Secondary/K-12 Education

Note:  It is important that the student check the UWSP list of teaching majors and minors available at the School of Education website in the "student handbook" section.

School of Education, College of Professional Studies Building, UW-Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI 54481 Telephone: (715) 346-2040 Website: www.uwsp.edu/education (choose "undergraduate")

Admission to UW-Stevens Point

• Application Procedure

To apply for admission to UW-Stevens Point, submit a completed UW System application form to

UWSP Admissions Office
102 Student Services Center
UW-Stevens Point
Stevens Point, WI 54481-3897

Request that your official transcripts be forwarded directly to the UWSP Admissions Office from both your high school and any colleges or universities you have attended.

While there is no deadline for applying to the University, early application is recommended because UW System enrollment management efforts may require us to limit our enrollment.

• General Admission Requirements to the University

Students from Nicolet College who will have earned 54 or more credits by the time they transfer to UWSP are eligible for admission with a grade point average of 2.00 or higher. If you will have earned fewer than 54 transfer credits by the time you transfer, you will need to meet the admission requirements in effect at the time your application to the University is complete.

Admission to the University does NOT guarantee admission to the major.

• When Should You Transfer?

Nicolet College students interested in Secondary/K-12 Education at UWSP should consult with their UWSP advisors in the School of Education and the department of their major to determine the appropriate time to transfer. Secondary/K-12 students must have certain coursework in the major/minor completed to apply to the Professional Education Program, and should consult with the department of their major/minor on this issue.

Admission to the Professional Education Program

Students planning Secondary Education/K-12 certification must be admitted to this Program to register for upper-level Education, Instructional Resources and Teaching Methods courses. Deadlines and requirements are subject to change.

Formal application to the Professional Education Program must be made. Deadlines are September 22 and February 22. Applications will be accepted up to the deadline. Late applications will be processed during the subsequent application period. Only students who meet all criteria listed below are eligible to apply. If the deadline falls on a weekend, the deadline to apply will be the Friday prior to the deadline.

Applications and questionnaires are available in the School of Education (SOE) Undergraduate Advising Office, Room 469 College of Professional Studies or at the UWSP School of Education website, http://www.uwsp.edu/education. Unofficial copies of transcripts from ALL post-secondary institutions must be attached to the application, along with the completed questionnaire and letter proving admission to UWSP if not currently enrolled at UWSP.

• EXIT EXAM

All students applying for a teaching license will be required to pass the appropriate state mandated Praxis II exam(s) at least one semester prior to student teaching and submit an acceptable web-based portfolio on the Ten Wisconsin Teaching Standards during the student teaching semester.   More information on these requirements can be found in the "student handbook" section of the School of Education website.

• MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY FOR ADMISSION TO THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
  All requirements must be met, and passing scores submitted to the SOE Undergraduate Advising Office no later than the deadline.  Requirements may change at any time.
• Completion of 40 credits. Pass/Fail credits and courses below the 100 level are not included in the 40-credit requirement. Advanced Placement (AP), CLEP, retroactive credits and credits by exam are included in the 40-credit requirement (if approved by UWSP).
• A cumulative grade point ratio of 2.75, based upon credits earned at this and all institutions attended.
• Completion of the equivalent of UWSP’s English 101 and English 102 with a grade point ratio of 2.50. Students receiving a grade of "C" or above in UWSP’s English 150 and students receiving a grade of "C" or above in English 102 who have tested out of English 101 meet this requirement. Students receiving a grade of "B" or better in two writing emphasis courses and passing the reading and writing portions of the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) OR students who receive a grade of "B-" or better in UWSP’s English 250 also meet this requirement. Students who do not meet this criteria must complete the Professional Writing Competency Program, administered through the School of Education Undergraduate Advising Office, 715-346-2040.
• Passing score of at least 50% on the Watson-Barker Listening Test. Test dates are scheduled during the first 2 weeks of each semester. Test dates for the academic year are available in the SOE Undergraduate Advising Office and on the SOE website the last week of August. Take this test as soon as you have completed 26 credits.
• Passing scores on the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) in the areas of reading, writing and mathematics. The PPST booklet has registration materials and information on the administration of this test. PPST passing scores are: Reading 175, Writing 174, Mathematics 173. Computer-based test passing scores for computer-based tests taken prior to January 2002 are: Reading 322, Writing 320, Mathematics 318. The School of Education must receive passing scores by the application deadline for students to qualify. (The ETS web site is www.teachingandlearning.org ). UWSP no longer accepts scores within 3 points of the state requirement. Take this test as soon as you have completed the equivalent of UWSP’s freshman English (101 and 102 or 150) and Math 100, no later than 6 months prior to applying to the Professional Education Program.
• Completion of the Speech and Hearing Screening from the Communicative Disorders Department. Test dates for the academic year are available in the SOE Undergraduate Advising Office and on the SOE website the last week of August. Take this test as soon as you have completed 26 credits.
• Passing scores of 15 or higher on the Pre-Professional Interview, administered through the SOE Undergraduate Advising Office, 715-346-2040. The Interview is available by appointment only, at a cost of $30.00. The Interview is offered during the academic weeks of the fall and spring semesters as well as in June. You may repeat this interview once if you do not receive a passing score. If applying for the Professional Education Program for a September deadline, it is suggested that you do this interview February 23 through June prior to applying.  If applying for the Professional Education Program for a February deadline, it is suggested that you do this interview September 23 through the first week of December prior to applying.  
  NOTE: Required only of students seeking admittance into the Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Exceptional Education and Physical Education majors.
• Students who are not registered for courses at UWSP at the time of application must submit a letter from the UWSP Admissions Office proving admission to UWSP.
• Technology requirement: Education 205 must be completed with a grade of "B-" or better. Contact the Undergraduate Advising Office for other limited options. We do offer a 3 hour, $10 "Technology Workshop" for those students who have not yet met this requirement.
• SEE DEPARTMENT OF MAJOR/MINOR FOR ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND INFORMATION ON ENROLLMENT CAPS. ENROLLMENT CAPS ARE IN EFFECT FOR ALL TEACHING MAJORS AND A NUMBER OF TEACHING MINORS. NOT ALL STUDENTS MEETING MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS ARE ADMITTED. ALL SECONDARY EDUCATION/K-12 DEPARTMENTS HAVE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS. SEE THE SOE WEBSITE FOR "ENROLLMENT CAP POLICIES".

For students interested in Secondary/K-12 Education, enrollment caps have been incorporated in all major areas of certification. See department of your major/minor for information on enrollment caps and additional requirements to apply to the Professional Education Program.

Certification: Ages 10-21 or 0-21 (Family & Consumer Science, Foreign Language, Music Education and Physical Education majors are all ages 0-21; all other majors are ages 10-21.)

UW-Stevens Point General Degree Requirements

• * Denotes courses not directly equivalent to UWSP requirement, but acceptable in lieu of requirement for this major.
• "P" in front of a course number indicates that the student must be accepted into the Professional Education Program in order to enroll in the course.
• The following courses meet Department of Public Instruction requirements that can be fulfilled within your General Degree Requirements.

• Natural Science
  (Students registered at UWSP during the 1990-91 academic year and who completed 30 credits or more by June 1, 19991, and those receiving a 4-year baccalaureate degree prior to July 1, 1992, are exempt from these specific Natural Science requirements.) Choose one from each area:

• History (courses in parentheses are course numbers prior to Fall 2008)

• Humanities
  (Students registered at UWSP during the 1990-91 academic year and who completed 30 credits or more by June 1, 19991, and those receiving a 4-year baccalaureate degree prior to July 1, 1992, are exempt from these specific Humanities requirements.)

• Social Science

• Environmental Literacy

Additional Secondary Certification Requirements

Competencies

• Complete a UWSP teaching major at the minimum; Four-year baccalaureate degree
• Document 100 clock hours of pre-student teaching experience working with children and youth, of which 50 hours are involved with designated social, cultural, and language groups. Requirements in courses listed above will meet this mandate.
• Educ 370, Subtitle: Transforming Conflict - 1 credit (required for all students who have taken Educ 381 at another institution OR have taken Educ 381 at UWSP prior to Fall 1995.) Call 715-346-3801 to be put on the mailing list for this course.
• A 2.75 GPA is required in the major, minor, concentration, education course work and overall to student teach or be licensed.

For more information, see the School of Education Web page or contact the School of Education Undergraduate Advising Office at (715) 346-2040.

Updated: 8/06