Education Studies Program Admission
Students must apply for undergraduate programs, graduate programs, and the doctoral program in the Education Studies department.
Transfer students are welcome to apply to the Doctor of Education program.
Each application is evaluated individually for coursework equivalents that may be applied to the program. Coursework completed 7+ years ago is generally too old to be considered toward the degree program. In this case, we’ll work with you to create a customized plan of study.
Undergraduate Programs
After you’re admitted to WSU, you’ll need to apply for admission to the Teacher Education program.
You must be admitted to the Teacher Education program before you can begin the Professional Education Sequence (PDF).
Admission to education programs can be competitive, so it’s important to put the effort into your coursework in your first semesters of college.
Training & Development Graduate Certificate
To enroll in the Training & Development graduate certificate, you must apply for admission to the School of Graduate Studies at WSU.
There are different admissions processes for each pathway of the Multicultural Education Certificate Program (MECP).
Complete Courses as Graduate Electives
To take a few MECP classes as elective credits for your graduate degree at WSU, you must apply for admission to the School of Graduate Studies.
This is the only step. You do not need to apply to the MECP.
Earn a Non-Credit Certificate
Contact Adult & Continuing Education to register your team for the non-credit Multicultural Education Certificate.
Earn a Graduate Certificate
Students who want to earn the 12-credit graduate certificate must first apply for admission to the School of Graduate Studies at WSU.
After being admitted to WSU’s Graduate School, apply for admission to the Multicultural Education Certificate Program.
The online application has 10 questions, and it takes just 15 minutes to apply.
Lock in your application by emailing your resumé to MECP Coordinator Nicholas Wysocki at nwysocki@winona.edu.
Program Requirements
The GRE is not required. Doctorate applicants must have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 and a master’s degree (30+ credits minimum) with an overall GPA of 3.25 or higher.
If the master’s degree is not in Education or a related field, you may be required to take education leveling courses.
You can complete leveling courses as a master’s or Graduate Non-Degree Seeking Student prior to being admitted into the doctoral program. These courses help prospective students gain the necessary background knowledge to succeed in the doctoral program.
Consult with the doctoral faculty for enrollment into education foundation courses before applying.
Application Deadlines
Doctoral cohorts are started in January and June each year. Applications are not reviewed or considered until all materials are complete.
Doctoral residencies are held in Winona, MN for 7 days each summer in mid-July.
Late Submissions
If you do not complete the application by the deadline, you may seek Graduate Non-Degree Seeking Student status.
This allows you to take courses in the Education Studies Department before you apply and are formally accepted. All Doctor of Education courses (EDUO) need departmental permission to enroll.
A maximum of 12 graduate credits earned as a Graduate Non-Degree Seeking Student may be accepted into a degree program upon recommendation of the academic department.
Admission as a graduate non-degree seeking student does not mean guaranteed admission to a graduate degree program. You must still meet all admission requirements and formally apply to WSU Graduate Studies and the Doctor of Education program.
Application Process
Once admitted to Graduate Studies, doctorate students can send their application materials to the educationdoctorate@winona.edu:
- curriculum vita (CV) or resume
- 3 letters of recommendation (on university or professional letterhead)
- professional statement
Refer to Doctor of Education Admissions Checklist (PDF) to ensure your application is complete.
We’ll send you a letter to let you know if you’ve been admitted to your program.
Letters of recommendation should be typed on institutional letterhead and signed.
Your name and the name of the recommender should be clearly identifiable in the letter. The recommender should also include their contact information in the letter or on the letterhead.
It’s best to get recommendations from academic professionals who are familiar with you as a scholar, graduate student, or educational practitioner.
Recommendations should be able to comment on your academic preparation and the dispositions needed to successfully complete a doctoral degree in education.
Letters should speak to your accomplishments as an educational practitioner.
Professionals with an advanced degree and affiliated with higher education or academia (such as a university, community college, school, or a research laboratory) are typically the best sources for these scholarly recommendations.
Letters from supervisors that speak to your professional contributions in the educational community are also welcome.
Your written statement can be no more than 3 double-spaced pages using 12-point font.
In your statement:
- Summarize your educational goals and experiences
- Describe how this doctorate will help you achieve your professional goals and career aspirations
- Identify a current problem of practice in education that you’re interested in exploring
- Summarize the importance of this problem within the context of your professional practice and in the research literature
- Describe how the problem of practice aligns with your chosen area of specialization
- Summarize your research experience, professional presentations, and publications
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