KINDERGARTEN — 12TH GRADE EDUCATION
Bachelor’s Degree Program
The Early Childhood through Adolescence program prepares you to teach all ages, from grades K-12, in Wisconsin public schools.
This degree program can also prepare you to specialize in one of these subject areas:
- Art Education
- Business Education (including emphases in Computer Science or Marketing)
- Music Education
- French Language Education
- German Language Education
- Spanish Language Education
- Physical Education
- Theatre Education
CAN WE BRAG A LITTLE?
As a child, Hollyn battled cancer, missed a significant portion of school and wondered if she would be able to continue her education. As she settled into UW-Whitewater, she said the entire faculty were instrumental in helping her chart her future path as an educator.
Education majors get field experience starting in their first year.
97% career placement and grad school acceptance rate in secondary education subject areas in 2018-19.
We’re ranked No. 1 for value among all schools in the University of Wisconsin system.
Why study at UW-Whitewater?
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has a renowned education program offering preparation for a variety of licensure areas, from early childhood education through secondary education.
The Early Childhood through Adolescence program gives you the flexibility to focus on teaching all ages, while gaining subject matter expertise in an area that interests you.
UW-Whitewater offers its education majors many other advantages, including:
- Access to the Wisconsin Instructional Technology Resource Institute, which houses computer labs, virtual reality experiences and more
- An array of program-specific scholarships available to incoming and current students
- UW-Whitewater has a dedicated librarian who specializes in education
- The longest continuously running business education program in the United States
Depending on your degree emphasis — in addition to your education and teacher preparation courses — you’ll take subject-matter courses and learn from faculty across the university. Select the following programs to learn more about them:
- Art
- Business (including emphases in Computer Science or Marketing)
- Music
- French
- German
- Spanish
- Physical Education
- Theatre
What our students do
Gain first-hand teaching experience in local schools
Participate in education clubs and service activities
Travel across the world to teach
Field study, student teaching and study abroad
Field study and directed teaching placements — with all age levels and in multiple environments — during your years at UW-Whitewater prepare you for your final semester-long student teaching experience.
Teacher internship program: Enrich your experience
Education major students with outstanding academic performance can apply for the UW-Whitewater Teacher Internship Program. While similar to a student-teaching experience, this exclusive program offers students greater responsibilities at their full-time placement site, as well as a $4,500 stipend.
Learn more at our Office of Field Experiences »
Residency abroad/study abroad for world language students
Studying abroad is an option for all education majors. However, future world language teachers are required to have lived for at least four weeks in a setting where their target language is the primary language. UW-Whitewater offers several travel study courses and study abroad programs that will help you fulfill this requirement.
Campus and community involvement
Education majors often join campus organizations such as:
Aspiring Educators of Wisconsin
Provides educational and social opportunities to future teachers, and is a branch of both the National Education Association and the Wisconsin Education Association Council.
Student Organization for Urban Teaching
Offers tools and resources to help students succeed as a high-performing urban educator.
Business and Marketing Education Association
Holds an annual regional DECA competition for more than 200 high school students, among other activities.
Physical Education Majors Club
Monthly professional development opportunities and attendance at both state and national conferences helps students learn about the profession.
National Honor Societies for education majors
- Kappa Delta Pi — education
- Pi Omega Pi — business teacher education
Based on their areas of teaching interest, elementary education, middle level education, and secondary education majors often join academic-related clubs or participate in activities associated with their major. For example, future theatre teachers might join the cast or crew of UW-Whitewater productions, while physical education majors might play intramural sports or join health-related organizations.
What our graduates do
Classroom teachers
Music and theatre directors
Coaching
Education jobs: Career success
Because they’re prepared to teach all ages, graduates of the Early Childhood through Adolescence program are qualified to teach in a variety of settings.
Sometimes our students continue on to graduate school, such as earning a master’s degree in education leadership.
Tanner Engeseth, from DeForest, Wisconsin, earned a B.M. in music education and was accepted to graduate school at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln pursuing a Master of Music in vocal performance in Lincoln, Nebraska.
"My proudest achievements are studying abroad with FIO Italia and getting first place in my division at the Wisconsin National Association of Teachers of Singing auditions. I'd like to acknowledge Brian Leeper for his continued support along my journey."
Abigail Craven from Johnson Creek, Wisconsin, earned a BSE in art education and was hired as an art teacher with Beaver Dam High School in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.
"Veronica Soria-Martinez and Kristen Monday were my biggest supporters through my art education journey, and Jared Janovec was a tremendous help during my transfer process to UW-Whitewater."
Laura Medley, from Spooner, Wisconsin, earned a BSE in art education and was hired as an art teacher at Seeds of Health in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Our faculty
The Early Childhood through Adolescence program (teaching all ages) is interdisciplinary. This means you’ll learn from and work with faculty and staff members from our education department as well as from academic departments across campus, based on your major.
Our education faculty members have expertise and research interests in many areas, including:
- assessment
- evidence-based practices
- early intervention
- social-emotional development
- emotional/behavioral disorders
- literacy
- race, culture and identity in early childhood education
Want to learn more about earning your education degree at the UW-Whitewater? Contact us »
UW-Whitewater offers the following Kindergarten — 12th Grade Education undergraduate degrees:
- Bachelor of Science in Education — Business Education — Business & Computer Science Education Comprehensive Emphasis | 4-year plan [PDF]
- Bachelor of Science in Education — Business Education — Business & Marketing Education Comprehensive Emphasis | 4-year plan [PDF]
- Bachelor of Science in Education — French | 4-year plan [PDF]
- Bachelor of Science in Education — German | 4-year plan [PDF]
- Bachelor of Science in Education — Spanish | 4-year plan [PDF]
The Early Childhood through Adolescence program leads to a few different education degree options. Most students will work toward a Bachelor of Science in Education through a specific academic area, which will prepare them for licensure in one or more subjects.
Students interested in teaching music in grades K-12 will work toward a Bachelor of Music.
Because the Early Childhood through Adolescence program is customizable to your interests and career goals, the degree requirements will vary greatly from student to student. In addition to UW-Whitewater’s general education requirements, you’ll take foundation courses in education and round out your coursework with classes from your chosen major, such as art, music or world languages.
The core education classes might include:
- Introduction to Education and Teaching
- Education in a Pluralistic Society
- Educational Psychology
- Measurement and Evaluation in the Secondary School
- Psychology of the Exceptional Child
To apply, you’ll complete the UW-Whitewater application for admission and indicate your interest in earning a degree in education .
While you can declare education as your major when you enter UW-Whitewater, you’ll need to be admitted to Professional Education separately. This requires:
- completion of 40 credits
- a GPA of at least 2.75
- passing all education foundation courses
- attending all required program meetings/orientation
