New Freshmen
Power to shape society, spark innovation and move culture.
That’s what Peck School of the Arts offers each freshmen class. Here, at UWM, one of the nation’s top research universities, our student artists receive the support needed to positively affect, and engage, the greater community and the world. As entrepreneurs, students are challenged to explore sustainable solutions to current issues with new innovative thinking and establish sustainable solutions to social challenges.
To apply, first review the list of required materials below. A Peck School of the Arts representative will contact you to review your application once it has been received.
Step 1: UW-Milwaukee Application
Personal Statements
Prepare for your two personal statements on the UW application that speak to who you are as a person, beyond your test results and high school record. The first statement should focus on your life experiences and the impact you will have at UWM. The second provides an opportunity to share your academic successes or explain circumstances that might have affected your academic performance in high school.
Official Transcripts (high school or equivalent)
Send official transcripts directly from your previous school, for all high school and college level work. If you are still in high school, be sure to also list your senior-year classes on the application form.
Test Scores
Send ACT or SAT test scores. When you take either exam, select UW-Milwaukee (ACT school code: 4658; SAT school code: 1473) to have your scores sent directly to us.
Application Fee
Pay the one-time $50 application fee. Fee waivers are sometimes granted on the basis of financial need. Please be specific in stating your reason for requesting a waiver.
*Make sure you select an intended program from the Arts (Peck School of the) degree list, even if undecided. If you check the undecided box at the top of the UW application, our school will not receive your information.
AP, IB, CLEP Scores
If you have taken Advanced Placement exams (AP), International Baccalaureate exams (IB), or the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams and would like UWM to evaluate these scores for possible credit, please have your results sent from these testing agencies.
TOEFL Scores
Students whose native language is not English and who were not educated in an entirely English-speaking country will likely need to submit results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Visit international admissions for more details.
Visit UWM Admissions for more information
Step 2: Department Application
To be eligible for department-level scholarships, incoming new freshmen & transfers must complete the requirements below by December 15. Portfolios will be accepted after this date but are not required for general admission to the department.
Portfolio
Provide 8-10 examples of artwork you created in the past two years. If your portfolio includes drawings, we recommend that you include at least three drawings from observation (not photographs). Identify each image by media, size, and year of completion in a separate document. JPEG files at 2000px max preferred.
Statement of Intent
Upload a one-page pdf that describes how your interests and past experiences relate to your intended college choice and career path. Students who have little to no prior formal art training are encouraged to write a more extensive statement.
More information: art-admission@uwm.edu
*Applications for the 2020-21 academic year will open on October 1.
To be eligible for acceptance into the Dance BA or BFA program, students must first complete a successful audition. If unsuccessful, students may re-audition, but are limited to auditioning twice per academic year. Transfer students must complete a minimum of half of the required dance credits while in residence at UWM in order to graduate. Students interested in department-level scholarships must audition by March 1 for priority consideration.
Statement of Intent
Upload a one-page pdf that describes how your interests and past experiences relate to your intended college choice and career path.
Audition
On-Campus auditions consist of technique classes, a one-minute solo performance (can be self-choreographed), and a Q&A session. Auditioning students must wear solid-color, form-fitting clothing that covers full torso and legs to the knee. Footwear requirements as appropriate (ballet slippers, tap or jazz shoes, etc). Be prepared to dance barefoot during the modern and/or African-Caribbean portions of the audition, as applicable.
Dates
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Friday, February 14, 2020
Saturday, March 28, 2020
To request more information or reschedule an audition, please email:
dance-admission@uwm.edu
*Applications for the 2020-21 academic year will open in conjunction with the University application on September 1.
No further steps are required to be eligible for acceptance into UWM’s Department of Film, Video, Animation & New Genres. However, incoming new freshmen interested in applying for scholarship aid should complete the requirements below by December 15.
Robert A. Nelson Scholarship
To be eligible, complete the scholarship application below, including a short 500 word (or less) creative writing sample. Your writing sample should address the theme: “My Dream of the 3 Doors.”
More information: film-admission@uwm.edu
*Applications for the 2020-21 academic year will open on October 1.
To be eligible for acceptance into any Music program, students must first complete a successful audition. Please submit all application materials at least 2 weeks prior to audition date. Students interested in department-level scholarships must audition by March 1 for priority consideration.
Statement of Intent
Upload a 100-word statement describing your desired musical career and how studying at UWM will help prepare you.
Audition
All BA and BFA degree programs require an audition on principal instrument or voice. See Undergraduate Audition Requirements for more information. Auditioning students will attend an orientation, a Department of Music student convocation, and take music theory and piano placement exams. The typical audition day starts at 8:30AM and ends around 2PM. Parents are encouraged to attend. Presentations from Financial Aid, Norris Health Service, and University Housing will be offered.
Theory & Piano Placement Exams | All new freshmen are required to take Theory and Piano Placement exams on the day of their audition. Those with prior piano experience must perform a short composition that best demonstrates their keyboard skills.
Dates
Please submit all application materials at least 2 weeks prior to audition
Friday, December 6, 2019
Friday, January 24, 2020
Friday, February 14, 2020
Friday, March 27, 2020
To request more information or reschedule an audition, please email:
music-admission@uwm.edu
*Applications for the 2020-21 academic year will open in conjunction with the University application on September 1.
All Theatre and Theatre Education programs require a successful audition or placement interview prior to enrollment. Please submit all application materials at least 2 weeks prior to your audition date. Upon acceptance to the university, students may declare a Theatre Minor without audition or interview.
| Resume | Statement of Intent | Letter(s) of Rec. | Headshot | Audition or Interview | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA: Theatre Practices | Y | Y | N | N | Interview |
| BA: Theatre Education | Y | Y | N | N | Interview |
| BFA: Acting | Y | Y | 1 to Rebecca Holderness, rph2@uwm.edu | Y | Audition |
| BFA: Musical Theatre | Y | Y | 2 to Sheri Williams Pannell, pannell@uwm.edu | Y | Audition |
| BFA: Production | Y | Y | 2 to Chris Guse, cjg0001@uwm.edu | N | Interview |
Resume & Statement of Intent
Upload a one-page resume detailing your performance/production or teaching experiences and extracurricular activities along with a one-page statement that describes how your interests and past experiences relate to your intended college choice and career path.
Letters of Recommendation
Instructors and/or employers familiar with your theatre or teaching experience and/or academic ability should email confidential letters of recommendation to the faculty advisor listed above.
Headshot
Upload one current photo of yourself (acting/musical theatre majors only).
Interview
Once your application has been received a member of the Theatre Faculty will reach out to you for a placement interview. This is a chance for you to find out more about the program and for Faculty to help you craft an Individualized path through your degree.
Audition
Acting
- Participation in a group acting workshop (you are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing)
- Participation in individual interviews
- Performance of one memorized 90-second monologue of choice
Musical Theatre
- Performance of two contrasting 32-bar vocal excerpts from standard musical theatre repertoire (pianist provided, please bring sheet music in correct key)
- Performance of a one-minute, memorized monologue from a contemporary play
- Participation in a group dance workshop, including ballet warm-up and jazz combination
- If prepared, you will be given the opportunity to present a one-minute dance solo from ballet, jazz, or tap genres following the group workshop
Dates (acting/musical theatre majors only)
Please submit all application materials at least 2 weeks prior to audition
Friday, December 6, 2019
Friday, January 24, 2020
Friday, February 14, 2020
Friday, March 27, 2020
To request more information or reschedule an audition, please email:
theatre-admission@uwm.edu
*Applications for the 2020-21 academic year will open in conjunction with the University application on September 1.
Transfer
UWM is the top transfer destination in the University of Wisconsin System.
To apply, first review the list of required materials below. A Peck School of the Arts representative will contact you to review your application once it has been received.
If you attended a UW System school or Wisconsin Technical College, and would like to begin to evaluate how your courses may transfer, you can use the Transfer Information System or utilize the Transfer Equivalency Database. More information available on UWM’s transfer page.
Step 1: Apply to UWM
Personal Statements
Prepare for your two personal statements on the UW application that speak to who you are as a person, beyond your test results and high school record. The first statement should focus on your life experiences and the impact you will have at UWM. The second provides an opportunity to share your academic successes or explain circumstances that might have affected your academic performance in high school.
Official Transcripts
Transcripts from all institutions of higher education, technical colleges, schools, and programs (except UWM) should bear an official embossed seal and remain unopened/untampered in the institution’s original envelope.
Admission to UWM as a transfer student typically requires at least an overall ‘C’ (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) grade point average on 12 or more transferable credits. If you have not attempted 12 or more credits, UWM reviews your high school record to determine if you would have been admissible as a freshman. Admission to UWM, however, does not necessarily guarantee admission to your major or program. To gain admission to your major, you will need to meet specific GPA and credit requirements.
Test Scores
New freshmen must submit ACT or SAT test scores. When you take either exam, select UW-Milwaukee (ACT school code: 4658; SAT school code: 1473) to have your scores sent directly to us.
Application Fee
Pay the one-time $50 application fee. Fee waivers are sometimes granted on the basis of financial need. Please be specific in stating your reason for requesting a waiver.
*Make sure you select an intended program from the Arts (Peck School of the) degree list, even if undecided. If you check the undecided box at the top of the UW application, our school will not receive your information.
AP, IB, CLEP Scores
If you have taken Advanced Placement exams (AP), International Baccalaureate exams (IB), or the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams and would like UWM to evaluate these scores for possible credit, please have your results sent from these testing agencies.
TOEFL Scores
Students whose native language is not English and who were not educated in an entirely English-speaking country will likely need to submit results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Visit international admissions for more details.
Visit UWM Admissions for more information
Step 2: Department Requirements
To be eligible for department-level scholarships, incoming new freshmen & transfers must complete the requirements below by December 15. Portfolios will be accepted after this date but are not required for general admission to the department.
Portfolio
Provide 8-10 examples of artwork you created in the past two years. If your portfolio includes drawings, we recommend that you include at least three drawings from observation (not photographs). Identify each image by media, size, and year of completion in a separate document. JPEG files at 2000px max preferred.
Statement of Intent
Upload a one-page pdf that describes how your interests and past experiences relate to your intended college choice and career path. Students who have little to no prior formal art training are encouraged to write a more extensive statement.
More information: art-admission@uwm.edu
*Applications for the 2020-21 academic year will open on October 1.
To be eligible for acceptance into the Dance BA or BFA program, students must first complete a successful audition. If unsuccessful, students may re-audition, but are limited to auditioning twice per academic year. Transfer students must complete a minimum of half of the required dance credits while in residence at UWM in order to graduate. Students interested in department-level scholarships must audition by March 1 for priority consideration.
Statement of Intent
Upload a one-page pdf that describes how your interests and past experiences relate to your intended college choice and career path.
Audition
On-Campus auditions consist of technique classes, a one-minute solo performance (can be self-choreographed), and a Q&A session. Auditioning students must wear solid-color, form-fitting clothing that covers full torso and legs to the knee. Footwear requirements as appropriate (ballet slippers, tap or jazz shoes, etc). Be prepared to dance barefoot during the modern and/or African-Caribbean portions of the audition, as applicable.
Dates
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Friday, February 14, 2020
Saturday, March 28, 2020
To request more information or reschedule an audition, please email:
dance-admission@uwm.edu
*Applications for the 2020-21 academic year will open in conjunction with the University application on September 1.
No further steps are required to be eligible for acceptance into UWM’s Department of Film, Video, Animation & New Genres. However, incoming new freshmen interested in applying for scholarship aid should complete the requirements below by December 15.
Robert A. Nelson Scholarship
To be eligible, complete the scholarship application below, including a short 500 word (or less) creative writing sample. Your writing sample should address the theme: “My Dream of the 3 Doors.”
More information: film-admission@uwm.edu
*Applications for the 2020-21 academic year will open on October 1.
To be eligible for acceptance into any Music program, students must first complete a successful audition. Please submit all application materials at least 2 weeks prior to audition date. Students interested in department-level scholarships must audition by March 1 for priority consideration.
Statement of Intent
Upload a 100-word statement describing your desired musical career and how studying at UWM will help prepare you.
Audition
All BA and BFA degree programs require an audition on principal instrument or voice. See Undergraduate Audition Requirements for more information. Auditioning students will attend an orientation, a Department of Music student convocation, and take music theory and piano placement exams. The typical audition day starts at 8:30AM and ends around 2PM. Parents are encouraged to attend. Presentations from Financial Aid, Norris Health Service, and University Housing will be offered.
Theory & Piano Placement Exams | All new freshmen are required to take Theory and Piano Placement exams on the day of their audition. Those with prior piano experience must perform a short composition that best demonstrates their keyboard skills.
Dates
Please submit all application materials at least 2 weeks prior to audition
Friday, December 6, 2019
Friday, January 24, 2020
Friday, February 14, 2020
Friday, March 27, 2020
To request more information or reschedule an audition, please email:
music-admission@uwm.edu
*Applications for the 2020-21 academic year will open in conjunction with the University application on September 1.
All Theatre and Theatre Education programs require a successful audition or placement interview prior to enrollment. Please submit all application materials at least 2 weeks prior to your audition date. Upon acceptance to the university, students may declare a Theatre Minor without audition or interview.
| Resume | Statement of Intent | Letter(s) of Rec. | Headshot | Audition or Interview | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA: Theatre Practices | Y | Y | N | N | Interview |
| BA: Theatre Education | Y | Y | N | N | Interview |
| BFA: Acting | Y | Y | 1 to Rebecca Holderness, rph2@uwm.edu | Y | Audition |
| BFA: Musical Theatre | Y | Y | 2 to Sheri Williams Pannell, pannell@uwm.edu | Y | Audition |
| BFA: Production | Y | Y | 2 to Chris Guse, cjg0001@uwm.edu | N | Interview |
Resume & Statement of Intent
Upload a one-page resume detailing your performance/production or teaching experiences and extracurricular activities along with a one-page statement that describes how your interests and past experiences relate to your intended college choice and career path.
Letters of Recommendation
Instructors and/or employers familiar with your theatre or teaching experience and/or academic ability should email confidential letters of recommendation to the faculty advisor listed above.
Headshot
Upload one current photo of yourself (acting/musical theatre majors only).
Interview
Once your application has been received a member of the Theatre Faculty will reach out to you for a placement interview. This is a chance for you to find out more about the program and for Faculty to help you craft an Individualized path through your degree.
Audition
Acting
- Participation in a group acting workshop (you are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing)
- Participation in individual interviews
- Performance of one memorized 90-second monologue of choice
Musical Theatre
- Performance of two contrasting 32-bar vocal excerpts from standard musical theatre repertoire (pianist provided, please bring sheet music in correct key)
- Performance of a one-minute, memorized monologue from a contemporary play
- Participation in a group dance workshop, including ballet warm-up and jazz combination
- If prepared, you will be given the opportunity to present a one-minute dance solo from ballet, jazz, or tap genres following the group workshop
Dates (acting/musical theatre majors only)
Please submit all application materials at least 2 weeks prior to audition
Friday, December 6, 2019
Friday, January 24, 2020
Friday, February 14, 2020
Friday, March 27, 2020
To request more information or reschedule an audition, please email:
theatre-admission@uwm.edu
*Applications for the 2020-21 academic year will open in conjunction with the University application on September 1.
Graduate
A graduate education at UWM is more than just a degree. It’s an experience.
Whether you are interested in a professional master’s degree or advancing your career with a certification, you can be confident in knowing that we are just as committed to your education as you are.
Prospective graduate students must complete and submit an application to UWM’s Graduate School.
Have questions about the admission process?
Contact: Nicole Ridgway, ridgwayn@uwm.edu or (414) 229-6053
Prospective graduate students must complete and submit an application to UWM’s Graduate School.
Have questions about the admission process?
Contact: Daniel Burkholder, burkhol6@uwm.edu or (414) 229-2648
Prospective graduate students must complete and submit an application to UWM’s Graduate School by January 15th.
The most substantive parts of the application include work samples (see below), a written statement of intent, and curriculum vitae.
- Time-Based Maker Work Samples
Submit URLs and passwords (if password protected) for two time-based work samples. If a work is longer than 20 minutes, please submit a URL for an excerpt of 5–10 minutes along with a URL to the full piece. With each URL, please include title of sample, total running time, year of production, and a clear indication of your role in the work. - Multi-Media Maker Work Samples
Submit a URL to one time-based work, and documentation for two additional works (installation, sculpture, performance, etc.). For each non-time-based work, please submit at least one still image. However, if the work is better represented by multiple stills, you may add up to 10 per work. With each work, please include title of sample, total running time, year of production, and a clear indication of your role in the work.
Have questions about the admission process?
Contact: Jesse McLean, mcleanj@uwm.edu
Before beginning your application to UWM’s Graduate School, please review your specific major’s audition and admission requirements below:
Have additional questions about the admission or audition process?
Contact: Tim Noonan, tpnoonan@uwm.edu or (414) 229-2286
Certification
Do you already hold a bachelor’s degree, but want to complete an additional undergraduate certification program?
Peck School of the Arts offers certification in three areas: Art Education (EC-A), Music Education (EC-A), and Theatre Education (EC-A). The Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program is available for those who already hold an undergraduate degree in the corresponding content-specific area, and graduated with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5. If you do not hold the corresponding content-specific undergraduate degree, you must instead apply as a second-degree seeking student.
All interested applicants are required to meet face-to-face with their future department area head prior to submitting the university application. To apply, first review the list of required materials below.
Important Deadlines:
Dec 15 for admission the following Spring/Summer
July 15 for admission the following Fall
Step 1: Department Evaluation
Schedule Interview
Art Education | Email Liz Rex at rex@uwm.edu
-Requires visual arts undergraduate degree
-Portfolio review and discussion of prior undergraduate studies
Music Education | Email Sheila Feay-Shaw at feayshaw@uwm.edu
-Requires music undergraduate degree
-Primary instrument, piano, and sight-singing auditions
Theatre Education | Email Ralph Janes at janes@uwm.edu
-Requires theatre undergraduate degree or equivalent (subject to transcript review)
-Review related professional and educational experiences
Mail Official Transcript
Obtain official transcripts from all institutions of higher education, technical colleges, schools, and programs (except UWM) and send to the address below. The transcripts should bear an official embossed seal and remain unopened/untampered in the institution’s original envelope. If you attended UWM, you may submit unofficial transcripts.
UWM Peck School of the Arts
Assistant Dean, Student Services
Theatre Building Rm 120
2400 E. Kenwood Blvd.
Milwaukee, WI 53211
Submit Interview Materials
Portfolio (Art & Design only)
Upload a single PDF including 10-15 examples of your artwork representative of the breadth and depth of prior undergraduate studies. Identify each image by media, size, and year of completion.
Resume
Upload a resume that includes your educational background, work experience, special talents/skills, and other relevant experience with children. Do not exceed two pages.
Unofficial Transcript
Upload copies of unofficial transcripts from all institutions of higher education, including technical colleges, schools, and programs (except UWM).
Education License (if applicable)
Upload copies of Wisconsin or Out-of-State Education License(s).
Stipulations Letter (if applicable)
Upload any documentation that you may have received from DPI concerning any stipulations or license renewals that may pertain to your application or program requirements.
Step 2: UW-Milwaukee Application
Application Fee
There is no application fee to apply as a non-degree undergraduate. Please ignore the payment page and DO NOT MAKE A PAYMENT.
Application Instructions | Carefully review instructions prior to beginning the University Application to ensure successful navigation and submission.