Elementary Education, BSE

The University of WisconsinMadison Elementary Education Program prepares teachers to foster high academic achievement in all studentsno matter who they are or what zipcode they were born into. In our program, teachers-to-be learn to recognize how their own backgrounds shape their thinking and actions, how racial hierarchies disserve all students, and how powerful teachers can change kids' lives.

Schools are places that can both increase equity and perpetuate injustice, which are ideas our students tackle as they learn to navigate the challenges and joys of teaching. Our goal is for all our graduates to become teacher leaders committed to advancing justice through classroom practices, personal interactions and community engagement. We teach research-based practices that keep teachers growing throughout long careers.

At UWMadison, our students learn to teach through exhilarating coursework, supervised fieldwork, community-based experiences, rigorous self-examination, and powerful and authentic learning experiences. We are training teachers to recognize, appreciate and value the wide range of gifts diverse students bring to our increasingly multicultural, globally connected and morally complex world.

New Certification Options Starting Fall, 2022!

Beginning in the fall of 2022, the Elementary Education Program will look quite different from its current structure. In response to changes by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), new certification options have been created that will certify students to teach in the grade levels of K- 9, K-12, and/or Early Childhood (approximately birth through age 8). These new certification options will give students more choices as they plan their career paths.

As part of the restructuring, new courses were developed and all certification options were designed to be completed in four semesters. These changes align well with the priorities of the School of Educations Teacher Pledge program. In its final stages of approval, this restructuring has provided an opportunity for the program to refocus on its social justice mission.

Effective with fall, 2022 program admission, the Elementary Education Program will offer five options. Admitted students begin a four-semester professional sequence in the fall.

• Kindergarten through Ninth Grade (Single Certification) - Students completing this certification option successfully are certified to teach in kindergarten through ninth grade classrooms.
• Kindergarten through Ninth Grade and English as a Second Language K-12 (Dual Certification) - Students who complete this certification option successfully are certified in the general education of grades kindergarten through ninth grade and in English as a Second Language for grades kindergarten through twelfth grade.
• Kindergarten through Ninth Grade and Early Childhood Education (Dual Certification) - Students who complete this certification option successfully are certified in the general education of grades kindergarten through ninth grade and in Early Childhood Education (approximately birth through age 8).
• Kindergarten through Ninth Grade and Special Education K-12 (Dual Certification & Major) - Students completing this option successfully are double majors in Elementary Education and Special Education. Students are certified in general education for grades kindergarten through ninth grade, and Special Education grades kindergarten through twelfth.
• Kindergarten through Ninth Grade, Early Childhood Education, and English as a Second Language K-12 (Triple Certification) - In this certification option, successful students receive certification in three areas: general education for grades kindergarten through ninth grade, Early Childhood Education, and English as a Second Language in grades kindergarten through twelfth.

Course requirements vary by certification option, so students should consult with their Student Services advisors often.

Visit here for more information on the new certification options coming in Fall, 2022.

Current Program Options

• Early Childhood/English as a Second Language - Students in this program option are certified in Early Childhood and also in English as a Second Language at the Early Childhood level.
• Middle ChildhoodEarly Adolescence/English as a Second Language - Students completing this program option successfully are certified in Elementary Education and in English as a Second Language, both at the Middle ChildhoodEarly Adolescence levels.
• Middle ChildhoodEarly Adolescence/Special Education program - Students are certified in Special Education and Elementary Education, both at the Middle ChildhoodEarly Adolescence levels.
• Middle ChildhoodEarly Adolescence/Content Focused Minor program - Students completing this program option successfully are certified in Elementary Education and also in one of four broad areas (social studies, mathematics, science or language arts) reflecting the subject area of the minor. Both certifications are at the Middle ChildhoodEarly Adolescence level.

Formal definitions of Early Childhood and Middle ChildhoodEarly Adolescence levels are determined by each school district based on the organizational structure of its schools and the philosophy and needs of the district.

1. Create and implement developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences that reflect high expectations for every learner, supporting learners to (1) develop deep understanding of content areas and their connections, and (2) apply understanding in meaningful ways.
2. Select and/or create and sequence individually supportive and challenging learning experiences that reflect knowledge of individual learners, curriculum, pedagogies, and relevance to all learners and their families.
3. Use a variety of teaching strategies, and evidence-based technologies and information resources to engage learners in meaningful learning activities that lead to content knowledge, critical thinking, creativity, innovation, self-evaluation, and self-directed learning. Use evidence to continually evaluate the effectiveness of these practices, and adjust these as needed to improve learner outcomes.
4. Collaborate with others to create supportive, inclusive, linguistically responsive, and safe learning environments that help all learners meet high standards and reach their full potential.
5. Choose, modify, and/or create multiple forms of unbiased formative and summative assessments to measure each learner’s progress toward instructional goals. Use assessment data gathered to respond to each learner’s strengths and needs in relation to short and long-term goals. Reflect on and justify planning decisions and ground one’s justifications in knowledge of learners, development, curriculum, pedagogies, and resources.
6. Use studies completed in science and mathematics, social sciences, the humanities, histories, languages, and the arts to inform and deepen their teaching of content areas and meeting learners’ needs.

All undergraduate students at UW–Madison must complete the university-wide General Education Requirements, which are designed to convey the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. These requirements provide for breadth across the humanities and arts, social studies, and natural sciences; competence in communication, critical thinking, and analytical skills necessary for success in college and beyond; and investigation of the issues raised by living in a culturally diverse society. This core is intended to provide students with intellectual and practical skills, basic knowledge of human cultures and the physical world, strategies for understanding these topics, and tools intended to contribute to their sense of personal and social responsibility. General Education complements the work students do in their majors and degrees. Together, these requirements help students learn what they need to know not just for making a living, but also for making a life.

Completing the General Education Requirements is an important part of achieving these competencies, and to do so, students choose from many courses in communication, ethnic studies, quantitative reasoning, and breadth of study across disciplines in the natural sciences, humanities, literature, and arts, and social and behavioral sciences.

Completing the General Education Requirements is an important part of achieving these competencies, and to do so, students choose from many courses in communication, ethnic studies, quantitative reasoning, and breadth of study across disciplines in the natural sciences, humanities, literature, and arts, and social and behavioral sciences.

Each school and college may choose to allow General Education courses to count toward other degree and/or major requirements. Students should always check with their advisors to discuss any additional degree requirements and determine if students are required to take specific General Education courses or to complete the requirements in a particular order. Students should review their Degree Audit (DARS) report to see how they are progressing toward fulfilling the General Education requirements. Please refer to.

Elementary Education Advising

Students not yet admitted to Elementary Education meet with their assigned advisor in the School of Education Student Services office, see below. Students are assigned an additional departmental advisor when admitted to the professional component of their degree program.

Dedicated to supporting and promoting student success, the School of Education Student Services office coordinates a number of student-related services for prospective and current School of Education students in all programs. Student Services staff offer support in academic advising, career advising, mentoring and advocacy for underrepresented and international students, requirements monitoring, interpreting academic policy, and more. Students in the School of Education are encouraged to make Student Services a vital part of their academic and employment journey.

To schedule an appointment: Call 608-262-2651, email [email protected], or stop by 139 Education Building when the office reopens. Current students can schedule an appointment online through the Starfish app in MyUW.

Career Advising in the School of Education

The School of Education Career Center provides students with the knowledge needed for connecting their classroom experiences with real-world application. Through individual appointments, events, and online resources, the Career Center provides students and alumni with the tools needed to be successful in their career development. From building resumes, conducting job and internship searches, developing interview skills, and negotiation strategies, the Career Center provides a foundation for developing the essential skills for the ever-changing world of work.  

Students can set up their profile on Handshake, the campus online career management system, to find open internships, jobs, and career events.  

Current School of Education students can make an appointment with a Career and Internship Advisor by logging into Starfish from the MyUW dashboard and selecting a day and time that works best with their schedule.

School of Education Alumni can schedule an appointment by completing the appointment request form.

For more information, visit the School of Education Career Center website or reach out at