The Elementary and Middle Education Program prepares individuals to meet the needs of diverse populations in a regular education setting from kindergarten through ninth grade. Clinical and student teaching experiences occur mainly in urban settings and take place in close partnership with local school districts.

Candidates successfully completing the Elementary and Middle Education, K-9, program will receive a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Education and endorsement to be licensed to teach in the State of Wisconsin from four-year-kindergarten through ninth grade. Individuals are licensed to teach any subject, except world language, in a self-contained classroom, and may teach language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies in a departmentalized setting.

Requirements

General Education Requirements (GERs)

UW-Milwaukee has General Education Requirements that must be met in order to earn a bachelor’s degree. Some of the requirements of your program may fulfill the campus GERs. Please review the requirements and consult with your academic advisor.  

Below is a list of GER courses that are highly recommended for students interested in the Elementary and Middle Education program.

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The ACT 31 legislation requirement of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction for Teacher Certification (licensure) is also met by completing one of these courses. 

Program Core

Program core is comprised of foundational courses and should be completed prior to beginning the professional education semesters.

Program Admission Requirements

Content Area Concentration Requirements

Professional Requirements

Second degree candidates begin the program with the Professional Requirements.

A grade of C or better is required in professional semester coursework to advance in the program. No courses may be taken for credit/no credit.

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Students must complete paperwork in order to be assigned a student teaching placement. To be approved for placement, additional criteria must be met. See Benchmarks for details.

Additional Requirements for Graduation

• Satisfactory completion of a minimum 120 credits;
• Completion of the last year of coursework (30 credits) in residence at UWM; and
• Satisfactory completion of required program coursework.

Additional Requirements for Certification

• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 in all UWM and transfer courses;
• A grade of C or better in all professional semester coursework;
• Satisfactory completion of approved program assessment;
• Completion of an approved course or workshop on the history, culture, and sovereignty rights of Wisconsin Indians to fulfill the ACT 31 legislation requirement of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction required for certification; and
• Passing score on the Wisconsin Foundations of Reading Test (WiFORT) is also required for endorsement to be licensed to teach in the State of Wisconsin.

Advance to Major

Program Admission Requirements

• Mandatory meeting with advisor in the semester prior to applying to the program.
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 in all UWM and transfer courses.
• Completion of CURRINS 300 with a grade of B or better.
• Completion of MATH 175 and Oral and Written Communication Part A/OWC-A (or score of 4 or higher on English placement test) requirements with a C or better.
• Pass a Criminal Background Check (CBC) as required by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction for all applicants to a professional education preparation program.
• Successful application.
• Final candidate selection completed by program committee, and is contingent upon available space in the program.
• Advisor approval to proceed into the professional education semesters.

Program Admission Requirements--Second Degree

For individuals with a bachelor's degree.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Mandatory meeting with advisor prior to applying to the program.
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 in all UWM and transfer courses.
• Pass a Criminal Background Check (CBC) as required by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction for all applicants to a professional education preparation program.
• Successful application.
• Final candidate selection completed by program committee, and is contingent upon available space in the program.

Benchmarks

Student Teaching

Students must complete an application to request/be assigned a student teaching placement. Deadlines for submission are posted by the Office of Clinical Experiences.

To be approved, students must ALSO meet the following criteria:

• Be admitted to the School of Education.
• Satisfactory completion of field evaluation in CURRINS 406.
• A grade of C or better in required professional semesters 1, 2, and 3 coursework.
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 in all UWM and transfer courses.
• Removal of all F or I (incomplete) grades in required program courses.
• Passing score or evidence of attempt on the Wisconsin Foundations of Reading Test.
• Demonstration of content knowledge proficiency with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in required coursework OR Passing score on the Praxis Subject Assessment exam: Middle School: Content Knowledge #5146.
• Updated TB test results submitted to the Office of Clinical Experiences (may take up to 6 weeks).
• Updated Criminal Background Check submitted to the Office of Clinical Experiences.

Undergraduate Advising

Our purpose is to provide collaborative, mentoring relationships which promote educational, career, and professional development. We value a student-centered, holistic, and ethical approach to advising based on strong partnerships with students, faculty and staff, and the larger campus community. We are committed to creating a respectful and supportive environment. We encourage students to be self-reliant through informed decisions and choices based upon dissemination of accurate information. We value our own continuous professional development to enhance the quality of the advising experience.

How to Prepare for an Advising Meeting

• Review your Advisement Report in PAWS.
• Come prepared with questions or topics for discussion.
• Make a list of courses you think you should take.
• Investigate opportunities to prepare for the job you want.
• Keep a record of your academic progress.
• Understand you are ultimately responsible for creating your educational, life, and career plans.
• Maintain honest and open communication with your advisor.
• Take responsibility for choices you make as a student and member of the UW-Milwaukee community.

Scheduling an Appointment

Office of Student Services
Enderis Hall, Room 209
(414) 229-4721
soeinfo@uwm.edu

Graduate Advising

If you are a School of Education graduate student, you may schedule an appointment with your faculty advisor by contacting your faculty advisor directly. Faculty contact information can be found in the Directory. Your faculty advisor will be listed in your PAWS account. 

Honors in the Department of Teaching and Learning

Departmental Honors are granted to students who have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, based on a minimum of 40 graded UWM credits earned prior to the final semester.

College of Community Engagement and Professions Dean's Honor List

GPA of 3.750 or above, earned on a full-time student's GPA on 12 or more graded credits in a given semester.

Honors College Degree and Honors College Degree with Distinction

Granted to graduating seniors who complete Honors College requirements, as listed in the Honors College section of this site.

Commencement Honors

Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, based on a minimum of 40 graded UWM credits earned prior to the final semester, will receive all-university commencement honors and be awarded the traditional gold cord at the December or May Honors Convocation. Please note that for honors calculation, the GPA is not rounded and is truncated at the third decimal (e.g., 3.499).

Final Honors

Earned on a minimum of 60 graded UWM credits: Cum Laude - 3.500 or above; Magna Cum Laude - 3.650 or above; Summa Cum Laude - 3.800 or above.