviewed using Transferology and should not be assumed as transferrable and equivalent based on course title alone.

Students are advised to review all eligibility requirements and admission policies at the following link:
https://business.wisc.edu/undergraduate/admissions/pre-business-policies/#pre-business-admission-eligibility-requirements

Students transferring for spring semester enrollment at UW–Madison must complete a minimum of 12 credits in residence at UW–Madison, as well as any remaining Pre-Business prerequisite courses, during the spring term to be eligible to apply for fall enrollment in the BBA Program. These requirements must be completed or in the process of being completed at the time of application to the BBA Program. In-progress courses must be completed by the end of the application term and cannot be deferred to a later term.

Direct Transfer Admission: (Available for fall semester enrolling transfers only; read below for eligible institutions):
Students may apply for direct transfer admission into the BBA Program at the same time they apply for admission to UW–Madison if they are transferring from a Universities of Wisconsin institution (both two and four years), one of the Wisconsin Technical Colleges, or one of Wisconsin Tribal Colleges for the fall term only. Students transferring from the above institutions for a term other than the fall term, or for any term from a private institution or institution outside the state of Wisconsin are not eligible for direct transfer admission and must complete 12 credits in residence at UW–Madison before applying to the BBA program in the spring semester. Please note the spring term application deadlines for fall enrollment for both UW–Madison and the Wisconsin School of Business are different. A student cannot be admitted to Undergraduate Business without first being admitted to UW–Madison. Direct Transfer-eligible students that are admitted and enroll at UW–Madison, but are denied to Business, may apply a second time within their first four enrolled semesters at UW–Madison if they are otherwise eligible.

For additional information on the transfer admission process, select “Transfer Students” from this Wisconsin School of Business webpage: https://business.wisc.edu/undergraduate/admissions/

Questions can be directed to our Pre-Business Advisors at prebusadvising@wsb.wisc.edu or 608-262-0471.

Students who have made an informed decision to pursue engineering and have not exceeded the 80 credit limit may apply for transfer admission to the College of Engineering. Individuals who have already earned an undergraduate degree are not eligible to apply.

The College of Engineering has dual degree programs with select four-year UW System campuses including UW–Eau Claire, UW–La Crosse, UW–Oshkosh, UW–River Falls, and UW–Whitewater. Eligible dual degree applicants are not subject to the 80 credit limit.

To apply:

Transfer students must specify which one of the 13 undergraduate engineering programs they are intending as their first-choice major on the university application. The Office of Admissions and Recruitment evaluates all transfer applications to the College of Engineering and selects students for direct admission in their intended engineering program. Admission is selective and competitive. To be considered for program admission, students must meet the UW–Madison transfer admission requirements and demonstrate success in engineering-related coursework: https://engineering.wisc.edu/admissions/undergraduate/transfer-from-off-campus/

After application:

Soon after notification of admission to the College of Engineering, students will be invited to submit a supplemental application for progression in their intended engineering program. If the application is approved, they may continue in their program needing to fulfill only the graduation requirements after transfer.

Students who do not fulfill the progression requirements before transfer must do so after transfer and within two semesters in residency. They must now also meet engineering major GPA benchmarks: https://engineering.wisc.edu/student-services/undergraduate-student-advising/progression/. They may then continue fulfilling graduation requirements for their program.

For students admitted to other schools and colleges at UW–Madison, admission to the College of Engineering is a limited enrollment option. Because admission to all programs is competitive and selective, admission is not guaranteed. See the “Cross-Campus Students” section: https://engineering.wisc.edu/admissions/undergraduate/cross-campus-students/

For a more detailed explanation of the transfer admission process to the College of Engineering, see the website for off-campus transfer students: https://engineering.wisc.edu/admissions/undergraduate/transfer-from-off-campus/. Questions should be directed to the Transfer and Academic Program Manager at ugtransfer@engr.wisc.edu.

Requires an audition for admission into the Dance degree program. Students must audition prior to admission to enter with a Dance degree designation. Contact the Dance Department for audition dates and additional information. 2.5 cumulative GPA required. Cumulative GPA also calculated from the last 60 credits for applicants with more than 60 credits.

The undergraduate Teacher Education programs listed below are changing from an application-based admission process to a declaration-based process. This change means that admission will be open, not limited or competitive. Students completing the declaration criteria (including required courses, GPA, and any deadlines) will just submit a declaration form to major in their desired area. Art Education, Physical Education, and Special Education have implemented this change. For eligibility purposes, the cumulative GPA is also calculated from the last 60 credits.

Although some program areas have stated deadlines, the deadline for any program may be extended if spaces are still available after the initial deadline. This has recently been the case. Students not currently enrolled on the UW–Madison campus must also submit an application to the Office of Admissions and Recruitment following campus transfer deadlines; these are earlier than the program deadline.

For more detailed information regarding application/declaration procedures and the selection process for each program area, see the School of Education section of the campus Guide.

Art Education

Art Education currently accepts declarations at any point during the year. Declaration currently requires a minimum of 40 total credits by the end of the semester prior to declaration; 20 credits of studio art; 6 credits of the aesthetics requirement; 2.75 cumulative GPA by the end of the term prior to declaration; program declaration form; meeting with the Art Education advisor, Dr. Mary Hoefferle, or a School of Education Student Services advisor. Email Dr. Hoefferle directly to set up an appointment at hoefferle@wisc.edu. Email soeacademicservices@education.wisc.edu or call 608-262-1651 to schedule an appointment in Student Services. Prerequisite coursework must be completed by the end of the declaration semester.

Elementary Education

Acceptance into Elementary Education is currently based on a combination of GPA and non-academic factors. Admission consideration currently requires a minimum of 40 credits earned by the end of the fall semester of the application year; essay(s); resume; program application. Completion of RP&SE 300 by the end of the summer of application year is required for students pursuing the Elementary Education and Special Education dual certification option. Application information is available by October 1, with an initial deadline of February 1. The application period may be extended if spaces are still available after the initial deadline.

Physical Education Teacher Certification Program

Physical Education candidates may apply at any time provided they have a 2.75 cumulative GPA; second year academic standing; and met with a Physical Education or School of Education Student Services advisor (see the Guide page for Physical Education advisor contact information; email soeacademicservices@education.wisc.edu or call 608-262-1651 to schedule an appointment in Student Services.

Secondary Education: English, Math, Science, Social Studies, World Languages

UW–Madison does not offer undergraduate teacher education programs in these subject areas. Instead, teacher certification is now accomplished at the graduate level, while obtaining a Master’s degree through the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Students must have completed an undergraduate degree with course work in the relevant subject (usually a major) and will apply during the previous academic year. Candidate applications received prior to January 15 will be reviewed for priority admission. Applications received after January 15 will be reviewed as space allows. See https://uwteach.education.wisc.edu/ for more information.

Special Education

Eligibility to declare Special Education currently requires a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA; program declaration; written statement of purpose; 40 credits earned by the end of the fall semester of declaration year; completion of RP&SE 300 by end of summer of the declaration year. Application information is available by October 1, with an initial deadline of February 1. The declaration period may be extended if spaces are still available after the initial deadline.

Both the Kinesiology and Physical Education programs have changed from an application-based admission process to a declaration-based process, effective in the fall of 2022. This change means that admission to these programs will be open, not limited or competitive. Students completing the declaration criteria (including required courses, GPA, and any deadlines) will just submit a declaration form to be a Kinesiology or Physical Education major. More detailed information regarding these changes and the declaration process for each program can be found in the School of Education section of the campus Guide.

Kinesiology

Declaration currently requires a 2.75 cumulative GPA; completed prerequisites; declaration form. Prerequisite coursework must be completed by the end of the spring semester of the declaration year. Cumulative GPA also calculated from the last 60 credits to determine eligibility. Kinesiology currently accepts declarations once a year. Application information is available by October 1, with an initial deadline of February 1. The application period may be extended if spaces are still available after the initial deadline.

Physical Education (Teacher Certification) Option

Physical Education candidates may apply at any time provided they have a 2.75 cumulative GPA; second year academic standing; and met with a Physical Education or School of Education Student Services advisor (see the Guide page for Physical Education advisor contact information; email soeacademicservices@education.wisc.edu or call 608-262-1651 to schedule an appointment in Student Services. Cumulative GPA is also calculated from the last 60 credits to determine eligibility.

The Rehabilitation Psychology program has changed from an application-based admission process to a declaration-based process. This change means that admission to Rehabilitation Psychology will be open, not limited or competitive. Off-campus transfers are admitted directly to the Bachelor of Science–Rehabilitation Psychology degree program at any time.

Admission is based on a portfolio submission including a 550-word essay, official transcripts from transfer institutions, unofficial UW-Madison transcript, and a resume. Criteria for admission include completion of JOURN 201 – Introduction to Mass Communication, writing skill, grades and communication-related extracurricular participation. Around 120 students are admitted each fall and spring semester. Non-admitted applicants may be deferred admission to the following semester or may reapply in subsequent semesters. Overall, about 75 percent of applicants are admitted counting subsequent attempts. Transfers must complete one semester at UW–Madison to establish a UW–Madison GPA before admission and may apply during their first semester at UW–Madison for admission the following semester. Students must have earned a minimum of 24 credits either at UW–Madison or via transfer credit from another college degree program and meet journalism course prerequisites before starting the Journalism major. For more information, visit our website. For additional information on the program including alumni testimonials and faculty interviews, please click here.

Journalism majors may not double-major in areas outside the College of Letters & Science, including Art, Business, and majors in Human Ecology such as Design Studies, as this would entail multiple degrees; Journalism students may complete certificates instead in fields outside L&S if available.

The Mead Witter School of Music requires an audition before admission. See https://music.wisc.edu/undergraduate-admissions/  for audition dates, application deadlines, and additional information. Prospective transfer music students should transfer to UW–Madison as early as possible in their degree program, preferably applying and auditioning during the first year. Transfer students will be declared in their specific major at orientation and will be subject to continuation requirements. The minimum GPA required for the declaration of major depends on the desired degree program in music. Bachelor of Music degree programs (Performance and Education majors) requires a 2.75 cumulative GPA, 3.00 all-music GPA, and 2.50 theory/history GPA. The liberal arts music major with a performance option requires minimum GPAs of 2.00: cumulative, all-music, and theory/history.

Students must apply for admission to the traditional nursing program in addition to their application to the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The application cycle runs once a year with the application opening in early December and closing mid-January for admission to the program starting the following fall semester. Applicants submit personal information, academic/educational history, work experience, and involvement activities, and several personal statements as part of the BS-Nursing program application. Following an eligibility review, all eligible applicants are required to participate in interviews. While we only admit to the nursing program for the fall term, transfer students can apply for spring admission to UW–Madison and come to campus as a pre-nursing student. Admission to the nursing major is competitive and selective. In a typical year, 350–400 students apply for approximately 160 spots in the incoming cohort. The School of Nursing faculty admissions committee employs a holistic review process that takes into account key factors such as academic performance and preparation, health care experience, leadership, extracurricular/cocurricular and service activities, diversity of experience and background, and personal statements when making admission decisions. The School of Nursing requires a minimum cumulative and prerequisite GPA of 2.75 for application, though the average cumulative and prerequisite GPA of the admitted class trends at 3.5.

In order to be considered for admission to the traditional nursing program, the following academic requirements must be met: (1) complete a minimum of 54 degree credits of previous college-level coursework by the end of the spring semester prior to the fall term of application, (2) with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 in all college-level coursework at the time of application and at the end of the spring semester prior to fall nursing admission; (3) complete 7 prerequisite courses with a combined GPA of at least 2.75 and least a C (2.0) in each of the individual seven prerequisite courses (Note: four of the seven prerequisites must be complete by the end of the fall semester prior to admission; three of the seven prerequisites can be in-progress during the spring semester prior to admission). All prerequisites must be completed by the end of the spring semester to remain eligible for fall admission. To review the prerequisite courses and additional information on the admissions process, please visit https://nursing.wisc.edu/undergraduate/bsn-traditional/.

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

PharmD

Seventy-two credits of specified pre-pharmacy course work and a variety of non-academic criteria are required for consideration (bachelor’s degree not required). Admission is competitive because there are more applicants than available spaces in the program. Using a holistic approach, a number of factors are considered when reviewing application materials. To better serve our PharmD applicants, UW–Madison participates in PharmCAS (Pharmacy College Application Service). The PharmCAS application deadline will be in early March for admission in the following fall. Visit our pre-pharmacy page for more information about our pre-pharmacy advising services.

Bachelor of Science, Pharmacology & Toxicology

Sixty credits of specified prerequisite course work and a major-specific application are required for consideration. Admission is competitive for this junior-senior curricular sequence. A number of factors are considered; academic achievement is the central criterion. All materials must be submitted by early February for admission in the following fall. This application is in addition to the UW–Madison admission application. Transfer students may apply to enter both UW–Madison and the major for the same fall semester (providing all prerequisites will be met with transfer coursework), or, may apply to UW–Madison and start in a different school/college while completing the rest of their prerequisite coursework and apply to the major at a later time.

Admittance to both programs is for fall semester entrance only.

Please note that application deadlines and other information are subject to change. For the most current information and/or application materials, please consult our website at pharmacy.wisc.edu or contact the Student & Academic Affairs Office via email (pharmd@pharmacy.wisc.edu) or phone (608-262-6234).