ELEMENTARY — MIDDLE SCHOOL EDUCATION
Bachelor’s Degree Program
If you’re looking to major in Elementary Education or have an interest in a Middle School Education degree, you’ll find a comprehensive program at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater that prepares you to teach in all of these levels.
Officially called our Elementary-Middle Education program, this bachelor’s degree leads to licensure to teach in grades Kindergarten through 9th grade.
You can choose from three different tracks: Dual Licensure, STEM/STEAM or Social Justice Literacy.
CAN WE BRAG A LITTLE?
100% of our recent graduates are employed or enrolled in grad school (2020-21 report).
We’re ranked No. 1 for value among all schools in the University of Wisconsin system.
Why study Elementary-Middle School Education at UW-Whitewater?
When you study at UW-Whitewater, you’ll have the resources of a large university while being part of a close-knit, student-centered education program.
We prepare you for in-demand areas.
It’s important that you leave school prepared for success in the competitive education field. As an Elementary-Middle School Education major at UW-Whitewater, you’ll have the option to select a minor from an in-demand area:
- Adaptive Education
- English as a Second Language/Bilingual (ESL/BE)
- Library/Media
Or complete a block of courses on teaching, learning and assessment, focusing on either social justice literacy or STEM/STEAM.
Here are a few other advantages to earning your degree in Elementary-Middle School Education at UW-Whitewater:
- Access an instructional technology resource center, which includes a computer lab and other resources
- Explore the library’s robust curriculum collection, complete with innovative games, technologies and books, and get help from a dedicated librarian who specializes in education
- Broaden your worldview: The College of Education and Professional Studies is committed to inclusivity, and our director of diversity and inclusion leads various college and university-wide initiatives to promote and advocate multicultural competence
- Participate in our annual Project Showcase and Graduation Celebration where seniors share their student teaching work and other accomplishments with their peers and faculty and staff members
What Elementary-Middle School Education majors do
Gain first-hand teaching experience in local schools
Focus on a specific subject or technical area
Student-teach abroad
Field study, student teaching and internships
Elementary-Middle School Education majors at UW-Whitewater get plenty of hands-on experience, from observing in local classrooms to putting your skills and knowledge into practice during student-teaching.
Teacher internship program: Enrich your experience
Elementary-Middle School Education 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.
Campus involvement
Education majors at UW-Whitewater will find a variety of career-related campus organizations such as:
CARE: Creative and Resourceful Educators
Advocates for the community of young children and their families through education, fundraising and service.
Best Buddies
As part of this national organization, our chapter matches college students with people with intellectual disabilities for one-on-one friendships.
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.
Community-Based Learning
Put your knowledge and skills into action with a real-world experience that benefits society.
Cross-cultural experiences
We’re proud to prepare our students to be global citizens. Many of our students want to see the world beyond Wisconsin and take part in short-term study abroad programs.
Our elementary education majors and middle school majors have observed classrooms, gained teaching experience, and learned about international education systems in Ecuador, Jamaica, Mexico and Sweden.
What our graduates do
Classroom teachers, Kindergarten through 9th grade
Center director or owner
Tutor
Middle School teaching jobs / Elementary Education careers
Our graduates become elementary school teachers, middle school teachers, reading specialists and other educational professionals in Wisconsin and throughout the country — and even abroad.
Many of our graduates continue on to graduate school, such as earning a master’s degree in special education or education leadership.
Stephanie Maney-Hartlaub is a UW-Whitewater elementary education alum who was recently named one of Wisconsin’s Most Influential Black Leaders. She is senior vice president and executive director of City Year Milwaukee. Stephanie is an experienced nonprofit leader with exceptional educational and team leadership experience.
Kylee Skinner-Lopez, from Juneau, Wisconsin, earned a BSE in elementary education and was hired as a summer school teacher with West Elementary School in Jefferson, Wisconsin.
"I'm most proud of getting to learn what kind of a teacher I want to be, being able to explore my own culture through taking Spanish courses and working toward my goal of being fluent, and taking every opportunity in classrooms to use these moments as learning opportunities to get to a place of confidence as a future teacher."
Rosemary Garcia, from Beloit, Wisconsin, earned a BSE in elementary education and was hired as a fourth-grade teacher with The Lincoln Academy in Beloit, Wisconsin.
"I am proud of flourishing with my cultural identity as Mexican-American — without it, I wouldn't be the teacher I wanted to be today. I'd like to acknowledge Jenna Cushing-Leubner, Julie Minikel-Lacocque and Kelly Pankratz, who helped me grow and learn to be the teacher I am today."
Chase Pirocanac, from Burlington, Wisconsin, earned a BSE in elementary education and was hired as a second-grade teacher with Randall Consolidated School in Burlington, Wisconsin.
"I would like to acknowledge Malinda Forsberg, Kelly Pankratz, and Anne Durst. They are amazing professors at UW-Whitewater and I couldn't have done this without them. (As well as my grandparents, who have made my dream come true!)"
Rhiann Dick, from Palatine, Illinois, earned a BSE in elementary–middle education and was hired as a machine learning intern with the Whitewater Unified School District in Whitewater, Wisconsin.
Our faculty
You’ll work with faculty and staff members from the Curriculum and Instruction Department, as well as with instructors from throughout our education programs.
In addition to our full-time faculty, you’ll also learn from current educators and experts in the field, including a reading curriculum coordinator and state-level early intervention policy makers.
Our 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 an Elementary-Middle School Education degree?
education@uww.edu
UW-Whitewater offers the following Elementary-Middle Education undergraduate degrees:
- Bachelor of Science in Education — Elementary Middle Education, Dual Licensure emphasis | 4-year-plan [PDF]
- Bachelor of Science in Education — Elementary Middle Education, Social Justice Literacy emphasis | 4-year-plan [PDF]
- Bachelor of Science in Education — Elementary Middle Education, STEM/STEAM emphasis | 4-year-plan [PDF]
Minors:
The Elementary-Middle Education program follows a structured four-year plan that will prepare you for state licensure; this includes traditional major and minor coursework, field study and directed teaching. Here’s a small sample of classes you might take:
- Introduction to Education and Teaching
- Child Development
- Technology for Teachers
- Mathematics for the Elementary Teacher I and II
- Introduction to Bilingual/Bicultural Education and ESL
- Introduction to Special Education
While you can officially declare Elementary-Middle Education, you’ll need to be admitted to Professional Education separately.
To apply, you’ll complete the UW-Whitewater application for admission and indicate your interest in earning a degree in Elementary Education— Middle Childhood / Early Adolescence.
