Admissions to the Elementary Education: Kindergarten - 9th Grade/Special Education Kindergarten - 12th Grade Dual Certification have been suspended as of fall 2023 and will be discontinued as of summer 2025. If you have any questions, please contact the department.

Requirements

The Elementary Education Kindergarten - 9th Grade/Special Education Kindergarten - 12th Grade option requires 70 credits of professional coursework in addition to other degree requirements. RP & SE 300 Individuals with Disabilities must also be completed prior to beginning the professional sequence.

The option coursework listed here is one component of the Elementary Education, BSE degree requirements.

Individuals with Disabilities - Prerequisite for Program Admission

This course must be completed by the end of the summer of the application year, before beginning the professional course sequence.

RP & SE 300 Individuals with Disabilities3

Professional Sequence

The professional coursework was designed to be completed in four semesters, starting in the fall after admission to the program. Each semester of the sequence must be followed sequentially and taken in consecutive semesters unless a modification is approved. Most classes must be taken during specified semesters, while other requirements may be completed prior to beginning the sequence.

Semester 1 (Fall)
CURRIC 319 Pedagogical Content Knowledge for Teaching Elementary Mathematics 1 13
RP & SE 330 Behavior Analysis: Applications to Persons with Disabilities 13
CURRIC/​RP & SE  406 Race, Intersectionality, and Equity in Education 13
RP & SE 465 Language and Reading Instruction for Students with Disabilities3
CURRIC 550 Methods, Materials and Activities in Early Childhood Education3
RP & SE 605 Development, Learning and Education Foundations in Special Education 13
Semester 2 (Spring)
CURRIC 318 Teaching Reading and Writing3
CURRIC 320 Pedagogical Content Knowledge for Teaching Elementary Mathematics 2 13
RP & SE 464 Diagnosis, Assessment, and Instructional Planning in Special Education3
RP & SE 472 Methods in Transition and Vocational Education3
RP & SE 473 Classroom Management for Inclusive Classrooms3
RP & SE 476 Special Education Practicum: Secondary (Grades 4-12)3
Semester 3 (Fall)
RP & SE/​CURRIC  365 Teaching Mathematics in Inclusive Settings3
CURRIC 371 Teaching Social Studies3
CURRIC 372 Teaching Science3
RP & SE 466 Diversity in Special Education3
RP & SE 515 Access to the General Curriculum for Students with Disabilities3
CURRIC 373 Elementary Teaching Practicum III3
Semester 4 (Spring)
CURRIC 463 Seminar in Elementary Education1
CURRIC 464 Student Teaching in the Elementary School7
RP & SE 457 Elementary Student Teaching Seminar - Elementary/Special Education Dual Major1
RP & SE 477 Special Education Student Teaching: Elementary (PK - Grade 9)7
1

May be taken before semester 1 of the professional sequence, including prior to program admission.

A minimum of 120 credits is still required to complete the degree.

Content Area Minor (Optional Requirement)

Students may elect to complete a minor in one of the following content areas. Minors provide a depth of study in a particular area of interest and also inform classroom instruction. Upon completion, the minor will be posted on the UW-Madison transcript, but students will not receive an additional certification in the subject area. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction no longer offers content licenses in association with the K-9 educator license.

The completion of a minor is required to teach middle school licensing in some states and may benefit students particularly interested in teaching at this level. For more details about the requirements of each minor, choose from the links below.

Minor Options

Four-Year Plan

Elementary Education

Kindergarten - 9th Grade/Special Education K-12 Dual Certification

This four-year sample graduation plan is designed to guide your course selection throughout your academic career; it does not establish a contractual agreement. Use it along with your DARS report and Course Search and Enroll to create a four-year plan reflecting your placement scores, incoming credits, and individual interests. Consult with an academic advisor to develop a personalized plan of study and refer to the Guide for a complete list of requirements. You will likely revise your plan several times during your academic career here, based on your activities and changing academic interests.

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Communication A (fall or spring semester)3Communication A (fall or spring semester)3
Liberal Studies course work9-12Quantitative Reasoning A3
 RP & SE 3003
 Liberal Studies course work5-8
 12 14
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Quantitative Reasoning B3Liberal Studies course work7
Ethnic Studies3Liberal Studies or General Elective course work5
Liberal Studies course work6 
 12 12
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CURRIC 31913CURRIC 318 (Also meets Communication B)3
RP & SE 33013CURRIC 32013
CURRIC/​RP & SE  40613RP & SE 4643
CURRIC 5503RP & SE 4723
RP & SE 4653RP & SE 4733
RP & SE 60513RP & SE 4763
 18 18
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
RP & SE/​CURRIC  3653CURRIC 4631
CURRIC 3713CURRIC 4647
CURRIC 3723RP & SE 4571
RP & SE 4663RP & SE 4777
RP & SE 5153 
CURRIC 3733 
 18 16
Total Credits 120
1

May be taken before semester 1 of the professional sequence, including prior to program admission.

A minimum of 120 credits is still required to complete the degree.