Summer Education Research Program (SERP)
The Summer Education Research Program (SERP) is sponsored by the School of Education and the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Graduate School. This program provides traditionally underrepresented and other minoritized undergraduate students interested in pursuing graduate studies in academic fields related to the School of Education a valuable opportunity to engage in independent research guided by a faculty mentor in the School of Education. We consider applications from individuals who meet one or more of the following eligibility criteria:
- From a racial/ethnic minority group: African-American, Latino/Hispanic, Native Alaskan or Native Pacific Islander, Native American, Southeast Asian (Cambodian, Hmong, Laotian, or Vietnamese, admitted to US after 12/31/1975), Biracial/Multiracial
- From a low-income household (income cutoffs can be accessed on the application to determine if your household qualifies)
- First in their family to attend college
- Affected by a documented disability
In addition to the above, to be eligible applicants MUST also:
- Be a US citizen or permanent resident
- Have completed their sophomore or junior year at an accredited college or university. Students who will have graduated by the start of the program are not
Program Goals
The SERP aims to encourage, promote and prepare diverse undergraduate students to both pursue and thrive in their graduate studies. The program endeavors to increase opportunities for individuals from historically marginalized communities to engage in important research that has an impact across a range of areas within the education, health, and arts fields. Furthermore, the program encourages undergraduate researchers to investigate particular issues that impact various aspects of education found across nine departments housed within the School of Education.
Art Education (a division in the Art Dept.)
Counseling Psychology
Curriculum & Instruction
Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
Educational Policy Studies
Educational Psychology
Kinesiology
Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education
Theatre and Drama
Specific areas of research might include: educational leadership, policy development, urban education, curriculum development, teacher education, multicultural education, English as a second language, bilingual education, math and science education, human development and learning, counseling psychology, educational psychology, special education, rehabilitation psychology, testing and evaluation, art education, movement science, theatre and drama, and dance.
Program Components
The SERP program is a ten-week summer program that will take place from May 24 – July 30, 2021. During the session, each SERP participant receives guidance from a faculty mentor on their chosen research topic, engages in weekly seminars and activities with other students and mentors, and prepares and presents a paper on their research topic at the end of the program. Students submit their final paper and presentation to their faculty mentor and to SERP staff. In addition, SERP covers participants’ room and board and each participant receives a competitive stipend. For out-of-state participants, travel arrangements are also covered by SERP.
SERP participants live on campus, attend a cultural field trip, have access to university facilities such as libraries, computer labs, writing labs, and recreational facilities, engage in professional development and capacity building opportunities, and also interact with other UW-Madison Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP) students for various social and professional activities such as the Graduate Fair/Panel and Picnic.
Deadline and Important Documents
If you are interested in participating in the SERP program for the summer of 2021, the rolling application process begins November 1, 2020, and ends February 15, 2021. The SERP encourages application submissions by February 1, 2020, prior to the SROP application deadline of February 15, 2020, to provide time to facilitate matching with SERP faculty mentors.
There are eleven SROP programs at UW-Madison, including the SERP in the School of Education, and all use the SROP application portal. Students specify which SROP program they are applying to within the application (such as SERP), and must complete the SROP application by February 15, 2021.
You can access the online application to apply to SERP here. In the online application, students need to submit three written statements (each with a 3900 character limit) and upload relevant documents:
- Future Goals and Career Plans statement;
- Research Area(s) statement;
- Research Experience description;
- Two signed letters of recommendations from faculty or staff members whom you have had as instructors and/or research mentors;
- Official transcript(s).
You can save and return to the online application as many times as you need to complete the process before the final deadline of February 15. Your application will be submitted only after pressing the “submit” button.
Once SROP applications are submitted, the Summer Education Research Program Admissions Committee reviews SERP applicants and works with Education departments to match applicants’ research interests with available faculty in each Education department.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at soe-deansoffice@education.wisc.edu. Please type “SERP Questions” in the subject field and we will reply at our earliest convenience.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.