Promoting Activity for Diverse Abilities, Certificate

The new Promoting Activity for Diverse Abilities Certificate is offered in the Department of Kinesiology. The department's mission is to research, teach, and apply knowledge related to movement, exercise, and human occupation with the ultimate goal of enhancing human health, productivity, and quality of life.

This certificate will prepare students with the specialized knowledge and skills to safely promote and develop physical activities to improve the health, wellness, and functioning of individualswith a wide range of diverse abilities. Students will be able to address inclusive activities aimed to improve general activities of daily living, posture, mobility, breathing, nutrition, and fall prevention as well as adapted sports, fitness and recreation.

Coursework (1618 credits) in this certificate is made up of a core that includes the topics of anatomy, disability, a hands-on practicum and specialized program planning. The electives options will give students some flexibility to tailor the program to their specific educational and career interests. Examples of elective topics include dance therapy, communicative disorders, health behavior and diversity in special education.

This experience will also provide students with important credentials to battle the disparity in poor health and fitness across populations with diverse abilities.Students can put these skills to use in adapted physical activity settings such as therapy facilities for spinal cord injury and neurological rehabilitation centers, hospitals, hospital sponsored adapted programs, adapted fitness programs in corporate settings, senior day and residential facilities, aquatic facilities, public and private recreation agencies, health and fitness clubs, disability sports programs and seasonal camps.

1. In Semester 1, prior to starting student teaching, students must have acquired Intermediate High proficiency in their target language on the ACTFL OPI scale as measured by two independent external evaluators.
2. In Year 1, student teachers must demonstrate the ability to teach in a K-8 context, as evaluated by their University supervisor and their mentor teacher through repeated direct observations.
3. During their content courses, students must meet (a) teacher education standards; and (b) ACTFL standards, as measured by (a) formative and summative evaluation of their assignments; (b) Teacher Education portfolio.
4. In Year 2, student teachers must demonstrate the ability to teach in a 6-12 school context, as evaluated by their University supervisor and their cooperating teacher through repeated direct observations.
5. To get certified by the Department of Public Instruction, at the end of Year 2, student teachers must have successfully completed an EdTPA Portfolio of their classroom experiences that demonstrates professionalism and meets the EdTPA standards, as evaluated by external evaluators.

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.

Portuguese Education Advising

Consult with advising staff in the School of Education Student Services office, Room 139 Education Building, 1000 Bascom Mall, for general questions regarding certification to teach Portuguese. Current students should schedule an appointment online through the Starfish app in MyUW. Appointments can also be made through email at [email protected], by calling 608-262-1651, or in person once the office has reopened. Students may want to consult the undergraduate advisor in the Spanish and Portuguese department regarding course sequencing and other aspects of this field of study.

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