Major

Courses

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
For more information on education administration, majors and procedures, see the Education section of this catalog or http://www.uwsp.edu/education/.

Early Childhood Education Major 
(Early through middle childhood level: birth through 8 years old/Early Childhood Special Education)
Enrollment caps: The top 25 students who apply each year will be admitted, half each semester.

If you wish to prepare for early childhood education, you may major in early childhood education, and minor in early childhood special education (ECSE) that leads to regular and early childhood special education (birth through 8 years old) certification.

Requirements:

1. 1.  Complete the requirements for the BA or BS degree listed under the General Degree Requirements section of this catalog. However, note the specific courses to take under the following categories:

1. In the verbal and quantitative skills sequence, take English 101 and 102, or 150; Communication 101; Math 100, 338 and Math Ed 338.

2. In the critical thinking/natural science sequence, take 13-15 credits, including no more than one 3-credit course, and at least two 5-credit courses in these three disciplines:

• Physical science: Chemistry 100 or 101; Physics 100 or 101; Astronomy 100, 205, 206, or 311.

• Earth science: Geography 100 or 101; Geology 100.

• Life science: Biology 100 or 101.

          c.  Take 27 credits to fulfill the critical thinking/ cultural awareness requirement, including one course in non-Western culture (NW) and one course in minority studies (MNS).

• History: Take History 212 and three more credits from History *120, *130, 211, *379, *382, *385, *288/388. (*These courses do not meet general degree requirements in the category listed.)

• Social Science: Take HD 261 or 265, and 367; Psych 110; Political Science 201.

• Humanities: Take 3 credits from English 211, 212, 213, or 214; and 3 credits from Humanities Area 1.

          d.  Take Natural Resources 370 to fulfill UWSP’s environmental literacy requirement and DPI's environmental education requirement.

          e.  Take Physical Ed 231 to fulfill part of the wellness requirement. WLNS 123 will complete the wellness requirement. (If you have completed both First Aid training and CPR through the Red Cross, you may be waived from WLNS 123, but will still need to complete the wellness requirement.)

2. Take 34 credits of professional education: ECED 262, 460; Educ 200, 205, 300, 351, 381; HD 466; IRES 331; and 13 credits of combination Educ 398, 400 and ECED 398.

3. Take 23 credits of education methods: ECED 366, 368; Educ 302, 309, 310, 324, 325; HD 360.

4. Take 10 credits of related professional subject matter: Com Dis 266; English 274; Math 228/Math Ed 228.

5. Complete the Teacher of Students with Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) minor including Educ 365, 366, 367, 398. Other requirements for this minor are met within the early childhood ed major.

6. Achieve a 2.75 overall GPA as well as a 2.75 GPA in your major, minor, concentration, and education courses, or be in the upper half of your class before you student teach.

7. Earn a grade of “pass” or 2.0 GPA (C) or better in all areas of student teaching. You CANNOT be certified if you do not pass or if you receive a grade less than C for student teaching in your major.