Early Childhood Education

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 to UW-Stevens Point as a transfer student, complete the UW System admission application form.  You may apply online at apply.wisconsin.edu or by submitting a paper application to:  

  UW-Stevens Point Office of Admissions
  Student Services Building
  UW-Stevens Point
  Stevens Point, WI 54481

  Paper applications can be obtained through UW Colleges Student Services Offices and the UWSP Admissions Office, or downloaded at apply.wisconsin.edu.

  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 the UW Colleges 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 file is complete.

  Please note that admission to the University does not guarantee admission to the Early Childhood Education major or the Professional Education Program.

• When Should You Transfer?

  UW Colleges students interested in a Bachelor of Arts or Science degree with a major in Early Childhood Education at UWSP may remain at the UW Colleges for three to four semesters, depending on the course availability at the UW Colleges campus they attend.

Admission to the Professional Education Program

Students with majors in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, and Exceptional Education must be admitted to this Program to register for upper-level Early Childhood, Education, Instructional Resources and Teaching Methods courses.

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 English 101 and English 102 with a grade point ratio of 2.50. Students receiving a grade of "C" or above in 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 English 250 (English 201 at the UW Colleges) 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 freshman English and Math, 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".

  • Enrollment caps are in effect for the Early Childhood Education major. Twenty-five students per year are admitted to the Professional Education Program in this major, half in September and half in February. Students are ranked using the following criteria: 1/3-Overall GPA, 1/3-Pre-Professional Interview, 1/6-Listening Test, 1/6-PPST. Certification: Birth through age 8 - regular education and Early Childhood Special education.

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 student must be accepted into the Professional Education Program in order to enroll in the course.

Many of the following courses meet both UWSP General Degree Requirements (GDRs) and Department of Public Instruction requirements.

1. Freshman English -- 3-6 credits required

   UW-Stevens Point Requirement	UW Colleges Equivalent
   English 101 and 102 or English 150	English 101 and 102 None

   
   
2. Writing Emphasis -- 6 credits required

   UW-Stevens Point Requirement	UW Colleges Equivalent
   "P" - Education 310	None
   "P" - ECE 368	None



3. Communication -- 2 credits required

   UW-Stevens Point Requirement	UW Colleges Equivalent
   Communication 101	Communications 103



4. Mathematics -- see below

   UW-Stevens Point Requirement	UW Colleges Equivalent
   Math 90 (if needed)	Math 091 OR Math 095 OR Math 097 (if needed)
   Math 100 (if needed - pre-req. for Math 228 at UWSP)	Math 105 (if needed)
   Math 228 (pre-req. for Math 338 at UWSP) - 3 credits	Math 130
   Math 338 - 3 credits	Math 132 (meets math GDR at UWSP)

   Note: Math 228 (Math 130 at UW Colleges) will not meet the math GDR at UWSP unless the student majors in Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, or Exceptional Education.
   Note: Math 338 (Math 132 at the UW Colleges) with a pre-req of Math 228 if taken at UWSP will meet the math GDR at UWSP for Fall 2002 and later.

5. Natural Science -- 12-15 credits required
   Choose one from each area. Maximum of one course numbered 100 at UWSP (designated as 100(#). At least two courses must be 4-5 credit labs.

   UW-Stevens Point Requirement	UW Colleges Equivalent
   Physical Science: (choose one from this area)
   Chemistry 100, 101	Chemistry 123(#), 124(#), 125, 145*
   Physics 100, 101	Physics 107*, 110*, 120*, 141*, 201*, 202*
   Astronomy 100, 205, 206, 311	Astronomy 100(#), 101*, 105*, 200
   Earth Science: (choose one from this area)
   Geography 100, 101	Geography 104*, 106*, 107*, 120 (3 credits = UWSP Geog 100; 5 credits = UWSP Geog 101), 123*, 124* 125(#) (3 credits = UWSP Geog 100; 5 credits = UWSP Geog 101), 170*
   Geology 100	Geology 100(#), 101*, 102*, 104*, 107*, 135*, 169(#), 170* Meteorology 100*
   Life Science: (choose one from this area)
   Biology 100, 101	Anthropology 105*; Bacteriology 101*; Biology 109, 160*, 250*; Botany 100*, 130*; Physiology 170*; Zoology 101*, 105*, 140*, 155, 170*



6. Minority Studies and Non-Western Culture
   At least one course you take must be designated "Minority Studies", and at least one course you take must be designated "Non-Western Culture". Students should try to take a Humanities Area 1 course that also fits one of these requirements.

   UW-Stevens Point Requirement	UW Colleges Equivalent
   Minority Studies (MNS)	See advisor or Transfer Information System (TIS).
   Non-Western Culture (NWC)	See advisor or Transfer Information System (TIS).



7. History -- 6 credits required (courses in parentheses are course numbers prior to Fall 2008)

   UW-Stevens Point Requirement	UW Colleges Equivalent
   History 177 (212)	History 102
   Select one (3 credits): History 176 (211), 285 (385*), 288 (130*), 292 MNS (382*), 393 (388*) (Hist 120* and 379* are no longer offered) (*does not meet the History GDR requirement for other majors.)  MUST BE HISTORY 176 (211) FOR B.A. DEGREE.	History 101, 278 (MNS)



8. Humanities and Social Science -- (Combined total of 18 credits)

   Humanities - 6 credits required
   Humanities is divided into 4 areas as follows: Area 1 (history and appreciation of art, communication, dance, theatre and music); Area 2 (literature); Area 3 (philosophy, political theory and religious studies); Area 4 (civilization, area studies and interdisciplinary courses).

   UW-Stevens Point Requirement	UW Colleges Equivalent
   Select one: English 211, 212, 213, 214	Any literature course that transfers as HUM2*
   Area 1 course. (May be an Area 3 or 4 course if student has already completed a course in art, dance, drama, music or theatre.)	Any course that transfers as a HUM1

   Social Science - 12 credits required

   UW-Stevens Point Requirement	UW Colleges Equivalent
   Human Development 261 (pre-req. for ECE 262)	Psychology 250* or 360*
   Human Development 367	Sociology 220* (accepted for this major only)
   Political Science 101	Political Science 104
   Psychology 110 (Pre-req. to HD 261)	Psychology 201 OR 202



9. Environmental Literacy -- 3 credits required

   UW-Stevens Point Requirement	UW Colleges Equivalent
   "P" - Natural Resources 370	Geography 350* or Biology 103* or 107* (student must also take Natural Resources 310 - one credit at UWSP during the month of May)



10. Wellness -- 3 credits required

    UW-Stevens Point Requirement	UW Colleges Equivalent
    Physical Education 231 (currently meets Aerobic Activity)	Physical Education 211*
    Health Enhancement - 1 credit	Any course that transfers as Wellness-HE

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

COMPETENCIES

Early Childhood Special Education minor required. (For students starting at a UW school prior to Fall 2001, minor is optional.)

• "P" - Education 365 - 3 credits - offered once every 3 semesters"P" - Education 366 - 3 credits - offered once every 3 semesters"P" - Education 367 - 3 credits - offered once every 3 semesters
• "P" - Education 398 - Student Teaching - 3 credits

Note: The Integrated Curriculum Block (ICB - 17 credits) should be taken the spring semester prior to student teaching.  This ICB cannot be broken up.  Once a student is admitted to the Professional Education Program, they must commit to the semester for which they will take the ICB.  Students will be expected to be out in the local schools for 8-9 weeks full-time during this block.

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

Updated: 12/06

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