Summer Education Research Program (SERP)
The Summer Education Research Program (SERP) is sponsored by the School of Education (SoE) and the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Graduate School. This program provides traditionally underrepresented undergraduate students interested in pursuing graduate studies related to the School of Education the opportunity to engage in independent research. This research guided by a faculty/research associate mentor in the School of Education offers a competitive stipend for participants. 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
- Have 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 eligible.
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 SoE.
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 is a ten-week residential summer program that will take place on the UW-Madison campus in summer 2022. During the session, SERP Scholars receive guidance from a faculty/research associate mentor on their chosen research topic, engage in weekly seminars and professional development with other UW-Madison Summer Research Opportunities Programs (SROP) students and mentors, and prepare and present a culminating presentation about their research topics at the end of the program.
Deadline and Important Documents
If you are interested in participating in the SERP for the summer of 2022, the rolling application process will begin in late Fall 2021. There are eleven SROPs at UW-Madison, including the SERP in the SoE, and all use the SROP application portal. More information about the application process for summer 2022 will be forthcoming.
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. Your application will be submitted only after pressing the “submit” button. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Once SROP applications are submitted, the SERP reviews applications and works with SoE departments to match applicants’ research interests with available faculty/research associate mentors in each SoE department.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at oedi@education.wisc.edu. Please type “SERP Questions” in the subject field and we will reply at our earliest convenience.