MIDDLE SCHOOL / SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION
Bachelor’s Degree Program
Many people are drawn to teach at the middle school or high school level because they’re passionate about a specific subject area. But, of course teaching isn’t just about the subject, it is about the students as well. Successful teachers are even more passionate about serving each and every one of their students with kindness and compassion.
As a student at UW-Whitewater, you’ll have the advantage of strong academic departments and resources across the university — this is where you’ll develop your subject matter expertise.
Through the College of Education and Professional Studies, you’ll gain a solid foundation for teaching and get the advising you need to ensure you’re ready for licensure in your chosen area.
CAN WE BRAG A LITTLE?
Employment and grad school success
97% career placement/grad school acceptance rate for our Middle/Secondary Education majors (2018-19).
Why study Middle and Secondary School Education at UW-Whitewater?
UW-Whitewater Middle/Secondary Education students can major in the following subject areas:
- Biology Science Education
- Chemistry Science Education
- Economics Education
- English Literature and Language Arts Education
- Geography Education
- History Education
- Mathematics Education
- Physics Science Education
- Sociology Education
UW-Whitewater students with one of these majors can also earn an additional license in a minor, such as:
- Any of the subjects in the list of majors
- Coaching
- Computer Science
- ESL and Bilingual/Bicultural Education
- Health Education
- Library Media K-12
Aside from a wide variety of subject areas, advantages to earning your bachelor’s degree in Middle/Secondary Education at UW-Whitewater include:
- Access to the Wisconsin Instructional Technology Resource Center, 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.
- Opportunities for future science teachers to participate Science Outreach programming.
- Opportunities for future social studies teachers to present at the Wisconsin Council for the Social Studies annual conference.
What our Middle and Secondary School Education students do
Gain first-hand teaching experience in local schools
Pursue research with faculty mentors
Travel across the world to teach
Field study and student teaching
Middle/Secondary Education majors at UW-Whitewater get plenty of hands-on experience, from observing in local classrooms to putting skills and knowledge into practice during student teaching.
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 selective program offers students greater responsibilities at their full-time placement site, as well as a $4,500 stipend.
Learn more about our field experiences
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.
National Honor Societies for Education Majors
- Kappa Delta Pi –education
- Pi Omega Pi – business teacher education
Business and Marketing Education Association
Holds an annual regional DECA competition for more than 200 high school students, among other activities.
Based on their areas of teaching interest, middle school and secondary education majors often join academic-related clubs associated with their major/area of interest.
What our graduates do
Classroom teachers
School administrators
Coaches
Angela Flynn and Matt Flynn earn 2019 Kohl Award
They succeeded at UW-Whitewater — She teaches math at Turner High School, he teaches social studies at Beloit Memorial High School, and each earned a Herb Kohl Educational 2019 Teacher Fellowship which includes a $6,000 personal grant and $6,000 school grant.
Warhawk alum named 2024 National Principal of the Year
Andy Farley, a 2001 graduate who earned a BSE in education, was named 2024 National Principal of the Year. Farley is in his 11th year as principal at Brookfield East High School — one of Wisconsin’s most decorated schools. It is a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School, was recently judged as a high school that “Significantly Exceeds Expectations,”, and boasts a number of both 2023-24 National Merit Semifinalists and Commended Students.
Middle and Secondary Education jobs: Career success
UW-Whitewater has a long-standing history of preparing educators. Our graduates work in districts across the state, including:
- DeForest Area School District
- Denmark School District
- Fond du Lac School District
- Kettle Moraine School District
- McFarland School District
- Milwaukee Public Schools
- Mukwonago Area School District
- Portage School District
- School District of Beloit
- School District of Janesville
- Trevor-Wilmot Consolidated School District
- Watertown Unified School District
- West Bend School District
Many of our graduates continue on to graduate school, earning a master’s degree in fields such as special education, educational leadership, or the subject they teach.
Hired Before Graduation
Liana Opitz from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, earned a BSE in history education and was accepted to graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee pursuing a Master of Cultural Foundations in Community Engagement and Education in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Our faculty
As an education major, you’ll get to work with faculty and staff members from our Curriculum and Instruction department, as well as learn from knowledgeable faculty members from across campus, based on your major, minor, or area of emphasis.
Our education faculty members have expertise and research interests in many areas, including:
- English
- English as an Additional Language
- Mathematics
- Social Studies
- Science
- Special Education
- Art and Design
- Literacy Education
Want to learn more about earning your Middle and Secondary Education degree at UW-Whitewater? Contact us »
Middle/Secondary Education students will work toward a Bachelor of Science in Education through a specific academic area, which will prepare you for licensure in one or more subjects. You can choose from more than a dozen majors, minors, and emphasis areas, so degree requirements will vary greatly between our future teachers.
A few common pre-professional education core classes for teacher licensure include:
- Foundations of Education in a Pluralistic Society
- Educational Psychology
- Introduction to Education and Teaching
- Introduction to Special Education
Explore individual full degree requirements for all majors »
Minors:
While you can declare a major in a Middle/Secondary School subject 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 OR meet testing requirements
- passing specified education foundations courses
- earn a C or better in specified English and Communication courses and complete a portfolio
To apply, you’ll complete the UW-Whitewater application for admission and indicate your interest in earning a degree in education.
