The Early Childhood Special Education major leads to a Bachelor of Science in Exceptional Education. Upon completion, students will be eligible to apply for a Cross-Categorical Special Education Teaching License from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction for ages birth to eight, grades birth-3rd. Special Education teachers who specialize in early childhood are currently in high demand, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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.
Program Core
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose one: | 3 | |
| Strategies for Academic Writing (GER-OWCB) | ||
| Business Writing (GER-OWCB) | ||
| MATH 175 | Mathematical Explorations for Elementary Teachers I (GER-QLA) | 3 |
| MATH 176 | Mathematical Explorations for Elementary Teachers II (GER-QLB) | 3 |
| Choose one: 1 | 3 | |
| American Indian Peoples of Wisconsin (GER-CD, SS) | ||
| Introduction to American Indian Literature: (GER-CD, HU) | ||
| Western Great Lakes American Indian Community Life of the Past (GER-CD, SS) | ||
| North American Indian History Since 1887 (GER-CD, SS) | ||
| ART ED 130 | Multicultural Art and Visual Learning in Elementary Education (GER-A, CD) | 3 |
| COMMUN 103 | Public Speaking (GER-HU) | 3 |
| GER Literature elective (Fulfills GER-HU) | 3 | |
| CES 210 | Introduction to Conservation and Environmental Science (GER-NS) | 3 |
| Earth Science elective (GER-NS or GER-NS+: Aston, Atm Sci, Geog, or Geo Sci) | 3-4 | |
| Physical Science elective (GER-NS or GER-NS+: Chem or Physics) | 3-4 | |
| Total Credits | 30-32 | |
- 1
Non-Western History or Contemporary Culture and Minority Group Relations (Act 31) statutory requirements can both be met by taking one class.
Professional Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| During Year 1 | ||
| CURRINS 140 | Field Experience with Families & Communities | 1 |
| CURRINS 312 | Models and Issues for Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| Semester 3 | ||
| CURRINS 240 | Field Experience with Dual Language Learners | 2 |
| CURRINS 501 | Language Acquisition for Children of Diverse Backgrounds | 3 |
| Semester 4 | ||
| CURRINS 302 | Curriculum Design in Early Childhood | 3 |
| CURRINS 340 | Field Experience in Preschool and Kindergarten Classrooms | 2 |
| or CURRINS 440 | Field Experience in the Primary Grades | |
| CURRINS 502 | Emergent Literacy and Biliteracy in the Early Childhood Classroom | 3 |
| Semester 5 | ||
| EXCEDUC 569 | Curriculum and Methods for Special Education: Preschool | 3 |
| EXCEDUC 648 | Early Childhood Special Education Field Experience: Preschool | 3 |
| CURRINS 330 | Teaching of Mathematics 1 | 3 |
| Semester 6 | ||
| EXCEDUC 570 | Curriculum and Methods for Special Education: Primary | 3 |
| EXCEDUC 649 | Early Childhood Special Education Field Experience: Primary | 3 |
| ED PSY/EXCEDUC 613 | Infant and Early Childhood Assessment | 3 |
| CURRINS 504 | Methods for Biliteracy and Language Arts in Primary Grades | 3 |
| Semester 7 | ||
| EXCEDUC 568 | Curriculum and Methods for Special Education: Birth to Three | 3 |
| EXCEDUC 647 | Early Childhood Special Education Field Experience: 0 to 3 Yrs | 3 |
| EXCEDUC 682 | Language and Literacy in Early Childhood Special Education | 3 |
| Semester 8 | ||
| EXCEDUC 481 | Student Teaching with Students Having Early Childhood Exceptional Ed Needs | 12 |
| Highly recommended: | ||
| Understanding and Developing the edTPA | ||
| Other Required Professional Courses | ||
| MUS ED 260 | Making Music Connections with Children | 3 |
| ED PSY 330 | Introduction to Learning and Development | 3 |
| EXCEDUC 630 | Survey of EC Intervention: Young Children with Special Needs, Families | 3 |
| CURRINS/EXCEDUC 612 | Collaborations for Teachers with Families, Schools, and Communities | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select electives to ensure the minimum 120 credits required for graduation | ||
| Total Credits | 71 | |
Exceptional Education, Early Childhood Submajor Completion Requirements
- Completion of program requirements;
- Completion of university GER;
- Completion of a minimum of 120 credits;
- Completion of the last year of coursework (30 credits) in residence at UWM;
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 in UWM and transfer credits; and
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 in professional coursework
See your advisor for additional requirements for certification.
Post-baccalaureate Program
(Under revision; please see an advisor for information.)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 - Summer | ||
| CURRINS 302 | Curriculum Design in Early Childhood | 3 |
| EXCEDUC 630 | Survey of EC Intervention: Young Children with Special Needs, Families | 3 |
| Year 1 - Fall | ||
| EXCEDUC 569 | Curriculum and Methods for Special Education: Preschool | 3 |
| EXCEDUC 648 | Early Childhood Special Education Field Experience: Preschool | 3 |
| CURRINS 502 | Emergent Literacy and Biliteracy in the Early Childhood Classroom | 3 |
| Year 1 - Spring | ||
| CURRINS 504 | Methods for Biliteracy and Language Arts in Primary Grades | 3 |
| EXCEDUC 570 | Curriculum and Methods for Special Education: Primary | 3 |
| EXCEDUC 649 | Early Childhood Special Education Field Experience: Primary | 3 |
| Year 2 - Summer | ||
| EXCEDUC 568 | Curriculum and Methods for Special Education: Birth to Three | 3 |
| EXCEDUC 647 | Early Childhood Special Education Field Experience: 0 to 3 Yrs | 3 |
| Year 2 - Fall | ||
| EXCEDUC 682 | Language and Literacy in Early Childhood Special Education | 3 |
| CURRINS 330 | Teaching of Mathematics 1 | 3 |
| ED PSY 330 | Introduction to Learning and Development | 3 |
| or ED PSY 640 | Human Development: Theory and Research | |
| Year 2 - Spring | ||
| EXCEDUC 652 | Developmental Evaluation of Young Children with Disabilities | 3 |
| EXCEDUC 651 | Working With Families in Urban Communities | 3 |
| Other Teaching Experience Requirements | ||
| EXCEDUC 481 | Student Teaching with Students Having Early Childhood Exceptional Ed Needs | 3 |
| or EXCEDUC 776 | Fieldwork with Students Having Early Childhood-Exceptional Education Needs | |
| CURRINS 400 | Field Work in Curriculum and Instruction: | 1-6 |
| Total Credits | 49-54 | |
Benchmarks
Student Teaching
Students must complete paperwork in order to be assigned a student teaching placement. To determine your deadline (February or April), visit the Office of Clinical Experiences website at uwm.edu/education/academics/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.