Early Childhood Education (birth-gr 3) & Special Education (birth-gr 3) Major – Bachelor of Science
Teachers have a positive and profound impact on future generations unlike any other profession. The Elementary/Middle Education and Special Education (EME/SPE) Program prepares educators and future leaders of our global society to teach the core subjects (literacy, math, science, and social studies) to young learners (birth through grade 3) including those with identified special education needs. Through this rigorous education program, teacher candidates learn how to reach all students with relevant curriculum, utilizing strategies that are geared toward young learners' innate curiosity about the world around them. We collaborate with K-12 schools and early childhood centers to provide multiple practical experiences in classrooms where our teacher candidates learn to differentiate teaching approaches with the end goal of honoring the individuality of all students. Graduates of this program are confident, reflective practitioners who value academically rigorous teaching for all and who continuously improve their skills in response to best practices.
Completion of the Early Childhood Education Program and associated benchmark assessments will lead to endorsement for the following Wisconsin teaching license:
- Early Childhood - Regular Education, birth - grade 3 (2088).
- Early Childhood - Special Education, birth - grade 3 (1809).
Students in all teacher education programs must satisfy the School of Education (SOE) core requirements.
Students in all teacher education programs must be admitted to the School of Education to complete their program requirements and be eligible for endorsement for the appropriate teaching license(s). Students majoring in early childhood education (birth - grade 3) must meet specific program admission criteria.
Retention and advancement
All courses required in the Early Childhood Education Program with ECE, EDS, MTH, SPE, and TSL prefixes must be passed with a minimum grade of "C" or better.
Curriculum
The Early Childhood Education Program is aligned with Wisconsin Teacher Standards (WTS) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Standards.
Required general education courses (23 credits)
Besides the courses specified below, early childhood education majors must satisfy additional general education requirements. The General Education Program requires a minimum of 41 credits.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDS 203 | Foundations of Education 1, 2, 3 | 3 |
| EDS 206 | Society and Schools 1, 2, 4 | 3 |
| MTH 115 | Mathematics for Early Childhood and Elementary Teachers I 1, 5 | 2 |
| MTH 116 | Mathematics for Early Childhood and Elementary Teachers II 1, 5 | 2 |
| HIS 110 | World History 6 | 3 |
| GEO 200 | Conservation of Global Environments 7 | 3 |
| Physical science course from Gen Ed Experiential Science list (PHY 106 is recommended) 8 | 4 | |
| English literature course from Gen Ed The Stories We Tell list 9 | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 23 | |
Recommended general education course
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PH 207 | Youth Health Issues 10 | 3 |
- 1
Must pass all ECE, EDS, MTH, SPE, and TSL courses with a grade of "C" or better.
- 2
Satisfies an SOE core requirement.
- 3
Counts toward General Education Program requirement: Social and Behavioral Studies (GEN ED 1009).
- 4
Counts toward General Education Program requirement: Ethnic Diversity (GED ED 1005).
- 5
Counts toward General Education Program requirement: Quantitative Reasoning (GEN ED 1004).
- 6
Counts toward General Education Program requirement: The Pasts That Define Us (GEN ED 1011).
- 7
Counts toward General Education Program requirement: The Planet That Sustains Us (GEN ED 1012).
- 8
Counts toward General Education Program requirement: Experiential Science (GEN ED 1008).
- 9
Counts toward General Education Program requirement: The Stories We Tell (GEN ED 1010).
- 10
Counts toward General Education Program requirement: Mind & Body (GEN ED 1006).
Courses not requiring admission to the School of Education (30 credits)1
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECE 216 | Child Development Birth Though Age 8 (Child Development) | 3 |
| SPE 200 | Foundations of Special Education 2 | 3 |
| TSL 250 | Educating Multilingual Learners | 3 |
| EDS 308 | Foundations of Literacy | 3 |
| EDS 309 | Global Perspectives in Education 11 | 3 |
| EDS 311 | Curriculum and Pedagogy: Elementary/Middle Education | 3 |
| EDS 318 | Literacy Methods I | 3 |
| ECE 316 | Early Childhood Administration, Advocacy, and Leadership | 3 |
| ECE 330 | Social and Emotional Foundations of Learning | 3 |
| ECE 335 | Learning with Nature | 3 |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Courses requiring admission to the School of Education (55 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SPE 300 | Designing Sustainable Inclusive Classrooms 1 | 3 |
| ECE 342 | Emergent Literacy and Language Development in Young Children 1 | 3 |
| ECE 435 | Creative Arts and Play in ECE 1 | 3 |
| ECE 460 | School, Family and Community Partnerships 1, 2 | 3 |
| Field I block courses (must be taken concurrently) 1 | ||
| ECE 415 | Field Experience I in Early Childhood Education: Grades K-3 2 | 3 |
| ECE 413 | Teaching Social Studies: Early Childhood/Elementary Education | 3 |
| ECE 418 | Literacy Methods II: Early Childhood/Elementary Education | 3 |
| ECE 424 | Curriculum and Assessment for Preschool-Kindergarten 2 | 4 |
| ECE special education field block courses (must be taken concurrently) 1 | ||
| ECE 426 | Intervention and Assessment for Children PreK through Grade 3 | 3 |
| ECE 428 | Intervention and Assessment for Children Birth through Age 3 | 3 |
| ECE 445 | Early Childhood Special Education Field Experience | 3 |
| Field II block courses (must be taken concurrently) 1, 2 | ||
| ECE 455 | Field Experience II in Early Childhood Education: Birth-Kindergarten | 3 |
| ECE 421 | Science Methods: Early Childhood/Elementary Education | 3 |
| ECE 422 | Mathematics Methods: Early Childhood/Elementary Education | 3 |
| Student teaching semester | ||
| Demonstrate content knowledge through benchmark assessment prior to student teaching 12 | ||
| EDS 492 | Student Teaching Seminar 2 | 1 |
| One of the following: 2 | 11 | |
| Student Teaching: Early Childhood Education (birth-grade 3) | ||
| Teaching Internship | ||
| Total Credits | 55 | |
- 11
Counts toward General Education Program requirement: The Cultures of Our World (GEN ED 1013).
- 12
Must complete all course requirements and other benchmarks prior to student teaching. See SOE's benchmark assessments website for information about these assessments. For more information on student teaching, please see the Student Teaching and Internship Policy.
Additional teacher education requirements are listed on the School of Education catalog page.
All teacher education students must complete the general education, School of Education, major/minor, and university degree requirements in order to qualify for a degree. The easiest way to track all of these requirements is to refer to the Advisement Report (AR) found in the Student Information System (WINGS) Student Center. All enrolled students have access to the AR.
Baccalaureate degree requirements
Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:
- Fulfill the general education requirements.
- Complete at least one ethnic studies (diversity) course.
- Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
- Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
- At least 40 credits must be earned in 300/400 level courses. Transfer courses earned or transferred at the 300/400 level apply to this requirement.
- Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
- A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
- Submit an application for graduation via the "Submit Intent to Graduate" link in the WINGS Student Center as soon as the student has registered for his or her final semester or summer term in residence. December and winter intersession graduates should apply by May 1. May and summer graduates should apply by December 1.
- 1
Grade point average requirements for some programs will be considerably higher than 2.00. Re-entering students may be required to earn credits in excess of the 120 needed for graduation in any curriculum in order to replace credits earned in courses in which the content has changed substantially in recent years. Each case will be judged on its own merit.
- 2
The grade point average recorded at the time the degree is awarded will not be affected by future enrollment.
No degree will be awarded unless all requirements are fulfilled and recorded within 30 days after the official ending date of each term.
Below is a sample degree plan that can be used as a guide to identify courses required to fulfill the major and other requirements needed for degree completion. A student's actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Also, this sample plan assumes readiness for each course and/or major plan, and some courses may not be offered every term. Review the course descriptions or the class timetable for course offering information.
The sample degree plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UWL in the fall term. Students should use the Advisement Report (AR) in WINGS and work closely with their faculty advisor(s) and college dean’s office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.
General Education Program
The general education curriculum (Gen Ed) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include Gen Ed placeholders to ensure completion of the general education requirements. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. Gen Ed courses may be taken during winter term (January between the semesters) and summer to reduce the course load during regular terms (fall and spring). Students should consult with their advisor and/or the college academic services director in their college/school for assistance with course and schedule planning. Refer to the general education requirements for more specific details.
At least 40 credits of the 120 credits required must be earned at the 300/400-level.
Note: New students and transfer students with less than 12 credits earned are required to take FYS 100 First-Year Seminar (3 cr.) during one of their first two semesters at UWL.
This sample degree plan does not establish a contractual agreement. It identifies the minimum requirements a student must successfully complete, to qualify for a degree, in a format intended to assist the student in planning their academic career. Actual degree plans may differ.
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENG 110 (Gen Ed 1002 Written Literacy) | 3 | CST 110 (Gen Ed 1003 Spoken Literacy) | 3 |
| EDS 203 (Gen Ed 1009 Social and Behavioral Studies) | 3 | EDS 206 (Gen Ed 1005 Ethnic Diversity) | 3 |
| GEO 200 (Gen Ed 1012 Planet That Sustains Us) | 3 | Gen Ed 1010 Stories We Tell (English literature) | 3 |
| FYS 100 (Gen Ed 1001 First-Year Seminar) | 3 | Physical Science (Gen Ed 1008 Experiential Science)1 | 4 |
| HIS 110 (Gen Ed 1011 Pasts That Define Us) | 3 | Gen Ed 1006 Mind and Body2 | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ECE 216 | 3 | EDS 311 | 3 |
| EDS 308 | 3 | EDS 318 | 3 |
| EDS 309 (Gen Ed 1013 Cultures of Our World) | 3 | ECE 330 | 3 |
| SPE 200 | 3 | ECE 342 | 3 |
| ECE 335 | 3 | MTH 216 (Gen Ed 1004 Quantitative Reasoning) | 2 |
| MTH 215 (Gen Ed 1004 Quantitative Reasoning) | 2 | Gen Ed 1007 Arts and Aesthetics | 2 |
| Apply for admission to School of Education3 | |||
| 17 | 16 | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ECE 413 | 3 | ECE 445 | 3 |
| ECE 415 | 3 | ECE 426 | 3 |
| ECE 418 | 3 | ECE 428 | 3 |
| ECE 424 | 4 | ECE 316 | 3 |
| SPE 300 | 3 | ECE 435 | 3 |
| Apply for Field Experience I4 | Apply for Field Experience II4 | ||
| Apply for Student Teaching5 | |||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Year 4 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| TSL 250 | 3 | All course requirements and other benchmarks must be completed prior to student teaching.6 | |
| ECE 455 | 3 | EDS 492 | 1 |
| ECE 421 | 3 | EDS 490 | 11 |
| ECE 422 | 3 | ||
| ECE 460 | 3 | ||
| Gen Ed 1007 Arts and Aesthetics | 2 | ||
| 17 | 12 | ||
| Total Credits: 124 | |||
- 1
PHY 106 Physical Science for Educators (4 cr.) is recommended.
- 2
PH 207 Youth Health Issues (3 cr.) is recommended.
- 3
See the SOE admissions website for complete admission and application details. Students are required to complete a criminal background check at the time of application for admission.
- 4
Students applying for field and student teaching placements will be asked to disclose any criminal charges.
- 5
Students must apply for student teaching through the Office of Field Experience one year prior to the student teaching semester.
- 6
For more information, please see the Student Teaching and Internships Policy.