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

Choose one:3
Strategies for Academic Writing (GER-OWCB)
Business Writing (GER-OWCB)
MATH 175Mathematical Explorations for Elementary Teachers I (GER-QLA)3
MATH 176Mathematical Explorations for Elementary Teachers II (GER-QLB)3
Choose one: 13
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 130Multicultural Art and Visual Learning in Elementary Education (GER-A, CD)3
COMMUN 103Public Speaking (GER-HU)3
GER Literature elective (Fulfills GER-HU)3
CES 210Introduction 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 Credits30-32
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

During Year 1
CURRINS 140Field Experience with Families & Communities1
CURRINS 312Models and Issues for Early Childhood Education3
Semester 3
CURRINS 240Field Experience with Dual Language Learners2
CURRINS 501Language Acquisition for Children of Diverse Backgrounds3
Semester 4
CURRINS 302Curriculum Design in Early Childhood3
CURRINS 340Field Experience in Preschool and Kindergarten Classrooms2
or CURRINS 440 Field Experience in the Primary Grades
CURRINS 502Emergent Literacy and Biliteracy in the Early Childhood Classroom3
Semester 5
EXCEDUC 569Curriculum and Methods for Special Education: Preschool3
EXCEDUC 648Early Childhood Special Education Field Experience: Preschool3
CURRINS 330Teaching of Mathematics 13
Semester 6
EXCEDUC 570Curriculum and Methods for Special Education: Primary3
EXCEDUC 649Early Childhood Special Education Field Experience: Primary3
ED PSY/EXCEDUC 613Infant and Early Childhood Assessment3
CURRINS 504Methods for Biliteracy and Language Arts in Primary Grades3
Semester 7
EXCEDUC 568Curriculum and Methods for Special Education: Birth to Three3
EXCEDUC 647Early Childhood Special Education Field Experience: 0 to 3 Yrs3
EXCEDUC 682Language and Literacy in Early Childhood Special Education3
Semester 8
EXCEDUC 481Student Teaching with Students Having Early Childhood Exceptional Ed Needs12
Highly recommended:
Understanding and Developing the edTPA
Other Required Professional Courses
MUS ED 260Making Music Connections with Children3
ED PSY 330Introduction to Learning and Development3
EXCEDUC 630Survey of EC Intervention: Young Children with Special Needs, Families3
CURRINS/EXCEDUC 612Collaborations for Teachers with Families, Schools, and Communities3
Electives
Select electives to ensure the minimum 120 credits required for graduation
Total Credits71

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.)

Year 1 - Summer
CURRINS 302Curriculum Design in Early Childhood3
EXCEDUC 630Survey of EC Intervention: Young Children with Special Needs, Families3
Year 1 - Fall
EXCEDUC 569Curriculum and Methods for Special Education: Preschool3
EXCEDUC 648Early Childhood Special Education Field Experience: Preschool3
CURRINS 502Emergent Literacy and Biliteracy in the Early Childhood Classroom3
Year 1 - Spring
CURRINS 504Methods for Biliteracy and Language Arts in Primary Grades3
EXCEDUC 570Curriculum and Methods for Special Education: Primary3
EXCEDUC 649Early Childhood Special Education Field Experience: Primary3
Year 2 - Summer
EXCEDUC 568Curriculum and Methods for Special Education: Birth to Three3
EXCEDUC 647Early Childhood Special Education Field Experience: 0 to 3 Yrs3
Year 2 - Fall
EXCEDUC 682Language and Literacy in Early Childhood Special Education3
CURRINS 330Teaching of Mathematics 13
ED PSY 330Introduction to Learning and Development3
or ED PSY 640 Human Development: Theory and Research
Year 2 - Spring
EXCEDUC 652Developmental Evaluation of Young Children with Disabilities3
EXCEDUC 651Working With Families in Urban Communities3
Other Teaching Experience Requirements
EXCEDUC 481Student Teaching with Students Having Early Childhood Exceptional Ed Needs3
or EXCEDUC 776 Fieldwork with Students Having Early Childhood-Exceptional Education Needs
CURRINS 400Field Work in Curriculum and Instruction:1-6
Total Credits49-54

Advance to Major

Admission to Program

See academic advisor.

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.