This minor may only be completed by students admitted to the Elementary Education or the Elementary Education and Special Education programs. A minor is not required to complete either program.
Minors provide a depth of study in a particular area of interest and also inform classroom instruction. The completion of a minor is required to teach middle school in some states and may benefit students particularly interested in teaching at this level.
Students may wish to consult with an advisor in the School of Education Student Services office, 139 Education Building, to discuss course selection and other issues related to this field of study. Current students can schedule a Student Services appointment online through the Starfish app in MyUW. Appointments can also be made by calling 608-262-1651, or in person.
Upon completion, the subject area of the minor will be posted on the UW–Madison transcript. Students will not receive an additional certification or license in the subject area. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction does not offer content licenses in association with the Elementary Education or Special Education teaching licenses.
How to Get In
This minor may only be declared by students completing the Elementary Education or the Elementary Education and Special Education programs. To declare the minor, contact your academic advisor in Education Student Services any time after program admission.
Requirements
Students in the Mathematics and Science Dual minor will complete courses in both mathematics and science. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 is required, based on all minor coursework taken on the UW–Madison campus.
Select courses in the following categories:
Mathematics Foundations (6 credits)
Complete at least six credits from the following options:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 221 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry 1 | 5 |
| MATH 222 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry 2 | 4 |
| MATH/COMP SCI 240 | Introduction to Discrete Mathematics | 3 |
Introductory Statistics (3 credits)
Complete at least three credits from the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| STAT 240 | Data Science Modeling I | 4 |
| STAT 301 | Introduction to Statistical Methods | 3 |
| STAT 324 | Introduction to Statistics for Science and Engineering | 3 |
| STAT 371 | Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences | 3 |
| PSYCH 210 | Basic Statistics for Psychology | 3 |
| ED PSYCH 215 | Probably Correct: How to Think With Statistics and Data | 3 |
Science Foundations (9 credits)
In consultation with a student services advisor or the Elementary Education Program Manager, choose 9 credits of science across 3 of the 4 focal areas that will address a breadth of scientific disciplinary areas.
Life Sciences
Physical Sciences
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Courses in CHEM numbered 677 and below. | ||
| Courses in BIOCHEM numbered 677 and below. | ||
| Courses in PHYSICS numbered 321 and below. | ||
Earth and Space Sciences
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Astronomy | ||
| ASTRON 103 | The Evolving Universe: Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology | 3 |
| ASTRON 104 | Our Exploration of the Solar System | 3 |
| ASTRON 140 | Earth 2.0: The Exoplanet Revolution | 3 |
| ASTRON 150 | Topics in Astronomy | 2 |
| ASTRON/GEOSCI 160 | Life in the Universe | 2 |
| ASTRON 170 | The Dark Side of the Universe: The Great Cosmic Mysteries from Black Holes to Dark Energy | 3 |
| ASTRON 199 | Directed Study | 1-3 |
| ASTRON 200 | The Physical Universe | 3 |
| ASTRON 202 | Introduction to Astronomy Research | 1 |
| ASTRON/HIST SCI 206 | History of Astronomy and Cosmology | 3 |
| ASTRON 236 | The History of Matter in the Universe | 3 |
| Courses in ASTRON numbered 200 and above | ||
| Atmospheric and Oceanic Studies | ||
| ATM OCN 100 | Weather and Climate | 3 |
| ATM OCN 101 | Weather and Climate | 4 |
| ATM OCN/ENVIR ST/GEOSCI 102 | Climate and Climate Change | 3 |
| ATM OCN/GEOSCI 105 | Survey of Oceanography | 3 |
| ATM OCN/BSE/SOIL SCI 132 | Water and People | 3 |
| ATM OCN/GEOSCI 140 | Natural Hazards and Disasters | 3 |
| ATM OCN 141 | Natural Hazards of Weather | 2 |
| ATM OCN/ENVIR ST 171 | Global Change: Atmospheric Issues and Problems | 3 |
| Courses in ATM OCN numbered 200 and above | 2-3 | |
| Geography | ||
| GEOSCI/ENVIR ST 106 | Environmental Geology | 3 |
| GEOG/ENVIR ST 120 | Introduction to the Earth System | 3 |
| GEOG/ENVIR ST 127 | Physical Systems of the Environment | 4 |
| GEOG 170 | Our Digital Globe: An Overview of GIScience and its Technology | 3 |
| GEOG/ENVIR ST/SOIL SCI 230 | Soil: Ecosystem and Resource | 3 |
| Courses in GEOG numbered 300 with the Physical Science designation. | ||
| Geoscience | ||
| GEOSCI 100 | Introductory Geology: How the Earth Works | 3 |
| GEOSCI/ATM OCN/ENVIR ST 102 | Climate and Climate Change | 3 |
| GEOSCI/ATM OCN 105 | Survey of Oceanography | 3-4 |
| GEOSCI 109 | Three billion years beneath your feet: Geology of the National Parks | 3 |
| GEOSCI 110 | Evolution and Extinction | 4 |
| GEOSCI 118 | Eye in the Sky: Monitoring the Earth by Satellite | 1 |
| GEOSCI/ATM OCN 140 | Natural Hazards and Disasters | 3 |
| GEOSCI/ASTRON 160 | Life in the Universe | 2 |
| GEOSCI 202 | Introduction to Geologic Structures | 4 |
| GEOSCI 204 | Geologic Evolution of the Earth | 4 |
| GEOSCI 304 | Geobiology | 3 |
| GEOSCI/GEOG 320 | Geomorphology | 3 |
| GEOSCI 331 | Gems: The Science Behind the Sparkle | 1-2 |
| GEOSCI/ATM OCN/ENVIR ST/GEOG 335 | Climatic Environments of the Past | 3 |
| GEOSCI/G L E 350 | Introduction to Geophysics: The Dynamic Earth | 3 |
| GEOSCI/G L E 360 | Principles of Mineralogy | 3 |
| GEOSCI/G L E 370 | Elementary Petrology | 3 |
| GEOSCI/ENVIR ST/G L E/GEOG/LAND ARC 371 | Introduction to Environmental Remote Sensing | 3 |
| GEOSCI 375 | Principles of Geochemistry | 3 |
| GEOSCI/GEOG 420 | Glacial and Pleistocene Geology | 3 |
| GEOSCI 430 | Sedimentology and Stratigraphy | 3 |
| GEOSCI/G L E 431 | Sedimentology & Stratigraphy Lab | 1 |
| GEOSCI/CIV ENGR/ENVIR ST/G L E 444 | Practical Applications of GPS Surveying | 2 |
| GEOSCI/G L E 455 | Structural Geology | 4 |
| GEOSCI 456 | Geologic Field Methods | 2 |
| GEOSCI 457 | Conducted Field Trip | 2 |
| Courses in GEOSCI numbered 556 and above | ||
Science and Society
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Indigenous Arts and Sciences | ||
| AMER IND/LAND ARC 106 | Earth Partnership Indigenous Arts and Sciences | 3 |
| AMER IND/ENVIR ST 306 | Indigenous Peoples and the Environment | 3 |
| AMER IND/ENVIR ST 341 | Indigenous Environmental Communicators | 3 |
| AMER IND/ENVIR ST/GEOG 345 | Caring for Nature in Native North America | 3 |
| AMER IND/ANTHRO/BOTANY 474 | Ethnobotany | 3-4 |
| Science and Technology Studies | ||
| STS 201 | Where Science Meets Society | 3 |
| AFROAMER/HIST SCI 275 | Science, Medicine, and Race: A History | 3-4 |
| HIST SCI 133 | Biology and Society, 1950 - Today | 3 |
| HIST SCI 201 | The Origins of Scientific Thought | 3 |
| HIST SCI 202 | The Making of Modern Science | 3 |
| HIST SCI 218 | History of Twentieth Century American Medicine | 3 |
| HIST SCI 222 | Technology and Social Change in History | 3 |
| HIST SCI/AFROAMER 275 | Science, Medicine, and Race: A History | 3-4 |
| HIST SCI 280 | Honors Seminar: Studies in Science, Technology, Medicine | 3 |
| HIST SCI/HISTORY 323 | The Scientific Revolution: From Copernicus to Newton | 3 |
| HIST SCI/MED HIST/RELIG ST 331 | Science, Medicine and Religion | 3 |
| HIST SCI/HISTORY/MED HIST 508 | Health, Disease and Healing II | 3-4 |
| HIST SCI/AFROAMER/MED HIST 523 | Race, American Medicine and Public Health | 3 |
| HIST SCI/MED HIST/POP HLTH 553 | International Health and Global Society | 3 |
| MED HIST/HIST SCI 509 | The Development of Public Health in America | 3 |
| MED HIST/GEN&WS/HIST SCI 531 | Women and Health in American History | 3 |
| MED HIST/GEN&WS/HIST SCI 532 | The History of the (American) Body | 3 |
| MED HIST 559 | Topics in Ethics and History of Medicine | 3 |
| PHILOS/ENVIR ST 441 | Environmental Ethics | 3-4 |
| PHILOS 520 | Philosophy of the Natural Sciences | 3 |
| PHILOS/ENVIR ST 523 | Philosophical Problems of the Biological Sciences | 3 |
| PHILOS/MED HIST 558 | Ethical Issues in Health Care | 3 |
| PHILOS/C&E SOC/MED HIST 565 | The Ethics of Modern Biotechnology | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC/F&W ECOL 248 | Environment, Natural Resources, and Society | 3 |
| GEN&WS 524 | Race, Gender, Health, and Medicine | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/ENVIR ST 101 | Forum on the Environment | 1-2 |
| ILS 153 | Ways of Knowing in the Sciences | 4 |
| AFRICAN/COM ARTS/L I S 444 | Technology and Development in Africa and Beyond | 3 |
| CHICLA/COUN PSY 331 | Immigrant Health and Wellbeing | 3 |
| CHICLA/CURRIC 354 | Race and Language in STEM and Environmental Education | 3 |
| CHICLA/LAND ARC 475 | Latino Urbanism: Design and Engagement in the American City | 3 |