Overview: Elementary Education

The University of Wisconsin-Madison Elementary Education program prepares teachers who can foster high academic achievement in all students–particularly learners from diverse racial, cultural, linguistic, socioeconomic backgrounds and abilities. Teacher education students learn to recognize how their own background and experience shape their thinking and actions, to reflect on their practices, and to develop and adapt practices that serve the needs of their students.

Through their preparation, they gain awareness of how schools reflect both the strengths and inequities of our increasingly multicultural society, and become more committed to advancing social justice and equity through their classroom practice and community interactions. They learn to welcome parents, caregivers, and community members into their classrooms as partners in the educational process. They integrate research-based practices in their teaching and, in doing so, acquire knowledge and skills that enable them to grow professionally throughout their teaching careers.

At UW-Madison, students preparing to teach in elementary schools engage in substantial supervised fieldwork (especially in diverse schools), community field experiences, self-examination of teaching practice, and development of multicultural classroom activities. Fieldwork opportunities include student teaching in Madison Professional Development Schools, Milwaukee Public Schools, and classrooms abroad.

The Elementary Education program consists of two complementary program options:

• The Early Childhood/Middle Childhood option prepares teachers to work at the preschool, primary, and intermediate levels (approximately ages birth through 11).
• The Middle Childhood/Early Adolescence program option prepares teachers to work in intermediate and middle school settings (approximately ages 6 through 12-13).

Course requirements vary slightly by option. Both lead to a Bachelor of Science degree in Education with a major in Elementary Education. Formal definitions of these levels will be determined by each school district based on the organizational structure of its schools and the philosophy and needs of the district.

Program Structure

Through four separate program components, students of Elementary Education:

• Are exposed to a broad range of academic disciplines through liberal studies and general education courses.
• Undertake an in-depth study of an academic discipline through their minor course work.
• Examine schools' relationship to society and the processes of learning in their education course work. Many of these courses can be taken before formal admission to the professional sequence.
• Study teaching methods and gain experience in schools through supervised field placements during their five-semester professional sequence.

Students interested in Elementary Education usually begin their academic careers in the School of Education with a "pre-professional" designation (“Pre-Elementary Education” or “PRE”). Pre-Elementary Education students enroll in liberal studies, general education, and minor area courses during their freshman and sophomore years. Most begin taking education course work as sophomores, although a few freshmen enroll in education courses. Students who do not begin on campus as Pre-Elementary Education students must complete an application. Current on-campus students wishing to transfer to the School of Education can find a pre-professional application form at the "Forms" quick link on the front page of this site; choose the "Pre-Teacher Education" link.

Students generally apply to the professional program during their sophomore year and begin the five-semester professional sequence as juniors. Most students require five years to complete the Elementary Education degree program.

Program Admission

Students apply for admission to the Elementary Education program during their sophomore year. Minimum eligibility requirements currently include 40 credits earned by the end of the fall semester before application; a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade-point average or minimum scores on the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST; also called Praxis I); and completed application materials submitted by February 1. Admission is limited and competitive.

The Elementary Education program faculty selects candidates based on a variety of criteria. In particular they seek individuals who can demonstrate academic competence, multicultural and interpersonal competence, and reflective competence:

Academic Competence: For elementary and middle schools to promote academic achievement, elementary and middle school teachers must have demonstrated high levels of success in core disciplines throughout their university studies. Therefore, program faculty expect that students admitted to the program will have demonstrated high levels of academic preparation. But while academic achievement is, in part, reflected in an applicant’s grade-point average, GPA alone does not provide an adequate picture of academic performance. Therefore, the program will also closely examine the unique academic strengths of each candidate in comparison to others.

Multicultural and Interpersonal Competence: The Elementary Education program mission is to prepare teachers who are able to promote academic achievement in all elementary-school and middle-school students. This includes those from diverse races, cultures, language backgrounds, family forms, and sexual orientations, as well as those from diverse economic, gender, and ability groups. The program faculty seek prospective teachers who will demonstrate both commitment to this mission and the prospect of contributing to it.

Reflective Competence: To have performed at high academic levels or to have had diverse life experiences is not adequate for admissions purposes unless these are accompanied by evidence that the applicant has been able to reflect on and learn from them. Demonstration of reflective competence is important as it likely contributes to ones interpersonal skills as well as to the qualities, such as integrity, social awareness, and cultural sensitiveness, of a well-rounded human being who will be an excellent elementary or middle school teacher.

Advising

Students are encouraged to meet regularly with their advisor at Education Academic Services (EAS). Each student interested in an education major is assigned a specific EAS advisor. Find your EAS advisor in Room B117 of the Education Building, on the north side of Bascom Hill. Make an appointment by calling (608) 262-1651.

Incoming freshmen discuss program options with advisors during the Student Orientation, Advising and Registration (SOAR) Program. At SOAR advisors help students select courses and plan their first semesters at UW-Madison. Recognizing that students often have many academic interests and more than one possible career goal, School of Education advisors help students explore options and maintain academic flexibility. Prospective off-campus transfer students and on-campus students considering teacher education may meet with an advisor in an individual advising session.

Next Steps

See the program requirements on the EAS website:www.education.wisc.edu/eas > Degree Requirements and Admission Information > Elementary Education. Students should review carefully the Elementary Education materials, especially the liberal studies, minor requirement, and education course work components. Confer with an EAS advisor around your course choices; phone 608-262-1651 to make an appointment. Review your program's admission selection criteria.

Consider the types of volunteer or work experiences that may (1) help you confirm your initial decision to teach, (2) provide opportunities for you to consider the educational issues to be addressed in your program application, and (3) obtain experience with individuals from cultural backgrounds different from your own. Consult with your EAS advisor about possible ways to gain these experiences.

Congratulations for considering teacher education at UW-Madison!

More info on the web: www.education.wisc.edu/eas • Advising appointments: call 608-262-1651

Comments or Problems: easinfo@education.wisc.edu.
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