Program Sequence

1. Evaluate progress towards General Education

For undergraduate students, once you declare your major, an evaluation of your progress is automatically included in your Academic Advising Report (AAR).

For special students who hold baccalaureate degrees general education will be met by your previous baccalaureate degree. You should contact the College of Education & Professional Studies Advising Assistance Center to have your orverall academic record reviewed. If you have questions, please contact the College of Education & Professional Studies Advising Assistance Center (Winther Hall, Advising Assistance Center in the lobby of Winther Hall, phone: 262.472.1101).

2. Declare Major/Minor and continue taking social studies content area courses

Refer to course listings in the Undergraduate Catalog or provided in the Content Area Forms Link and meet with your content area advisor to determine the required classes for your particular social studies major (Broadfield Social Studies, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology) and/or your minor. If you are pursuing a Broadfield Social Studies program, you should meet with a content advisor in the area of your emphasis, i.e., Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Psychology, or Sociology. 

When you are admitted to Professional Education, determine appropriate coursework and sequence in consultation with BOTH (1) an advisor in your major department or area of Broadfield emphasis AND (2) the Social Studies Program Coordinator, Winther Hall, room 3051. Any potential content specific transfer credits should be evaluated by an advisor in your major department, while any potential education specific transfer credits should be should be evaluated by the Social Studies Program Coordinator. Prior to admission to Professional Education, if you have questions regarding education requirements, please contact the Education Advising Assistance Center (Room 2031 Winther Hall; 262.472.1101). 

3. Complete the following Special Requirements

Please note that all social studies licensure programs in Wisconsin include an environmental education requirement and an agricultural economics cooperatives requirement. In addition, UW-Whitewater also requires students to meet a special education requirement. These can be met as follows:

4. Have a combined GPA of a 2.75 OR pass all 3 parts of the PRAXIS Core Test

If you have a combined GPA of 2.75, you are not required to pass the Praxis Core Test. If you need to take the Praxis Core Test, dates and times the test is offered at the UW-Whitewater campus are listed in the PRAXIS Booklet available at the Education Advising Assistance Center (Room 2031 Winther Hall; 262.472.1101). For information on registering for the Praxis Core Test and for location of testing centers go to ETS Praxis.  

Copies of test manuals and previous tests are on reserve in the Learning Materials Center (LMC) in the lower level of the library or they are available for purchase at the University Bookstore. Mock tests and test preparation workshops are also offered occasionally. For information about these workshops, contact the Education Advising Assistance Center (Room 2031 Winther Hall; 262.472.1101). 

5. Enroll in the Foundations Block (Fall, Spring, or Summer Semester)

Please refer to the Educational Foundations Block for information on enrollment requirements, how to enroll, and other information relevant to the Foundation Block courses. 

Students should sign up for the classes listed below as a block and should reserve all day Tuesday and Thursday (6:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.) for the block. To enroll, students must request permission via email education@uww.edu or by stopping by the Winther Hall Information desk located in the main lobby on the second floor of Winther Hall. The Foundations Block courses must be taken prior to or concurrent with application for Professional Education admission.

• EDFOUND 243: Education in a Pluralistic Society (Ed Foundations) (3 Units)
  * This course meets the General Education Diversity requirement
  
• EDFOUND 212: Educational Psychology (Ed Foundations) (3 Units)
• EDFNDPRC 210: Introduction to Education and Teaching (C&I) (3 Units)
  * This course fulfills one portion of the Department of Public Instruction Human Relations requirement. (Please reserve all day, from approximately 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, for Observation and Participation [EDFNDPRC 210].
• *SPECED 205: Introduction to Special Education (Special Ed) (3 Units)
  * This course may be taken at any time; it is not a pre-requisite for  professional education admission. However, it is often taken concurrently with the Foundations Block courses.
• In some cases, returning or transfer students may have taken similar coursework at another institution. In order to petition to have previous coursework substituted for a program requirement, contact the Educational Foundations Department. (262.472.1380, Winther 6035).   

6. Please carefully review the admission links below.

• Admissions Policies
• Professional Education Admission and Admission Dates
• Basic Eligibility

You are also welcome to contact the Education Advising Assistance Center (2031 Winther Hall; 262.472.1101) with questions regarding admission to professional education.

7. Following admission to the School of Education, you should make appropriate advising appointments and develop a program plan.

A. For Traditional UW-Whitewater Undergraduates

Make an appointment with your content area advisor to determine the remaining content courses you will need to complete to satisfy your major and minor requirements. Be sure to keep a signed copy of your Progress Toward Degree - Discipline/Content Coursework form for your records and bring a copy of the Progress Toward Degree - Discipline/Content Coursework form or some similar verification of your content advisor's approval of your content courses  to your appointment with your assigned Secondary Social Studies Licensure advisor in the College of Education and Professional Studies (COEPS).

1. Attend the mandatory Secondary Social Studies Advising Session, which is offered each semester (you will be invited to this meeting after you admitted) or make an advising appointment your Secondary Social Studies Licensure Adviosr in the COEPS s to make a program plan and lock-in dates for Methods Block and Student Teaching Semesters. Bring a printed copy of a current Academic Advising Report (AAR), Progress Toward Degree - Discipline/Content Coursework form or some similar verification of your content advisor's approval of your content courses for both your major and your minor, waivers, and other relevant documents to this meeting. 

B. For Transfer Students and Special Students (with baccalaureate degrees)

Make an appointment with your content area advisor or the deparment chair of the discipline in which you earned significant numbers of social studies credits (area of your major and/or minor) to have your content courses evaluated. Be sure to keep copy of your content course requirements for your records and bring a copy of the Progress Toward Degree - Discipline/Content Coursework form or some similar verification of your content advisor's approval of your content courses (often your content advisor or the deparment chair will email the Secondary Social Studies Program Coordinator [Dr. Hartwick] and yourself a list of content courses that you may need to complete) to your appointment with your assigned Secondary Social Studies Licensure advisor in the College of Education and Professional Studies (COEPS).

1. Attend the mandatory Secondary Social Studies Advising Session, which is offered each semester (you will be invited to this meeting after you admitted) or make an advising appointment your Secondary Social Studies Licensure Adviosr in the COEPS to make a program plan to and to lock in dates for Methods Block and Student Teaching Semesters. Bring a printed copy of a current Academic Advising Report (AAR), Progress Toward Degree - Discipline/Content Coursework form or some similar verification of your content advisor's approval of your content courses for both your major and your minor, transcripts, a list of courses completed at UW-Whitewater, waivers, and other relevant documents to this meeting. 

8. Praxis II Social Studies: Content Knowledge Exam (5081)
For admission to Phase 4 Student Teaching, you must achieve a qualifying score(153)on the Praxis II Social Studies: Content Knowledge Exam (Test Code: 5081). Your results on the Praxis II Social Studies: Content Knowledge Exam (Test Code: 5081) must be reported to the College of Education & Professional Studies in order for the Office of Field Experiences to arrange a student teaching placement; therefore, it is strongly recommended that you take the Praxis II exam several months prior to the following deadlines.  

• Students who wish to student teach in the Fall Semester should take and achieve the qualifying score (153) on the Praxis II Social Studies: Content Knowledge Exam (Test Code: 5081) by no later than March 1.
• Students who wish to student teach in the Spring Semester should take and achieve the qualifying score (153) on the Praxis II Social Studies: Content Knowledge Exam (Test Code: 5081) by no later than October 1.

For information on registering for the Social Studies: Content Knowledge Test (5081) and for location of testing centers go to ETS Praxis.  In particular, you may want to go to Praxis Test Dates and Centers  and choose "Social Studies: Content Knowledge Test (5081)" from the Praxis Subject Assessments drop down list. After doing so, scroll down to find the location of the Praxis Test Center.  

For specific information regarding the Praxis II Social Studies: Content Knowledge Exam (Test Code: 5081), please review the online preparation materials. We also strongly encourage students to use the detailed test preparation booklet, Social Studies and Citizenship Education: Content Knowledge Study Guide, 2nd Edition.  Although this was created for a different Praxis II exam, the material covered is relevant to your required Praxis II Social Studies: Content Knowledge Exam. Copies of this test preparation booklet and other relevant resources are available at the Andersen Library, or you may purchase them from other booksellers.

To assist you with studying for the Praxis II Social Studies Content Knowledge Exam (0081/ 5081), please consider using:

• The Online Test Prep Resources

• Practice Test Preparation Books .at the UWW Library (You could use the practice books for each of the 6 Social Studies Disciplines [Economics (5911), Geography (5921), Government/ Political Science (5931), Psychology (5391), and Sociology (5952), and World and US History (5941)]  AND the Social Studies Broadfield Practice (0081/5081) book.

9. Complete the Methods Block (Fall semesters only)

In order to be eligible for the Methods Block of courses, you must have:

1. been admitted to Professional Education, and
2. made significant progress in content course work (Major/Minor) or have the consent of the Social Studies Program Coordinator.

During the Methods Block semester, you should enroll in 3 units of Methods of Teaching Social Studies (SECNDED 430/630), 2 units of Alternate Directed Teaching (CIFLD 402/404) and 3 units of Field Study (Seminar, SECNDED 460). These three courses are closely coordinated with each other and should be taken together. Methods of Teaching Social Studies (SECNDED 430/630) is designed to prepare students to learn traditional and state-of-the-art instructional techniques, methods, and approaches to teaching high school and middle school social studies. In Alternate Directed Teaching (CIFLD 402/404) students are assigned four days a week (Mon. - Thurs.) to a six to ten week, half-a-day, school placement. Field Study Seminar (SECNDED 460) involves students in reflecting on teaching and systematically connecting their alternate directed teaching experience with their university coursework.

Methods Block Courses

SECNDED 430/630 Methods of Teaching Social Studies (C&I) (3 Units) (Fall Only)

CIFLD 402 Alternate Directed Teaching, Social Studies (Middle School) (C&I) (2 Units) (Fall Only)
OR
CIFLD 404 Alternate Directed Teaching, Social Studies (High School) (C&I) (2 Units) (Fall Only)

SECNDED 460 (Formerly CIFLD 492) Field Study Seminar (C&I) (3 Units) (Fall Only)

SECNDED 466 Literacy Strategies for Content Area Teachers (C&I) (3 Units) * Usually this course is taken as a part of the Methods Block; however, the course may be taken anytime after Professional Education Admission.

EDFOUND 425 Measurement & Evaluation (Ed Foundations) (3 Units) * This course may be taken anytime after Professional Education Admission; it does not need to be part of the Methods Block.

Scheduling Note: In selecting your courses and planning work and other obligations, be certain to hold free EITHER 7:30am-11:30am OR 11:30am-3:30pm Monday through Thursday for your Alternate Directed Teaching Experience (CIFLD 402/404). In addition, each Friday throughout the semester, Field Study Seminar (SECNDED 460), will meet from 8:00 AM - 10:30 AM.

1. If you wish to do your full time student teaching semester (Directed Teaching) in a middle school, you must sign up for high school Alternate Directed Teaching (CIFLD 404) this semester. If you wish to do your full time student teaching semester (Directed Teaching) in a high school, you must sign up for middle school Alternate Directed Teaching (CIFLD 402) this semester.
2. Some school districts may require criminal background checks for individuals completing field placements in their schools. Students are required to pay the cost of such background checks.

10. Student Teaching

In order to be eligible for Student Teaching, you must have:

1. 1. a minimum overall GPA of 2.75,
   2. earned a C or better in all methods courses,
   3. earned a S or a C or better in all clinical experiences,
   4. attend the Student Teacher Orientation Meeting in the semester prior to student teaching,
   5. a recent negative reading on a TB test,
   6. a satisfactory background check as needed (Some school districts may require criminal background checks for individuals completing field placements in their schools. Students are required to pay the cost of such background checks.),
   7. have documentation of earning a passing scores for all required state content exams (see step 8, Praxis II: Social Studies Content Knowledge Exam),
   8. the consent of the Social Studies Program Coordinator, and
   9. attend the Student Teacher Send Off Meeting just prior to the start of the student teaching experience

Note: These school placements will follow the school district's, not UW-Whitewater's, calendar and will run all day, every day for a full (18 week) semester. If you completed a Field Study/Alt. Directed Teaching placement in a middle school, you must sign up for high school for Student Teaching. If you completed a Field Study/Alt. Directed Teaching placement in a high school, you must sign up for middle school for Student Teaching. Further information about field placements may be found in the Field Experiences Handbook available  from the Office of Field Experiences (Winther 2003, 262.472.1128).

CIFLD 412: Directed Teaching, Social Studies (Middle School)(C&I)(12 Units)
OR
CIFLD 414: Directed Teaching, Social Studies (High School)(C&I)(12 Units)

CIGENRL 410 or 470:  Social Studies Student Teaching Seminar (2-3 Units)
* Currently, this course is optional, but highly recommended. Please see Dr. Hartwick the semester prior for the specific recommendation.

Internships: There are also limited opportunities for Internships, which place the student in a partial (up to half time) teaching assignment in lieu of a traditional student teaching placement. Internships provide a small financial stipend. UW-Whitewater students must be approved by the Secondary Social Studies Program to apply for Internship placements. Not all students approved for Internship placements can be accommodated. For more information, see the Teacher Internship Program.

International Student Teaching Opportunities: There are opportunities available for International Student Teaching experiences. These programs involve a placement in a Wisconsin school for a part of the semester and a placement overseas for a part of the semester. UW-Whitewater students must be approved by the Program Coordinator in Social Studies to apply for International Student Teaching placements. Students who are interested in taking advantage of this program are encouraged to contact the Office of Field Experiences (Winther 2003, 262.472.1128) for more information.

11. In order to be eligible for Graduation (for undergraduates) and Certification, you must have:

1. successfully completed all university requirements,
2. successfully completed your major and/or minor,
3. satisfy the environmental education requirement and an agricultural economics cooperatives requirement (see Step 3) and all other licensure requirements,
4. successfully completed student teaching,
5. the recommendation of the cooperating teacher, and
6. the recommendation of the university supervisor.

12. Completion of Application for License

The process for applying for your teaching license(s) is explained by the Teacher Licensure page on the College of Education & Professional Studies website.