The Thematic VISP Track programs are partnerships between the Visiting International Student Program and UW-Madison academic departments. Some Thematic VISP track programs are open only to students pre-selected by the UW-Madison academic department while others are open to any VISP applicant.
What Makes the Thematic VISP Different?
Participants in the Thematic VISP Track are admitted both by VISP as well as the academic department hosting the program. Students receive additional advising support from the department, as well as the bulk of their courses guaranteed within that specific academic area. Learn more about the benefits of participating in our VISP thematic track programs in the video below.
Current Thematic Program Opportunities
Agricultural & Applied Economics
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics was the first specialized applied economics department in the world. Growing from its original focus on issues of land, forests, and farm management, the department is continually evolving to address the world issues involving the environment...
Business
Join the Wisconsin School of Business in summer 2020. At the Wisconsin School of Business, we understand the power of collaboration to move the world forward. We draw from the immense intellectual and cultural resources of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, infusing invaluable research to our premium learning platform. Our students are inspired to excel...
Dairy Science
The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Dairy Science department is one of the world’s most highly regarded departments and is renowned for its excellence in teaching, research, and outreach. The Dairy Science department has long been recognized as a world-class discovery powerhouse because of the innovative research of its faculty, staff and students. Students are immersed in…
Economics
The Department of Economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is consistently ranked among the very best Economics departments in the world. The faculty are well-renowned in their field and have come to Wisconsin from Harvard, MIT, Oxford, University of Chicago, and Yale. The department prides itself in maintaining exceptionally high standards in teaching...
Educational Policy Studies
The Department of Educational Policy Studies (EPS) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is consistently ranked in the top 4 for Education Policy in the nation according to US News & World Report. Our department pursues research and teaching that is intended to deepen and expand our knowledge and understanding of educational policy and practice, past and present…
English as a Second Language (ESL)
Are you wanting a short, immersive English as a Second Language (ESL) program this summer at a top U.S. university? Or would you like to strengthen your English skills before starting regular academic classes through the Visiting International Student Program (VISP) for the fall...
Geoscience
Formed in 1878, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Geoscience has educated generations of undergraduate and graduate students and remains a highly-ranked leader in research and education 140 years after its founding. Its widely recognized, award-winning faculty are engaged in a broad range of geoscientific research.
Mathematics
The Mathematics Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is one of the leading institutions in the United States for research in mathematics, encompassing both pure and applied mathematics. Informally, the department is organized into seven overlapping research groups: (1) Algebra, Algebraic Geometry, Combinatorics, and Number Theory (2) Analysis (3) Differential...
Mechanical Engineering
The world-class faculty at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Department of Mechanical Engineering places an emphasis on teaching while conducting a broad range of research. As a student you will be immersed in hands-on learning—working in teams to design and build prototypes, solving real-world problems in real-world settings. Program Overview Experience the UW–Madison Mechanical Engineering Visiting International Student…
Political Science
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Political Science is one of the oldest and most respected programs in the United States. Our award-winning faculty are known for innovative research on the discipline’s most current and important questions. Our dedication to teaching is also apparent: we are one of the largest majors on campus, with a commitment to excellence in undergraduate…
Statistics
The Department of Statistics at the University of Wisconsin‐Madison was established in 1960 by Professor George Box. This department has strong research and training programs covering the breadth and diversity of the subject of statistics in both theory and practice, and is one of the premier statistics departments in the world from its inception, generally ranked among the top five to ten in the country...
Frequently Asked Questions about Thematic VISP Track
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How do I apply to a thematic VISP track program?
Application instructions can be found on each thematic VISP program page (see above).
I want to take courses in a few departments including one of the thematic tracks. How should I apply?
Our traditional VISP track is a better fit for your academic goals. Students in this program can choose from courses across the university catalog on a space-available basis for which they are eligible.
My major isn't listed as a current thematic VISP track program. What should I do?
Apply to our traditional VISP track instead. Students in the traditional program track have to be a little more flexible with their course enrollments, but we find that they are still very happy with the courses they get.
What if I applied to the traditional track before I saw a thematic program for my major?
The VISP coordinator reviewing your application can switch your application at any time. We will likely ask you about this as an option to see if you are interested. If we don’t do so, feel free to email your VISP Coordinator.
I have questions about a thematic VISP program. Whom should I contact?
Josh Juedes is the VISP Coordinator who works with the thematic VISP track programs.
I heard about at thematic VISP track program that isn't on this list. Can I apply for it?
Some of our thematic VISP track programs are created by a UW-Madison academic department for a pre-selected group of students from a foreign university. If a thematic program is not accommodating applications outside of their pre-selected group then the program will not be listed above. You are still welcome to apply to our traditional VISP track.
Please contact the VISP coordinators if you have questions.