Try these popular learning trends to gain skills, improve mental health and encourage personal growth in 2026.
Departments at the
Division of Continuing Studies
Learn about the units and people that support continuing studies and lifelong learning at UW–Madison
The Division of Continuing Studies at UW–Madison includes various departments that support lifelong learning and learners from all walks of life on their educational journeys.
Departments and programs
UW Coalition for Higher Education in Prison
The UW Coalition for Higher Education in Prison (UW CHEP) is a group of UW universities working together to build a network of higher education opportunities in Wisconsin prisons.
Learning Engineering Group (LEG)
We work with partners across campus to develop and deliver online courses and programs for adult learners.
Continuing Education Registration Center (CERC)
We support the Division of Continuing Studies and units across campus by providing comprehensive enrollment services for continuing education courses, events and programs.
UW-Madison Online
Complete your undergraduate degree entirely online with the top-ranked University of Wisconsin–Madison, featuring flexible options to fit your goals, work and life.
Summer Term
Explore the vibrancy of summer learning with in-person and online undergraduate courses, programs and experiences.
Professional Degrees & Certificates
Advance your career with a professional master’s degree or certificate from UW–Madison, with more than 100 in-person, online and accelerated programs.
Badger Precollege
We offer engaging, hands-on academic programs for middle and high school students to explore interests like music, art, STEM and more.
Continuing Education
Our flexible courses, certificates and custom training programs offer the tools and knowledge you need for personal enrichment and professional growth.
University Special Student Services
Your go-to resource for exploring education planning and opportunities at UW–Madison, including senior learning.
Odyssey Project
Designed for adults and children facing economic barriers to college, our programs help students unleash their potential and embark on a journey of personal and academic growth.
Badger Ready
Our program supports adults and veterans who are interested in completing their degree at UW–Madison but face barriers to traditional transfer.
Visiting International Student Program
Global students can study at UW–Madison in our short-term programs, featuring diverse coursework and immersive cultural experiences.
Prison Education Initiative
Our program supports learners who are incarcerated in Wisconsin state prisons by helping to reframe their futures through higher education.
Office of Youth Protection
Discover policies, training and support systems dedicated to ensuring the safety of youth enrolled in UW–Madison activities, both on and off campus.
Liberal Arts & Applied Studies
This academic department conducts research and outreach to inform and serve the teaching of adult learners.
School for Workers
Started in 1925 as one of the first operational components of the Wisconsin Idea, we are the original university-based labor education program in the United States.
Center for Research on College-Workforce Transitions
We conduct research and develop evidence-based tools, resources and programs to promote the career development and wellness of all college students.
Academic Affairs & Programming
We collaborate with academic departments across campus to explore creative ways of connecting with nontraditional learners.
Integrated Marketing Communications
Our team promotes lifelong learning opportunities available through the Division of Continuing Studies and our partner programs across campus.
Department posts
Marge Engelman (98): Lifelong learner, barrier-breaking administrator, & fiber artist defied expectations to champion nontraditional students.
The prison education program, involving UW-Madison and other UWs, provides degrees and skills training to boost the economy, reduce recidivism, and build brighter futures.
Long before Zoom classrooms and digital discussion boards, education traveled by mail. Envelopes packed with assignments and hand-graded feedback were the lifeblood of correspondence courses at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, starting in 1892 and continuing through the 1990s when the UW–Madison Division of Continuing Studies (DCS) came to be.
UW–Madison Motivational Interviewing courses helped these two professionals deepen connections, build empathy and inspire positive change.
The Division of Continuing Studies staff and faculty were honored to host the chancellor for a few hours to discuss opportunities, priorities and challenges at the division.
DACA beneficiaries benefit from a UW–Madison study abroad program in Mexico supported by the Division of Continuing Studies.
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