Liberal Studies, 40 credits
General Education Requirements
Environmental Education Requirement
Discipline-Related Course Work
Major Course Work
Content Examinations and Portfolio Requirements
Professional Education Requirements
Advisors: Professor Peter Hewson, 226D Teacher Education Building, 263-4639, pwhewson@wisc.edu; Professor James Stewart, 226C Teacher Education, 263-4638, jhstewar@wisc.edu; Professor John Rudolph, 226A Teacher Education, 265-3431, jlrudolp@wisc.edu
Completion of the Broad Field (Natural) Science major leads to licensing in two areas: the minor and Broad Field Science. The minor subject area (e.g., Biology, Physics) will be listed separately on the teaching license and can be taught as a separate subject in the classroom. The Broad Field license permits individuals to teach courses in grades 6-12 that are not specifically titled physics, chemistry, biology, or earth science. Options may also exist for graduates to add licenses in additional science subject areas. The flexibility of this major is particularly helpful in junior high and middle school settings where courses such as "Life Science" or "General Science" are common elements of the curriculum.
Secondary admission eligibility requirements: minimum 54 transferable college-level credits (junior standing); minimum 53 credits in the major; Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) taken and scores submitted; 2.5 cumulative grade point average on all transferable college-level course work.
Both the cumulative GPA and the cumulative GPA based on the last 60 credits will be calculated. The higher of the two will be used for program selection; see Last 60 Credits Rule. Admission is limited and competitive. See Secondary and World Language Education for additional information regarding the program's structure, requirements, and admission procedures.
Note: Admission criteria and program requirements may be modified from one admission period to the next. The most current program information is available in Education Academic Services, B117 Education Building, 608/262-1651; www.education.wisc.edu/eas. Students are encouraged to monitor the EAS Web site and confer regularly with an EAS advisor regarding changes.
Graduation requirements: 2.75 GPA overall, and 2.75 in each of the following: major, minor, upper-level major, and professional education course work (excluding practicum and student teaching). Degree candidates must meet senior and major residency requirements. Graduation grade point averages are based on UW-Madison course work and may be modified by the Last 60 Credits Rule. Certification also requires passing a content examination in the subject area(s) in which certification is sought and the development of a professional portfolio.
The liberal studies requirements combine academic strengths and interests with an opportunity to explore a wide selection of courses offered across campus. Students will complete course work in humanities, social studies, and science. Effective summer 2007, three additional requirements—ethnic studies, global perspectives, and U.S. or European history—will be required of all students in the School of Education. See Teacher Certification Liberal Studies Requirements for specific course work.
Effective summer 1996, new freshmen must complete a group of campuswide course requirements known as the General Education requirements. This initiative is designed to provide all UW-Madison students with a comprehensive, well-rounded program of studies. See General Education Requirements (GER).
All Secondary Education programs already require at least one course, Curric 313 or 305, that is also approved to meet the General Education Communication B requirement. The course can be used to meet both requirements.
Students seeking certification in any of the Science areas must complete one course in environmental education. Consult the list below for courses that fulfill this requirement. Only the courses listed have been approved to meet this requirement. This course selection may also be applied toward other requirements such as the liberal studies, major, or minor requirements.
S=Social Studies; P=Physical Science; B=Biological Science.
AAE 337 (S)
Atm Ocn 121 (P)
Botany 100 (B), 152 (B), 260 (B)
Conser 300 (B) (no longer offered)
Econ 337 (S), 343 (S)
Envir St 120 (P), 121 (P), 126 (B), 127 (P), 139 (S), 300 (B), 309 (S), 324 (P), 339 (S), 343 (S), 361 (B), 375, 502 (B), 507 (B)
Geog 120 (P), 121 (P), 127 (P), 139 (S), 309 (S), 339 (S), 435 (P)
Land Arc 300 (B), 361 (B)
M&Envtox 507 (B)
Pop Hlth 502 (B), 507 (B)
Soil Sci 301 (P), 324 (P), 435 (P)
Zoology 152 (B), 260 (B)
Mathematics or Statistics, 6 credits excluding Math 120-132. This is supporting course work and will not be calculated in the major credits or major GPA for graduation. This course work should be incorporated into the liberal studies requirements, if possible.
Complete a minimum of 59 credits in science courses. The credits required for program admission must be chosen from courses below. Requirements include:
Students must complete 15 credits of upper-level major course work in residence on the UW-Madison campus. Upper-level course work includes courses numbered 300-699; Chem 221, 223; Physics 205 and 241.
Note: Students completing a minor in Physics, Chemistry, Earth Science, or Biology as part of the Broad Field Science major may wish to expand the minor into a major, thus completing a double major. The completion of a double major with Natural Science affords the opportunity to master one content area while developing the breadth of understanding associated with the Broad Field major. A major in one of the above disciplines may benefit students interested in graduate school or those wishing to teach primarily in one subject.
All individuals seeking an initial Wisconsin State teacher's license after August 31, 2004, are required to take and pass an approved content examination in the subject area(s) of interest. These tests, the Praxis II: Subject Assessments/Specialty Area Tests, are offered through the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Teacher education students at UW-Madison must take and pass the exam for their program area(s) and submit scores to EAS before entering their final, full-time student teaching semester. See Content Examinations for more information.
Certification also requires each student to develop and maintain a teaching portfolio. For more information, see Portfolio.
Admitted students will complete a sequential four-semester professional program. See Secondary and World Language Education for information on the professional education sequence. Practicum, Methods, and Student Teaching courses for this subject area are:
Curric 290 Practicum in Secondary Science Education, 3 cr
Curric 390 Teaching of Science in Secondary Schools, 3 cr
Curric 490 Student Teaching in Science in the High School, 6-12 cr
Curric 495 Student Teaching in Science in the Middle School, 6-12 cr
Curric 590 Advanced Practices in the Teaching of Science, 3 cr
Curric 690 Independent Field Work, 1 cr