UW Colleges to UW-Madison Transfer Planning Guide
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION:
Early Childhood/Middle Childhood and Middle Childhood/Early Adolescence Options
This guide is not a substitute for advising or for reviewing the entire Elementary Education document. This guide was prepared by staff at Education Academic Services (referred to as "EAS" below), School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 116 Rust-Schreiner Halls 115 N Orchard Street Madison, WI 53715, 608/262-1651.
Students considering transferring from UW Colleges to UW-Madison should begin planning for the transfer early and should seek guidance from advisors at both their UW Colleges campus and at UW-Madison's Education Academic Services. Call 608/262-1651 to schedule a face-to-face or phone appointment with an EAS advisor.
The Early Childhood through Middle Childhood (EC/MC) option prepares teachers to work at the preschool, primary, and intermediate levels; the Middle Childhood through Early Adolescence (MC/EA) option prepares teachers to work in intermediate and middle school settings. Students usually require five full years of course work to complete the Elementary Education degree program.
See the Elementary Education document for detailed information about program structure, admission, and degree requirements.
1. Program Focus and Structure
The Elementary Education program has a multicultural focus designed to educate teachers who:
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are effective at encouraging high academic achievement in all students, particularly those students from diverse racial, cultural, linguistic, socioeconomic, gender and ability groups;
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recognize that their own race, culture, language, socioeconomic group, gender, and abilities shape their thinking and actions;
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reflect on their practices and change them to better meet student needs;
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are aware that institutions like schools reflect both the strengths and inequities of society;
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make a commitment to social justice and equity through their classroom practice and interactions with communities;
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welcome parents, caregivers, and community members to their classrooms as partners in the educational process;
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work within communities of educators who are professionals;
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implement research-based practices in their teaching.
The goals and practices of this program are best suited to prospective educators who are willing and able to explore these issues in a teacher education program and who hope to enact these values in their teaching.
The Elementary Education program is divided into four components. Liberal studies courses expose students to a broad range of academic disciplines. Minor course work offers in-depth study of an academic discipline. Education course work includes an examination of the schools' relationship to our society and also of the processes by which students grow and learn. Some education courses can be taken before formal admission to the professional sequence. Finally, a five-semester professional sequence includes teaching methods course work as well as experience in the schools through practicum and student teaching opportunities.
2. Program Admission
Information on the Elementary Education application deadlines and admission selection procedures is detailed in the Elementary Education document. Individuals should read these materials carefully and confer with an EAS advisor. Find the online electronic application to the Elementary Education professional program between October and February 1 each year on the EAS website.
Students typically begin this degree program with a "pre-professional" classification of "PRE." This student classification indicates an interest in Elementary Education, but does not guarantee admission into the professional portion of the degree program. A specific application and selection process takes place for admission into the professional program. Admitted students are offered a spot in either the EC/MC option or the MC/EA option and are given a student classification of EED. Transfer students from UW Colleges may apply either as a PRE, or, if eligible, directly into the professional part of the degree program (EED classification).
Applicants to the professional program must have successfully completed at least 40 semester credits by the end of the fall semester directly preceding the February 1 application deadline. Most students apply to the Elementary Education program during their sophomore year; thus, students still enrolled at a UW Colleges campus should plan to complete the application process while at that institution. Students who fail to apply can significantly extend their program length.
Admission to the professional portion of the Elementary Education program is limited and competitive. Applicants are admitted once a year, with selection usually made in April. Students are admitted to begin the program in either the subsequent fall or spring semester.
Transfer students must submit an application form and all high school and college records to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Armory and Gymnasium, 716 Langdon Street, Madison, WI 53706-1481. The off-campus application deadlines for admission as a PRE are February 1 for summer and fall admission and October 1 for spring admission. Again, admission as a pre-professional student does not guarantee admission to a professional program.
The deadline for applying for admission to the Elementary Education professional program is February 1. Students should carefully read the program eligibility and application procedures sections of the Elementary Education document. Upon admission to the professional program, at least five semesters will be required to complete the professional sequence, regardless of the number of credits taken before admission. Professional education course work is sequential and enrollment in the professional sequence must be maintained in each succeeding semester.
3. General Education Requirements
Refer to the courses listed under "Liberal Studies Requirement," Section 4 below.
Information on General Education requirements at UW-Madison is available through the Undergraduate Catalog web site and at the General Education Web Site. Consult TIS, the appropriate section of the UW-Madison Undergraduate Catalog, the Elementary Education liberal studies requirements, and an EAS advisor for details.
4. Liberal Studies Requirement
The liberal studies requirements are identical for all teacher education programs at UW-Madison, but differ depending on your college start date. If necessary, confer with an advisor about the appropriate requirements. Students transferring from the UW Colleges should select courses that will satisfy the liberal studies requirements (including the campus-wide general education requirements) and minor course work (see information on minor requirements in section 5). Courses in the professional sequence cannot be taken prior to admission to the program. The 40 liberal studies credits should be distributed with 9 credits each in humanities, social science and science. Completion of the liberal studies requirements is not a prerequisite to professional program admission. Find additional important details about the liberal studies requirements at the Elementary Education document site.
5. Elementary Education Minor Requirement
All Elementary Education students must select a minor area of study. Minor requirements vary by credit depending on the subject area of interest. Students are strongly encouraged to consult early with an EAS advisor about the minor requirement. Select this link on the EAS website to see a list of possible ways to meet the Elementary Education minor requirement. Students interested in Elementary Education should begin course work toward their minor requirement early in their academic career. Advanced course work toward a minor requirement may not be available at UW Colleges. Use TIS to identify equivalent UW Colleges courses that will transfer to UW-Madison and meet minor requirements.
6. Education Course Requirements
Courses in the professional sequence and most education courses should only be taken at UW-Madison. Education courses taken at other institutions are unlikely to transfer as direct equivalencies to UW-Madison courses. There are a few exceptions:
Mathematics courses Math 130, Math 131, Math 132, are required in the Elementary Education curriculum. Math 130 is currently available at the UW Colleges, but the UW Colleges course will likely no longer be equivalent beginning Spring Semester 2006.
PSY 360 may be used to satisfy the Human Development requirement and EDU 330 may be used to satisfy the Learning requirement.
7. Contacts
UW Colleges students planning to transfer to UW-Madison for teacher preparation programs should seek advising from staff at Education Academic Services. Phone 608/262-1651 to make a face-to-face or phone appointment. Questions from UW Colleges advisors or administrators regarding this transfer guide should be directed to Barbara Gerloff, Assistant Director, Education Academic Services, B117 Education Building, 1000 Bascom Mall, Madison WI 53706, 608/262-4544, gerloff@education.wisc.edu.
UW-Madison TIS Liason: Clare Huhn, Office of the Provost, 100 Bascom Hall, Madison WI 53706, (608) 265-9276.
Last updated: October, 2008