Master of Science in
Education–Elementary Education
Admission to the Program
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Submit
an application to pursue graduate study at UW-Stevens Point to the
Admissions Office.
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Be
aware that you must make your initial application to the Admissions
Office before
you can be admitted to the MSE–Elementary Education program.
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We recommend that you apply no later than
mid-semester of the semester before you want to be admitted.
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The
UWSP Admissions Office processes your application and notifies you when
your materials are being forwarded to SOE Graduate Advising. Your
application will then be reviewed by Graduate Advising for admission to
the “program.”
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Submit
official transcripts for undergraduate coursework and any
additional coursework listed on your application.
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Send
a copy of your teaching license to SOE Graduate Advising.
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Have
an undergraduate grade point average of 3.00 or higher. If your GPA is
less, you may be admitted on probation, but will then need to establish a
minimum 3.00 GPA on your first 9 resident graduate credits at UWSP to be
fully admitted.
-
Complete no more than 9 credits of graduate work. You may apply earlier,
but you should be admitted to the program and
meet with your advisor before you have completed 9 graduate credits.
Admission to Candidacy
Admission to
candidacy (program planning) does not occur until after you have applied to
pursue graduate study at UWSP through the Admissions Office and been admitted
to your elected program through the SOE Graduate Advising Office. Once you are
admitted you will receive a UWSP catalog, “working copy” form, and
planning guidesheet to use as you prepare your proposed plan of study. You
will also be assigned an advisor.
To be accepted as a
candidate:
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Remove
any academic deficiencies and/or complete all subject matter
prerequisites.
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Maintain
at least a 3.0 (B) grade point average in all your graduate work.
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Because
you may include no more than 9 completed graduate credits in your official
Program of Study, submit your proposed plan of study and rationale
statement BEFORE you complete 9 graduate credits.
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Receive
approval from your graduate advisor for your Program of Study.
The Program
Earn 30 credits in graduate
courses:
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Professional
education: 9 credits that include foundations, curriculum, and research
courses. (Educ 782 may substitute for Educ 707 only with advisor approval
prior to enrollment.)
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Liberal
arts: 6-9 credits outside education (courses without the EDUC prefix).
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Area
of specialization: of the remaining education credits, at least 3 must be from
courses in instructional methods, supervision and instruction, reading,
foundations, etc. Advisors may approve exceptions for 500 level courses.
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Fifteen
credits must be at the 700 level.
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Educ 758, 761, 771, 772 are pass/fail. Only these courses
may be applied to the master’s program
Culminating Experience
Complete one of these two
options:
Thesis
Option: Write a thesis and a comprehensive examination covering the
liberal arts area of your program.
Nonthesis
Option: Take Educ 707 or 782 and write a comprehensive examination.
You must have at least 24 credits completed toward your Program of Study
including the required component area coursework before you can register to
write your exam. The graduate exam will include foundations, liberal arts, and
6 additional credits in your area of study. You may not write on practicum,
independent study, or research work. Register for the exam one semester before
you plan to take it. To register and for more information, contact Graduate
Advising 715-346-4403.
Exit Interview (graduation credit check)
You must complete an exit
interview one semester before the semester in which you plan to
graduate. This interview generates a credit check on your progress and
requirements and provides a one-semester "cushion" to cover
discrepancies. You will receive a graduation application at the interview and
you apply for graduation after the interview.
Deadlines:
Decide on the term in which you anticipate receiving your diploma. Schedule
your credit check, sign up for exams and apply for graduation by the month
indicated.
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Apply
by August for December diploma and graduation ceremony.
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Apply
by December for May diploma and graduation ceremony.
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Apply
by December for August diploma. There is no ceremony in August; however,
you may request to participate in the May or the December ceremony.
Master of Science
in Education– General
This degree is for licensed teachers
with at least two years of full-time
elementary or secondary teaching experience. Substitute teaching will be
considered for this requirement, but student teaching and interning will not.
The program allows you to design a Program of Study that meets your specific
needs. You may incorporate credits from several disciplines into the 30
required graduate credits provided you can verify a professional need for
them.
Admission to the Program
Follow steps 1-5 as listed
for MSE-Elementary Education
above. In addition, you will need to:
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Have
an employing official provide a letter certifying that you have two or
more years of full-time teaching
experience. Interning and student teaching experience do not apply, but
substitute teaching will be considered. For substitute teaching, have an
employing official provide a letter documenting the number of days of
substitute teaching with less than five hours a day and the number of days
with five or more hours per day.
-
Have
an employing official provide a letter of reference for you.
Options for MSE –
General
Elect ONE of the following three options:
- Option A,
professional and subject matter content: Requires a minimum of 6 credits outside
education, i.e., courses without an EDUC prefix.
- Option B,
specialization or certification: Minimum of 18 credits leading to a
state certificate or credits in a specialty area such as reading teacher
(316), reading specialist (317), any of the special education
certifications, gifted/talented specialization, technology and leadership
specialization, early childhood education certification, English as a
second language (ESL), or a block of courses designed for initial or
advanced graduate work by School of Education as part of your master’s
degree.
- Option C, content
specializations outside the School of Education: 21 credits from outside
education, i.e., courses without an EDUC prefix. Secondary candidates will
pursue this option.
NOTE: Educ 758, 761, 771, 772 are pass/fail. Only these courses may be
applied to the master’s program.
Admission to Candidacy
Same as MSE-Elementary
Education above.
You
must submit a rationale statement with the proposed plan of study that
explains how the proposed courses will enhance your professional expertise and
how they reflect your personal, professional, and academic interests and
needs. Generally, you can group courses into categories (curriculum, math,
reading, etc.) and write a rationale for each group. You may prepare the
rationale statement in paragraph format and attach it to the “working
copy.”
Please
note that the “working copy” is NOT
the final Program of Study. It is a tool used to assign an advisor whose
background most closely parallels your area of interest and/or expertise. The
“working copy” will be used at your advising conference to develop a
formal Program of Study which your advisor will approve.
SOE
Graduate Advising makes all official advisor assignments after your proposed
plan of study and rationale statement have been received. You may request a specific advisor at this time. SOE Graduate Advising will send
you a letter of advisor assignment including address, phone
and e-mail address of your advisor. You will need to schedule an advising
conference with your assigned advisor in order to have your proposed plan of
study officially approved.
You will receive a copy of
the official Program of Study once the advising process has been completed.
The original will be retained in SOE Graduate Advising. If you want to change
your officially approved Program of Study, you must submit a “change of
study” request form to SOE Graduate Advising prior
to enrollment in the new class. Contact
SOE
Graduate Advising for more information.
Culminating Experience
Complete one of the following options:
Thesis Option: Write a thesis and a comprehensive examination
covering liberal arts.
Nonthesis Option:
Enroll in either Educ 707 or 782 (as approved by your advisor) and complete a
comprehensive examination covering 12 credits from your Program of Study that
includes required foundations, curriculum components, and an additional 6
credits from Area 2 of your Program of Study. You may not write on practicum,
independent study, or research work. You must have at least 24 credits
completed toward your Program of Study, including the required component area
coursework, before you can register to write your exam. Register for the exam
one semester before you plan to take it. For more information, contact SOE
Graduate Advising, 715-346-4403.
Exit Interview
Same as the MSE-Elementary
Education above.
Graduate
Certification Programs
The School of Education offers graduate
certification programs in:
- Exceptional Education
- Early
Childhood Special Education
- Emotional/Behavioral
Disabilities
- Learning
Disabilities
- Cognitive
Disabilities
- Multicategorical
Special Education
- Reading
- Reading teacher
(316)
- Reading
specialist (317)
- English as a Second Language
(ESL)
- Early Childhood
Education
You may complete these certifications as
specializations in the MSE (General) degree via Option B or by enrolling as a graduate special student and pursuing
certification only. Please forward a letter of intent to the SOE Graduate
Advising indicating which certification you wish to pursue. A file
will be established for you and an advisor assigned. Curriculum requirements for each of
the certification areas are described below.
NOTE: If you are pursuing graduate level
certification, you must DECIDE EARLY whether to incorporate credits for certification as
part of the MSE-General degree. You may obtain a master’s degree which incorporates
certification by taking a course in each of the required component areas (foundations,
curriculum, and research). You can have no more than 9 completed graduate credits at the
time your official Program of Study for the master’s degree is approved.
The certification program plan is NOT the same as the
master’s Program of Study. The certification program plan outlines coursework
required for certification only. The master’s program plan outlines coursework
required for the awarding of the master’s degree. In some cases, coursework will
apply to both programs. Certification candidates, therefore, will have two program plans
on file: one leading to certification and another leading to awarding the
master’s degree. It is conceivable that a candidate may complete the requirements for
one program plan prior to completing requirements for the other program plan. For further
information contact the School of Education Graduate Advising
Office, 715,346-4403..
Graduate Certification Programs in
Exceptional Education
You may complete these certifications as
specializations in the MSE (General) degree via Option B or by enrolling as a graduate
special student and pursuing certification only.
Early
Childhood: Special Education
To receive certification, fulfill these requirements:
- Professional preparation: Complete a bachelor's degree in
early childhood ed, exceptional ed, or elementary ed, including these required courses:
Educ 570 (Workshop in Educ: Curriculum/Methods for Young Children), Educ
398; and Psych 260 or HD 261.
- General exceptional education: Educ 551 and
778.
- Area of specialization: Educ 565, 566, 567,
781.
NOTE: If you are certified in related service fields
such as physical therapy, speech/language pathology with a master’s degree, etc., but
do not have a prior degree with certification in education, you can pursue an emphasis in
early childhood special education needs in order to augment your skills in working with
this population. This avenue will NOT lead to teacher certification unless you elect to
take the courses which lead to that certification.
Emotional/Behavioral
Disabilities
To receive certification, fulfill these
requirements:
- Professional preparation:
- Complete a bachelor's degree in elementary or
secondary ed, including these required courses: Educ 309 or 386; Educ 351, 381, 383, 398;
methods courses for instructional areas; and Psychology 260 or HD 261.
- If you are certified in other areas of special
education,
complete these professional education courses: Educ 309 or 386; Educ 351, 381, 383, 398;
methods courses in regular curriculum; Psychology 260; or equiv graduate level courses.
- General exceptional education: Complete Communicative
Disorders 567; Educ 556, 568, 704, 778.
- Area of specialization: Complete these, with
emphasis in emotional disabilities: Educ 564, 569, 781.
Learning
Disabilities
To receive certification, fulfill these
requirements:
- Professional preparation:
- Complete your bachelor’s degree in elementary or
secondary ed, including these required courses: Educ 309 or 386; Educ 351, 381, 383, 398;
methods courses for your instructional areas; and Psychology 260 or HD 261.
- If you are certified in other areas of special
education,
complete these professional education courses: Educ 309 or 386; Educ 351, 381, 383, 398;
methods courses in regular curriculum; or equivalent graduate courses.
- General exceptional education: Communicative Disorders 567,
Educ 556, 568, 704, and 778.
- Areas of specialization: Complete with emphasis in learning disabilities: Education 564, 569, 747, 781.
Cognitive
Disabilities
To receive certification, fulfill these requirements:
- Professional education:
- Complete your bachelor’s degree in elementary or
secondary ed, including these required courses: Educ 309 or 386; Educ 351, 381,
and 383, and
398; methods courses for your instructional areas; and Psychology 260 or HD 261.
- If you are certified in other areas of special
education,
complete these professional education courses: Educ 309 or 386; Educ 351, 381, 383, 398;
methods courses in regular curriculum; Psychology 260; or equivalent graduate courses.
- General exceptional education: Complete Communicative
Disorders 567, Education 556, 568, 704, 778.
- Areas of specialization: Complete these
courses, with an emphasis in mild-moderate cognitive disabilities: Education 564, 569, 781.
Multicategorical
Special Education Graduate Certification Program
This is a fast-track preparation program for teachers
who are already certified in regular or special education and are provisionally certified
in a category of special education. It consists of two consecutive 9-10-credit summer
institutes and 5 credits over the regular school year. Check with the School of Education Graduate Advising
Office for availability of this program.
Before you begin any coursework, you must develop a
Certification Outline with your major professor. It will designate the content areas you
will study for the certification you are seeking. Depending on your background and
assessment of competencies, you could take some of the courses for variable
credit (to be determined by your advisor). This will allow you to either specialize in one
area or obtain equal coursework in each area.
Entrance qualifications for
multicategorical special education are:
- Be a certified teacher.
- Be admitted to Graduate Studies.
- Be provisionally certified in an area of special education.
- Have a minimum of 3 credits (Educ 351/551).
- Commitment to two consecutive summer programs for
9-12 credits each.
Course of study is:
- Summer I: 9 credits from Educ 556, 564, 568.
- Semester I: Educ 781.
- Semester II: Communicative Disorders 567 or
797 (normal language and language disorders).
- Summer II: 12 credits from Educ 569, 704, 747, 778.
Graduate Certification Programs in
Reading
You may complete these certifications as
specializations in the MSE-General degree via Option B or by enrolling as a graduate
special student and pursuing certification only.
Reading Teacher (316)
Certification
NOTE: You must have two years of successful
regular classroom teaching experience in addition to the coursework for
certification.
To receive certification you must earn 9
prerequisite credits (6 from
Area A and 3 from Area B) as described below. You can take them at the graduate or
undergraduate level, but if you are applying the credits to a master's degree,
they must be at the graduate level. Before you take Education 741 you must take Education
309, 310, 386/586, or English 381/581 (for English majors).
In addition, you need 13 credits from Area C below.
-
Area A, 6 credits:
one course from each group.
-
Elementary: Education 309 or 310.
- Secondary: Education 386/586 OR English 381/581.
- Area B, 3 credits from Education 327/527, 383/583,
706, English 275, 375/575.
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Area C,
13 credits: Education
740, 741, 746, 747,
748. NOTE: Area C courses must be earned within a seven-year period
(starting with beginning of the term the course was approved for your
Program of Study).
Reading
Specialist (317) Certification
You must have three years
of successful regular classroom teaching experience in addition to the
coursework for certification.
Meet the following requirements:
- Complete a master's degree
in an education field.
-
Meet the requirements for reading teacher
(316) certification as described above.
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Complete
Education 328/528, 749, 750,
751 and 798. NOTE:
Courses for reading specialist 317 license must be earned within a
seven-year period (starting with beginning of the term the course was
approved for your Program of Study).
Master of Science in
Education: Guidance and Counseling
UW-Stevens Point cooperates with UW-Oshkosh in their degree
program leading to guidance certification with different emphases. For more
information, contact SOE
Graduate Advising, 715-346-4403.
Master of Science in
Education: Educational Administration -OR- Specialist in Education:
Educational
Administration
These programs are offered in cooperation with
UW-Superior. For more information, contact SOE
Graduate Advising, 715-346-4403.
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