1996 Teacher Education Liberal Studies Requirements

For Students First Enrolled as New Freshmen, Summer 1996-Spring 2007, in Teacher Education Programs

The liberal studies requirements combine students’ strengths and interests with an opportunity to explore a wide selection of courses offered across campus. Similarly, liberal studies courses can also be used to define, confirm, and explore major and minor options while counting towards graduation credit. The liberal studies requirements include course work in communication and quantitative reasoning, humanities, social studies, and science. Students will also need elective course work to reach the minimum of 40 credits. These requirements are identical for all UW-Madison teacher education students.

These specific requirements apply only to students in School of Education teacher education programs who began as new freshmen in the years indicated. Students who first enrolled as new freshmen Summer 2007 and later must complete the 2007 Liberal Studies Requirements. Students interested in non-teacher education programs should consult the 1996 Liberal Studies Requirements for these programs. Students who began as freshmen before Summer 1996 should consult with Education Academic Services staff for different requirements. Students with a previous degree, regardless of when they were first enrolled as freshmen, have satisfied the liberal studies requirements.

Completion of the liberal studies requirements is NOT a prerequisite to professional program application or admission. No liberal studies course work may be taken on a pass/fail basis. Courses taken from School of Education departments usually do not satisfy the liberal studies requirements; see details below.

Most liberal studies courses are offered by academic departments in the College of Letters and Science. Courses in other schools/colleges (excluding the School of Education) may meet a requirement if designated by a T or C in the last column of the Timetable, or assigned a level or breadth code. Level codes may be Elementary (E), Intermediate (I), Advanced (A), or Intermediate/Advanced (D) level. The breadth (B) column in the Timetable identifies most course work with the following codes:

B Biological Science
S Social Science
H Humanities
W Social or Natural Science
L Literature
X Humanities or Natural Science
N Natural Science
Y Biological or Social Science
P Physical Science
Z Humanities or Social Science

For the most part, courses taken from School of Education departments may NOT be used to satisfy the liberal studies requirements. For example, PE Activ 100 Exercise, Nutrition, and Health, cannot count toward the liberal studies requirement even though it is coded as a biological science. Ed Psych 320 and RP & SE 300 cannot count toward liberal studies even though they are coded as social studies courses. Exceptions include Art and Dance courses on the fine arts list and some courses that are cross-listed in departments outside the School of Education. School of Education departments include Art, Art Education, Counseling Psychology, Curriculum and Instruction, Dance, Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, Educational Policy Studies, Educational Psychology, Kinesiology, PE Activity, and Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education.

While most students may apply any course work from the major or minor toward liberal studies requirements, students in Music Education may apply no more than 6 credits of music history and no more than 4 Art and Dance credits toward the 40 total credits. Art Education students may apply all of the aesthetics credits (usually 14) toward the liberal studies requirements. Communicative Disorders students should consult both this handout and the Communicative Disorders program requirements, particularly the "related courses" section, when selecting liberal studies course work.

While one course may cover two requirements, students must still complete both the 40-credit total and the 9-credit minimum requirements in humanities, social studies and science. For example, Theatre 120, a literature course also on the fine arts list, may be used to meet both of the specific fine arts and literature requirements of the humanities area, but a total of 9 credits of humanities are still required.

Important notes regarding liberal studies course selection are provided at the end of this handout. Please review these carefully to ensure that your course selections actually match your intentions.

Liberal Studies Requirements - 40 Credits

General Education Requirements

All new freshmen must complete a group of campuswide basic course requirements known as the General Education Requirements. This initiative is designed to provide all students with a comprehensive, well-rounded program of studies on the Madison campus. Each school or college implements these requirements slightly differently. The General Education requirements include communication and quantitative reasoning requirements as well as humanities/literature/arts, social studies, and natural science course work (included in the liberal studies requirements below).

Complete GER Communication Requirements Parts A and B

• Comm A: Literacy proficiency. 2-3 credits of course work focusing on reading, listening, and speaking, with an emphasis on writing. Students meet this requirement by completing English 100, 118, Com Arts 100, EPD 155, or Fam Com 100/L Sc Com 100, or any other courses designated with an a in the Timetable. Students may be exempt from this requirement through placement scores.
• Comm B: Enhancing literacy proficiency. 2-3 credits of course work for students who have completed or been exempt from Part B. Complete a course with the designation of a b in the Timetable. Other program requirements may also be used to meet this requirement. For example, Curric 305, 313, 368, and 369 meet Comm B. At least one of these courses is required in each of the teacher certification programs, so additional course work should not be required to meet the Comm B requirement. Note: Curric 368 and 369 must both be completed to meet Comm B.

Complete GER Quantitative Reasoning Requirements Part A and B

• Quant A: Mathematics or formal logic. 3 credits of mathematics or formal logic. Complete Math 112, 114, 130, 141, 171 or Philos 210; a Math course numbered above 114 (excluding 120-129, 131, and 132), or any other courses designated with a q in the Timetable. Students may be exempt from this requirement through placement scores. Other program requirements may also be used to meet this requirement. For instance, Elementary Education and Special Education students are required to complete Math 130, 131, and 132. Math 130 will meet Quant A of the general education requirements.
• Quant B: Enhancing quantitative reasoning skills. Courses that satisfy this requirement will be available in a variety of fields of study, including mathematics, formal logic, statistics, computer science, the sciences, and social science. Courses are designated with an r in the Timetable. Other program requirements may also be used to meet this requirement. For instance, Elementary Education and Special Education students are required to complete Math 130, 131, and 132. Math 131 and 132  together will meet the Quant B requirement.

Ethnic Studies Requirement

Students who began a degree program at UW-Madison (including freshmen, transfers, and second degree candidates) starting in fall 1989 and thereafter are required to complete three (3) credits of approved ethnic studies course work. This is a requirement for graduation. Teacher education students meet this requirement by satisfying the Multicultural Education and Human Relations requirement. See this website for more detailed information: www.education.wisc.edu/eas/multicultural.

Humanities - 9 credits

Complete a minimum of 9 credits to include Literature and Fine Arts:

• Literature (2-3 credits). Courses coded L in the Timetable. Children's literature may not be selected to meet this requirement.
• Fine Arts (2-3 credits). Approved courses include:
  • Afro American Studies 156, 241, 242, 243, 308, 309, 310, 311, 315, 316, 320, 400, 403, 413, 540, 603, 643
  • Art - any course
  • Art History - any course
  • Communication Arts 350
  • Dance - any course
  • English 203, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 506, 508
  • Music - any course
  • Music Performance - any course
  • Theatre - any course, with one exception. Curric/Theatre 362 may NOT be used by Elementary Education students to satisfy this requirement.
  • Women's Studies 410, 411, 412
• Other Humanities. Additional courses coded H, X, or Z; literature coded L; elementary and intermediate level foreign language courses; or approved fine arts courses to reach the 9 credit minimum. Com Arts 105 and 181 and any English intermediate or advanced level creative writing or composition course may count toward this requirement (English 100-118 and other elementary level composition courses are excluded).

Social Studies - 9 credits

Complete a minimum of 9 credits to include Political Science, Western History, and Non-Western History/Non-Western Contemporary Culture:

• Local, State, and National Government. Select one:
  • Poli Sci 104 Introduction to American Politics and Government, 4 (open to freshmen and sophomores only)
  • Poli Sci 205 Introduction to State Government,
  • Poli Sci 404 American Politics and Government, 4 (open to juniors and seniors)
• Western History (U.S., European including Russia). Select from the courses below. Note: At the student's request, additional relevant courses not listed below will be considered by EAS staff to meet this requirement. This might include courses from American Indian Studies, Asian American Studies, Chicana/o Studies, etc.
  • Afro American Studies 101, 231, 233, 261, 330, 341, 430, 567, 631, 635, 636, 671
  • History 001, 002, 101, 102, 107, 110, 111, 112, 115, 119, 120, 121, 123, 124, 140, 150, 160, 161, 208, 211, 215, 219, 221, 222, 223, 224, 247, 251, 253, 254, 258, 290, 291, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 320, 321, 322, 323, 325, 326, 327, 329, 330, 331, 333, 334, 335, 339, 340, 343, 344, 348, 349, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358, 359, 360, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 372, 373, 374, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399, 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, 410, 411, 412, 415, 416, 417, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, 430, 431, 432, 433, 434, 437, 447, 451, 460, 461, 462, 465, 466, 467, 469, 470, 473, 474, 475, 477, 478, 479, 504, 505, 507, 508, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 517, 518, 520, 521, 525, 526, 529, 531, 532, 539, 540, 541, 542, 554, 560, 561, 567, 568, 569, 570, 577, 578, 607, 625, 626, 627, 628, 635, 636, 644, 645, 672, 693, 694
  • Integrated Lib St 207, 208
  • Scandinavian Studies 276
  • Women's Studies 321, 323
• Non-Western History (Asia, Africa, Latin America, American Indian) OR Non-Western Contemporary Culture. Select from the courses below. Note: At the student's request, additional relevant courses not listed below will be considered by EAS staff to meet this requirement. This might include courses from American Indian Studies, Asian American Studies, Chicana/o Studies, etc.
  • African Lang/Lit 130, 277, 370
  • Afro American Studies 260
  • Anthropology 104, 277, 314, 317, 318, 327. Also 204, 315, 319, 320, 323, 324, 325, 328, 353, 475, if offered.
  • East Asian Lang/Lit 251, 253
  • East Asian Area Studies 222, 455, 456
  • History 103, 104, 105, 106, 137, 138, 139, 142, 205, 210, 225, 226, 241, 242, 243, 244, 252, 260, 265, 277, 278, 279, 297, 309, 319, 328, 332, 336, 337, 338, 341, 342, 345, 347, 371, 375, 376, 377, 378, 435, 436, 438, 439, 440, 441, 442, 443, 444, 445, 446, 448, 449, 450, 453, 454, 455, 456, 457, 458, 463, 490, 495, 496, 530, 533, 539, 540, 541, 548, 552, 555, 556, 557, 621, 657, 660, 661, 663, 696, 697
  • Languages and Cultures of Asia 251, 252, 265, 422, 467, 468, 475
  • Sociology 252, 277, 614, 627, 634
• Other Social Studies, if necessary. Additional courses coded S, W, Y, or Z to reach the 9-credit minimum. Note: Some courses on the Western History, Non-Western History, and Non-Western Contemporary Culture lists are coded as humanities (H) in the Timetable. These courses may be used to meet the social studies requirements. If these courses are taken after the social studies requirements have been met, they will count toward humanities or liberal studies elective credits.

Science - 9 credits

Complete a minimum of 9 credits to include Biological and Physical Science. Must include one laboratory science course. Elementary Education, Secondary Social Studies, and Secondary Science students can use a science course from the environmental education course list to meet both the liberal studies and environmental education requirements.

• Biological Science, coded B or Y in the Timetable. (Note: PE Activ 100 cannot meet this requirement as it is a School of Education course.)
• Physical Science, coded P in the Timetable.
• Other Biological, Physical, or Natural Science, if necessary. Additional courses coded B, P, N, W, X, or Y to reach the 9-credit minimum.
• Laboratory science. Requirement may be met by course taken for science requirements above. Most lab sciences are identified as such in the Timetable. In addition, the following courses include some lab experience and meet the lab requirements for the School of Education: Astronomy 100, Atmospheric and Oceanic Studies 101, Botany 100, Botany/Plant Path 123, Geology 100, Physics 109. Courses outside L&S meeting the lab science requirement include Agronomy 100, Food Science 235-236, Horticulture 120, Mechanical Engineering 160 and 210. An AP Biology score of 4 or 5 will also fulfill the laboratory science requirement.

Liberal Studies Electives

Additional course work to bring the total to 40 liberal studies credits. May include the general education requirements and credits from above categories with the exceptions noted below.

Important Notes Regarding the Liberal Studies Requirements

• Courses taken to meet the general education requirements may also be applied toward other degree requirements, i.e., liberal studies, major, minor, or professional education course work. All courses taken to meet Comm A, Quant A, Comm B, and Quant B can be applied toward the liberal studies requirements, with two exceptions. Courses from School of Education departments and Math 131/132 can be taken to meet Comm B or Quant B, but the credits will not count toward liberal studies. For example, Curric 305 can be used to meet Comm B, but cannot be counted toward the 40 liberal studies credits.
• Courses that transfer to UW-Madison as departmental electives (e.g., History X10) might meet specific liberal studies requirements. Consult an EAS advisor to discuss transfer electives that appear to meet requirements.

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