Welcome to the College of Education and Professional Studies at UW-Whitewater! We are thrilled that you are interested in one of our many programs. Our College offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs, including Master's degrees and graduate-level certificates. We also offer options for post-baccalaureate students to earn teacher licensure.
Students in our programs prepare for careers in teaching, communication sciences and disorders, health, physical education, recreation and coaching, and leadership, military science and aerospace studies.
Many of our programs include requirements for state licensure through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for:
The College of Education and Professional Studies' goal is to assist you in obtaining your initial Wisconsin teacher's license. The licensure information provided here lists the requirements for an initial teacher's license that the State of Wisconsin and UW-Whitewater have established for your program. In addition to these requirements, you must also satisfy UW-Whitewater requirements for proficiency and general studies, academic majors, minors, and other degree requirements if you do not possess a baccalaureate degree. These requirements are published in the UW-Whitewater Undergraduate Catalog.Students seeking initial licensure must also complete requirements for Admission to Professional Education. (Students seeking licensure as a School Business Manager, School Psychologist, Speech and Language Pathologist, or in Counselor Education must follow separate admission policies).
The following licensure programs are available at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. For available licensure programs at the graduate level, consult the Graduate Catalog.
DPI Developmental Level |
Licensure Areas |
Dual Licensure: Regular & Special Education | |
(Approximate Ages: Birth-8 years old) |
Regular and Special Education in community childcare facilities, birth-to-three programs, Head Start, Preschool, Four and Five-Year-Old Kindergarten, Grades 1-3 |
Regular Education Licensure | |
Middle Childhood through Early Adolescence (MC-EA) (Approximate Ages: 6-12 or 13 years old) "Elementary/Middle Education" |
*Completion of a minor is required for this program* |
Early Adolescence through Adolescence (EA-A) (Approximate Ages: 10-21 years old) "Secondary Education" |
Content area courses in departmentalized middle and senior high schools (grades 6-12) in the following areas: Biology, Broadfield Social Studies, Chemistry, Communication, Computer Science, Dance, Earth Science, Economics, English, Environmental Studies, Geography, History, Journalism, Mathematics, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology |
Early Childhood through Adolescence (EC-A) (Appoximate Ages: Birth-21 years old) |
Content area courses in public schools (all ages) in the following areas: Athletic Coaching, Art, Bilingual/Bicultural, Business, English as a Second Language, French, German, Library Media, Marketing, Music, Physical Education, Spanish, Theatre Licensure is also available in Reading, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Counseling, and School Psychology at the graduate level. |
Special Education Licensure | |
Middle Childhood through Early Adolescence (MC-EA) AND Early Adolescence through Adolescence (EA-A) |
Special Education in elementary, middle, and high schools (approximately grades 1-12). Students choose an emphasis in either Cognitive Disabilities orLearning Disabilities/Emotional Behavioral Disorders. |
The Advising Licensure Coordinators listed below are for students who are formally admitted to Professional Education and/or for students who already hold a bachelor's degree.
Freshmen or sophomores not yet admitted to Professional Education should contact the Winther Hall Information Desk (education@uww.edu or 262-472-1101) to be referred to the appropriate advisor.
Advising Assistance and Admission to Professional Education
Winther Hall Information Desk
Phone: (262) 472-1101
Email: education@uww.edu
Graduation and Teacher Licensure Information
Jillian Smith, Certifying Officer
Winther Hall, Room 2036
Phone: (262) 472-1059
Email: smithjm@uww.edu
Early Childhood: Regular & Special Education (Dual Licensure) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Early Childhood (Birth-8 years old) | (262) 472-5809 | WH 4038 | |
ECE4U - Online program for ECE Associate's Degree Transfer students |
Anne Tillett | (262) 472-1833 | WH 4034 |
For licensed teachers: Add-on Early Childhood Special Education (1809) Add-on Early Childhood Regular Education (1777) |
Dept of Special Ed Lucy Heimer |
(262) 472-1106 (262) 472-5802 |
WH 5033 WH 4039 |
Elementary Education | |||
Elementary/Middle | Yao Fu | (262) 472-5213 |
WH 3035 |
Secondary Education | |||
---|---|---|---|
Art | Kristen Monday | (262) 472-1830 | WH 4050 |
Bilingual Education | Julie Minikel-Lacocque | (262) 472-5800 | WH 3039 |
Business and Marketing Education | Denise Roseland | (262) 472-1831 | WH 4045 |
Computer Science | Denise Roseland | (262) 472-1831 | WH 4045 |
Driver Education | Robin Fox | (262) 472-5821 | WH 2039 |
English | John Zbikowski | (262) 472-4860 | WH 3037 |
English as a Second Language | Melanie Schneider | (262) 472-5439 | WH 3042 |
Library Media | Sarah Beth Nelson | 262-472-1380 | WH 6035 |
Math | Wade Tillett | (262) 472-1078 | WH 3050 |
Music | Alena Holmes | (262) 472-1217 | CA 2006 |
Physical Education | Nikki Hollett | (262) 472-1140 | WC 123 |
- Health (minor/licensure only) | Logan Edwards | (262) 472-1374 | WC 123 |
- Adaptive PE (licensure only) | Kathleen Happel | (262) 472-1390 | WC 127M |
- Coaching | Kelly Witte | (262) 472-5650 | WC 126W |
Science | Liesl Gapinski | (262) 472-1190 | WH 4046 |
Social Studies | James Hartwick | (262) 472-5815 | Winther Hall |
Theatre | Bruce Cohen | CA | |
World (Foreign) Language | Jenna Cushing-Leubner | (262) 472-2198 | WH 3039 |
Special Education | |||
---|---|---|---|
Undergraduate CC-ID | Barbara Hilliker | (262) 472-5376 | |
Undergraduate CC-EBD/LD | Barbara Hilliker | (262) 472-5376 | |
Graduate MSE CC & LD | Shannon Stuart | (262) 472-4877 | WH 5042 |
Early Childhood: EEN (Master's Program Only) | Naomi Rahn | (262) 472-1106 | Winther Hall |
SPECED4U-online program for Special Education | Sharon Kolb | (262) 472-4831 | WH 5041 |
Specialized Areas | |||
---|---|---|---|
Alternative Education (graduate only) | Anne Stinson | (262) 472-1973 | WH 3049 |
Communication Sciences & Disorders (MS) | Lynn Gilbertson | (262) 472-5202 | RS 1014 |
Counselor Education (graduate only) | Jennifer Betters-Bubon | (262) 472-1886 | WH 6039 |
Educational Administration Program (graduate only-in cooperation with UW-Madison) |
Dennis Pauli |
(262) 472-4891 |
WH 4051 |
Gifted and Talented Program Coordinator (graduate only) | Scott Peters | (262) 472-5407 | WH 6052 |
Library Media | Sarah Beth Nelson | (262) 472-2837 | WH 6035 |
Reading | May Vang | (262) 472-1382 | WH 3041 |
School Business Administration (graduate only) | John Smith | (262) 472-4704 | HH 4518 |
Business Education (graduate only) | Karla Saeger | 262-472-5475 | |
School Psychology (graduate only) | Christine Neddenriep | (262) 472-1850 | LT 1229 |
Standards and Assessment Program Coordinator (graduate only) | Scott Peters | (262) 472-5407 | WH 6052 |
For more information about education, please visit Admission to Professional Education
Please see the document below for an important update from ETS regarding Praxis-at-home options.
As of Fall 2017, students can apply for admission to the College of Education and Professional Studies by obtaining a combined GPA of 2.75 OR using passing scores from all components of ONE of the tests listed below:
The Praxis CORE Academic Skills for Educators is part of the Praxis Series administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS). The Praxis CORE is used to measure teacher candidates’ knowledge in reading, writing and mathematics. Note: If you wish to take all three Praxis CORE tests at the same time, select CORE Academic Skills for Educators: Combined Test (5752) when registering with ETS. Scores, however, will be reported by individual test (5713, 5723, 5733).
Test |
Wisconsin Passing Score |
CORE Reading (5713) |
156 |
CORE Writing (5723) |
162 |
CORE Mathematics (5733) |
150 |
Note: The PPST is no longer offered. However, passing scores earned before September 1, 2014 may be used for Admission to Professional Education and will not expire. PPST subtest passing scores may be combined with CORE passing scores to meet testing requirement.
PPST |
Wisconsin Passing Score |
PPST Reading (0710/5710) |
175 |
PPST Writing (0720/5720) |
174 |
PPST Math (0730/5730) |
173 |
Note: Effective September 1, 2015, only passing scores from within the past 10 years (from the date of submission of application for Admission to Professional Education) will be accepted. Passing scores must all be from the same test session.
Test |
Wisconsin Passing Scores |
ACT |
Composite score of 22 with minimum score of 20 on |
SAT |
Composite score of 1100
|
GRE Revised General Test |
August 1, 2011 to Present Minimum score of 150 on Verbal Reasoning, 3 on Analytical Writing, and 145 on Quantitative Reasoning Prior to August 1, 2011 Minimum score of 450 on Verbal Reasoning, 3 on Analytical Writing, and 540 on Quantitative Reasoning
|
Wisconsin Foundations of Reading Test
All candidates in Wisconsin applying for a teaching license in Early Childhood, Elementary Education, Special Education, Reading Teacher license, and Reading Specialist will be required to take the Foundations of Reading Test (WI-FOR). Passing scores on the Wisconsin Foundations of Reading Test (WI-FOR) will be required to be endorsed for a Wisconsin Teaching License.
For detailed information about the test, visit Foundations of Reading Test for Wisconsin.
State Minimum Score: 240
The WI-FOR test is being administered through the UW-W Testing Office Thursday evenings during the academic year. S tudents can also electronically enroll to take the WI-FOR at: www.wi.nesinc.com
Praxis II and Content Area Assessments
Effective January 1, 2020, all students admitted to Professional Education in Secondary English, Science, and Social Studies Programs pursuing initial licensure in Early Adolescence through Adolescence (EA/A) English, Speech, Journalism, Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, Environmental Studies, Physics, Broad Field Social Studies, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Psychology, or Sociology are required to submit a passing score on the Praxis II Content Knowledge Test by March 1 for a Fall semester student teaching placement, or October 1 for a Spring semester student teaching placement.
The required Praxis II Content Knowledge Test for initial licensure is:
*Praxis II English Language Arts: Content Knowledge Test for initial license in English (Test Code: 5038; passing score 167),
*Praxis II General Science: Content Knowledge Test for initial license in Science (Test Code: 5435; passing score 154), or
*Praxis II Social Studies: Content Knowledge Test for initial license in Social Studies (Test Code: 5081; passing score 153).
If the first attempt to pass the Praxis II Test results in a failing score, contact your Program Coordinator for additional support. Register for the test at ets.org
To qualify for student teaching and licensure in all programs other than those listed above, students must either:
or
Students must complete these requirements by March 1st for Fall student teaching or October 1st for Spring student teaching in order to be placed by the Office of Field Experience (OFE).
It is the student’s responsibility to know which test they will required to take. Students must consult with their COEPS faculty advisor for clarification of which Praxis subject assessment test(s) and/or content area exam(s) they will be required to pass for licensable minors and/or non-declared programs.
Test Preparation Resources
Wisconsin Foundations of Reading
Test outline, practice tests, study guides, videos, and tutorials provided by Pearson Education, the test publisher, can be found here.
UW-Madison hosts an online self-paced test review course for FREE. Become familiarized with the objectives and content of the test through a series of modules, each of which represents a different subarea of the test. Each module contains readings and activities designed to help, in conjunction with methods courses, to become comfortable with the material that will be tested on the Foundations of Reading Test. Register for this course here.
A license may be issued in Wisconsin to an applicant who has received institutional endorsement. Students must meet the following requirements to be eligible for UW-Whitewater institutional endorsement for licensure:
UW-Whitewater students seeking licensure in the State of Wisconsin must meet the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's human relations requirement. In formation about how the human relations requirement will be met by UW-Whitewater students can be found on the Office of Field Experiences website. Human Relations requirements must be met to receive a bachelor's degree and/or teaching license.
Requirement |
Majors Affected |
Specific Curriculum that Addresses Requirement |
Notes |
Cooperative marketing and consumer cooperatives for licenses in agriculture, economics, and social studies |
Broadfield Social Studies (and all current Social Studies majors including Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology); School Psychology |
ECON 213 OR ECON201 and ECON 498 for Social Studies; Psych 792, 793 or 795 for School Psychology |
|
Requirement |
Majors Affected |
Specific Curriculum that Addresses Requirement |
Notes |
Environmental education, including the conservation of natural resources, for licenses in early childhood regular education, elementary and middle school regular education, science, and social studies. |
Early Childhood Education (regular ed license) Elementary Middle Education Broadfield Science (and all current Science majors including Biology, Chemistry, and Physics)
|
BIO 191, 214, 250, CIGENRL 410 or GEOGRAPHY 130, 170, 252, or GEOLOGY 170 for Early Childhood; BIO 214, GEOGRAPHY 252, BIO 240, or GEOLOGY 240 (requires personalization) for Elementary-Middle; BIO 214, 257 or GEOGRAPHY 252 or BIO 250 (requires personalization), BIO 451/651 (requires personalization), or GEOLOGY 250 or 451 (requires personalization) for Science majors |
|
Requirement |
Majors Affected |
Specific Curriculum that Addresses Requirement |
Notes |
Minority group relations, including all of the following: |
All initial licensure programs/majors in COEPS, including Pupil Services (i.e., School Counseling and School Psychology) and Speech & Language Pathology licensure programs |
See below |
Supplemental licensure candidates meet this requirement through their initial license program; Administrative licensure program candidates meet this requirement through their initial license, which is required in order to obtain an administrative license; also SCHBUSMG 781 for School Business Management for all equity categories |
(a) The history, culture, and tribal sovereignty of American Indian tribes and bands located in Wisconsin. |
|
EDFOUND 243 or EDFOUND 710 for School Psychology (and graduate programs for initial licensure); EDUINDP 323 and 332 for Early Childhood Education; COUNSED 741 for School Counseling; COMDIS 660, 701 and EDFOUND 243 for Speech & Language Pathology |
|
(b) The history, culture, and contributions of women and various racial, cultural, language, and economic groups in the United States. |
|
EDFOUND 243 for all undergraduate initial licensure programs; COUNSED 741 for School Counseling; EDFOUND 243 or EDFOUND 710 for School Psychology (and graduate programs for initial licensure); EDUINDP 211, 212, 323 and 332 for Early Childhood Education; SPECED 766 for Special Education; COMDIS 660, 713 and 764 for Speech & Language Pathology |
|
(c) The philosophical and psychological bases of attitude development and change. |
|
EDFOUND 243 for all undergraduate initial licensure programs; COUNSED 741 and 793 for School Counseling; EDFOUND 243 or EDFOUND 710 and PSYCH 724 for School Psychology; 710 for Graduate programs for initial licensure; EDUINDP 213 for Early Childhood Education; COMDIS 713 for Speech & Language Pathology |
|
(d) The psychological and social implications of discrimination, especially racism and sexism in the United States. |
|
EDFOUND 243 for all undergraduate initial licensure programs; COUNSED 741 for School Counseling; EDFOUND 243 or EDFOUND 710 for School Psychology (and graduate programs for initial licensure); EDUINDP 212, 323 and 332 for Early Childhood Education; COMDIS 660, 710, 713 and 764 for Speech & Language Pathology |
|
(e) Evaluation and assessment of the forces of discrimination, especially racism and sexism on administrators, teachers, pupils, assessment, curriculum, and instruction in schools. |
|
EDFOUND 243 for all undergraduate initial licensure programs; EDUINDP 212, 323, 332, 333 and SPECED 461 for Early Childhood Education; COUNSED 743 for School Counseling; EDFOUND 243 or EDFOUND 710 for School Psychology (and graduate programs for initial licensure); COMDIS 660, 710 and 713 for Speech & Language Pathology |
|
(f) Minority group relations through direct involvement with various racial, cultural, language, and economic groups in the United States. |
|
EDFOUND 243 for all undergraduate initial licensure programs; COUNSED 793 and 795 for School Counseling; EDUINDP 214, 323 and 332 for Early Childhood Education; PSYCH 793 and 795 for School Psychology; SPECED 766 for Special Education; COMDIS 660, 713 and 764 for Speech & Language Pathology |
|
Requirement |
Majors Affected |
Specific Curriculum that Addresses Requirement |
Notes |
Conflict resolution, including all of the following: |
All initial licensure programs/majors in COEPS, including Pupil Services (i.e., School Counseling and School Psychology) and Speech & Language Pathology licensure programs |
|
Supplemental licensure candidates meet this requirement through their initial license program; Administrative licensure program candidates meet this requirement through their initial license, which is required in order to obtain an administrative license; SCHBUSMG 781 for School Business Management |
(a) Resolving conflicts between pupils and between pupils and school staff. |
|
SECNDED 423 for Art Education; SECNDED 442 or 444 for Business & Marketing Education;; EDUINDP 212, 321 and 319 for Early Childhood Education; ELEMMID 363 or 364 for Elementary-Middle; SECNDED 426 for English Education; SECNDED 421 or 428 for Math Education; ELEMMID 434 or 437 or MUSED 452 for Music Education; PEPROF 447 for Physical Education; COUNSED 795 for School Counseling; PSYCH 620, 766 or 793 for School Psychology; SECNDED 429 for Science Education; SECNDED 430 for Social Studies; SPECED 360/560 and 458/658 or SPECED 766 for Special Education; COMDIS 460/660 for Speech & Language Pathology; SECNDED 434 for Theatre Education; SECNDED 427 for World Language Education |
|
(b) Assisting pupils in learning methods of resolving conflicts between pupils, including training in the use of peer mediation, and between pupils and school staff. |
|
SECNDED 423 for Art Education; SECNDED 442 or 444 for Business & Marketing Education; EDUINDP 212, 319, 321 and 452 for Early Childhood Education; ELEMMID 363 or 364 for Elementary-Middle; SECNDED 426 for English Education; SECNDED 421 or 428 for Math Education; ELEMMID 434 or 437 or CIGENERL 452 or SECNDED 438 for Music Education; PEPROF 447 for Physical Education; COUNSED 743 for School Counseling; PSYCH 620, 766 or 793 for School Psychology; SECNDED 429 for Science Education; SECNDED 430 for Social Studies; SPECED 360/560 and 458/658 or SPECED 766 for Special Education; COMDIS 460/660 for Speech & Language Pathology; SECNDED 434 for Theatre Education; SECNDED 427 for World Language Education |
|
(c) Addressing crises, including violent, disruptive, potentially violent, or potentially disruptive situations that may arise in a school or during activities supervised by school staff. |
|
SECNDED 423 for Art Education; SECNDED 442 or 444 for Business & Marketing Education; EDUINDP 319, 321 and 452 for Early Childhood Education; ELEMMID 363 or 364 for Elementary-Middle; SECNDED 426 for English Education; SECNDED 421 or 428 for Math Education; ELEMMID 434 or 437 or CIGENERL 452 or SECNDED 438 for Music Education; PEPROF 447 for Physical Education; COUNSED 716 for School Counseling; PSYCH 620, 680, 766 or 793 for School Psychology; SECNDED 429 for Science Education; SECNDED 430 for Social Studies; SPECED 640/640 for Special Education; COMDIS 460/660 for Speech & Language Pathology; SECNDED 434 for Theatre Education; SECNDED 427 for World Language Education |
|
Requirement |
Majors Affected |
Specific Curriculum that Addresses Requirement |
Notes |
For classroom teacher licenses, the role and responsibility of a teacher through a student teaching experience that meets all of the requirements under s. PI 34.023. |
All initial or supplemental teacher licensure programs; Speech & Language Pathology |
CIFLD 411 or 414 for Art Education; CIFLD 412 or 414 for Business & Marketing Education; EDUINDP 331, 441, 461, and 462 for Early Childhood Education; CIFLD 411 or 412 for Elementary-Middle; CIFLD 412 or 414 for English Education; CIFLD 412 or 414 for Math Education; CIFLD 411 or 414 for Music Education; PEFIELD 411 or 414 for Physical Education; CIFLD 412 or 414 for Science Education; CIFLD 412 or 414 for Social Studies; SPECFLD 489 A or B or C and D for Special Education; COMDIS 660 for Speech & Language Pathology; CIFLD 412 or 414 for Theatre Education; CIFLD 412 or 414 for World Language Education |
|
Requirement |
Majors Affected |
Specific Curriculum that Addresses Requirement |
Notes |
Appropriate instruction methods for teaching reading and language arts, including phonics for licenses to teach reading and language arts at the early childhood and elementary and middle school levels. In this paragraph, “phonics” means a method of teaching beginners to read and pronounce words by learning the phonetic values of letters, letter groups, and syllables. |
Initial Licensure programs in Early Childhood Education; Elementary-Middle Education, Special Education; Reading Teacher and Reading Specialist |
READING 361,461 EDUINDP 334, for Early Childhood; ELEMMID 362, READING 360, 461, and 462 for Elementary-Middle; SPECED 486 and 487 for Special Education; READING 765, 766, 767, 768, 771, 772 and 774 or 775 or EARLYCHD 561 for Reading Teacher and Reading Specialist |
Reading is not a currently active program – courses may change |
Requirement |
Majors Affected |
Specific Curriculum that Addresses Requirement |
Notes |
Procedures used for identifying, assessing, and providing education for children with disabilities, including the roles and responsibilities of regular and special education providers and curriculum modifications. |
All initial licensure programs/majors in COEPS, as well as the Speech & Language Pathology licensure program |
EDUINDP 333, 442 and SPECED 461, 476, and COMDIS 355 for Early Childhood Education; ELEMMID 432, MUSED 452 for Music Education; COUNSED 738 for School Counseling; COMDIS 660, 710, and 713 for Speech & Language Pathology; SPECED 205 for all other teacher licensure programs |
Supplemental licensure candidates meet this requirement through their initial license program; Administrative licensure program candidates meet this requirement through their initial license, which is required in order to obtain an administrative license |
Requirement |
Majors Affected |
Specific Curriculum that Addresses Requirement |
Notes |
Professional ethics and responsibilities, including mandatory reporting requirements under s. 48.981, Stats. |
All initial licensure programs/majors in COEPS, including Pupil Services (i.e., School Counseling and School Psychology) and Speech & Language Pathology licensure programs |
for all initial teacher licensure programs, this is addressed in the curriculum and focused on during the student teaching experience, with specifics included in the Student Teaching Handbook; EDUINDP 211, 453 and EARLYCHID 340 for Early Childhood Education; COUNSED 751 and the Program Handbook for School Counseling; Curriculum and the Program Handbook for School Psychology; COMDIS 710 and the Clinical Handbook for Speech and Language Pathology |
Supplemental licensure candidates meet this requirement through their initial license program; Administrative licensure program candidates meet this requirement through their initial license, which is required in order to obtain an administrative license |