• 24 Credits completed  Pass/fail credits, and courses below the 100 level are not included in the 24 credit requirement. Advanced Placement (AP), CLEP, retroactive credits and credits by exam are included in the 24 credit requirement (if approved at UWSP).
• 2.60 Cumulative GPA from all accredited institutions attended
  NOTE: 2.75 cumulative GPA is required in order to student teach.Students who do not meet this requirement should read the exception policy.
• Freshman English Requirement
  • Receive a B- or better in English 101 or 150 OR
  • Receive a 2.50 in English 101/102 or 101/202 OR
  • Receive a B- or better in English 250 OR
  • Test out of English 101 and English 202 through department test-out exam or receive credit by examination. This does not include AP credit given for English 101 if English 150 is required. OR
  • Meet with the Tutoring-Learning Center Writing Workshop tutors for at least five, 1/2 hour sessions SINCE you completed either English 101 or 150. Contact the Tutoring-Learning Center to schedule your sessions and for more information on Writing Lab.
    • Purpose: Writing Workshop is intended for students who have not met the UWSP Professional Education Program application requirement of a B- or above in English 101 or 150. The program’s purpose is to address specific learning gaps in writing informed by your individual goals and needs.
    • Scheduling Requirement: Attend 5 separate, 30-minute sessions with no more than one session per week with one writing tutor in the TLC. Note, the TLC is closed during the first week of the semester, finals and breaks.
    • Writing Requirement: Bring writing every session. This includes old writing that you would like to analyze, new writing for classes, business writing for job/scholarship applications, etc.
• A completed bachelor’s degree
• Be currently enrolled in ENGL 101 or 150 (if you apply using this criteria, you can only be conditionally admitted to the Program and must receive a B- or better in ENGL 101 or 150 by the end of the semester for full admission to the Program).
• Criminal Background Check – REQUIRED OF ALL APPLICANTS
  
  • You must have a completed Viewpoint screening within the last 6 months, a “Pre-Clinical Background Check” (or Recheck)
    • There is a fee associated with this. If you need the link to “Recheck” in Viewpoint, email request to soeacac@uwsp.edu. If your pre-clinical background check is more than 6 months old, do a recheck. A recheck costs less than a second pre-clinical background check.
• Major/Minor Department Requirements
  • Each department, outside of the School of Education, has the ability to establish their own, additional admission requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to see the department of major(s) and minor(s) for additional requirements.
• Conduct Disclosure
  • Please be aware that you will be asked to self-disclose previous conduct-related matters during the School of Education application process. The existence of on-campus behavioral issues and/or a criminal record do not constitute an automatic bar to admission and will be considered only as it/they substantially relate(s) to the duties and responsibilities of the program and eventual licensure.
  • It is strongly recommended that students seeking admission to the Professional Education Program practice positive role-modeling behavior early in, and consistently throughout, their student career. It is important to note that students are responsible for their own behavior, as well as the behavior of their guests on campus.
  • Students with multiple, recent, and/or serious conduct histories may be required to meet with a committee in the Professional Education Program to discuss their behavior in order to determine admission status.
• Disposition Expectations
  • Students admitted to the Professional Education Program will be expected to meet disposition expectations throughout the academic program.

Students who have been denied from the Program and those who have missed the deadline to apply to the Program have the ability to submit an appeal. The department of the major will have final approval on appeals submitted to the School of Education. Once the appeal deadline is past, the School of Education will send the major department a copy of their students’ appeals. If an appeal is granted, students will be allowed to enroll in courses requiring admission. (Appeals do not count against the limit of 2 program applications.)

Appeal Deadlines: April 1 and Nov. 1 by 4 p.m.

If a deadline falls on a Saturday or Sunday, appeals are due no later than 4:00pm the Friday prior to the deadline.

Students who are denied admission can choose to submit a Letter of Appeal that includes the following:

1. Required Information:
   1. Name, address, phone number
   2. 1st or 2nd Denial
   3. Major/Minor program denied
   4. Semester you would be student teaching (Plan this out – do not guess)
2. You may choose to include some of the following:
   1. Why you feel you would be a good teacher
   2. Extenuating circumstances that may have influenced any of the criteria used for admission in your major (i.e. illness, death in the family, etc.)
   3. Any new information that would speak for your specific situation
   4. Experience working with children
   5. Resubmit revised materials you may have submitted to the department of your major (Secondary majors/minors only)
   6. Reference Letters
      1. Most students include reference letters from someone knowledgeable about the teaching profession
      2. Secondary students also often include reference letters from someone who can recommend them in their field of study.

Students who are applying late to the program through the appeal process must submit the following:

1. Required Materials:
   a. Cover letter explaining why they were unable to apply by the deadline
   b. Completed application packet, including all required documents
   c. Secondary/K-12 programs that require additional materials-these materials should be delivered/sent to the department of the major with a cover letter indicating that you are applying late to the Professional Education Program through the appeal process.

Appeal deadlines vary, however, students who are denied admission will be notified of the appeal deadline in their letter of denial. Late Letters of Appeal will not be accepted.

Students who meet the following criteria you may apply for an exception of the 2.60 grade point requirements by using the Exception Application available in the School of Education Academic and Career Advising Center. Students who are granted an exception are allowed to apply to the Professional Education Program without meeting the application requirement.

The Department of Public Instruction limits us to granting exceptions to 10% of our PEP admitted student population.

• Students will be ranked using 50% overall GPA and 50% largest score deviation.
• Final exception decisions will be determined by the SOE. Exception approvals are not appealable.

The deadlines to submit an Exception Application​ are Sept. 11 and Feb. 7. If a deadline falls on a weekend, the applications are due the Friday prior.

Requirements to apply for an Exception​

Grade Point Average (GPA of 2.75 cumulative GPA will be required at time of student teaching)

• You have completed at least 24 hours of instruction with a grade point of 2.60 or higher.
• Your grades show significant improvement over a minimum of 2 consecutive semesters (3.00 or higher).

Results will be emailed/mailed within 5 working days of deadlines. Requests with incomplete paperwork will not be processed.

• Communication Science Disorders (undergraduate major and graduate program)
• Early Childhood Education (major)
• Elementary Education (major)
• History and Social Studies Education (majors/minors)
• Math (major/minor)
• Physical Education (major)
• Special Education (major/minors)
• World Languages (major)

1. Students must complete a minimum of 12 credits beyond the GEP Written Communication requirement (English 101/202 or English 150) toward the English major.
2. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.00 in the English major.
3. Students must submit a portfolio of writing that will include:
   
   • The name of one instructor (preferably in the UWSP English Department) who is familiar with your work and willing to comment upon it.
   • A carefully written essay in which you explain, as fully as you can, your reason for wanting to become an English teacher.
   • A strong piece of your writing in which you have included several properly-documented sources.
   • A literary analysis.
   • One other piece of your writing, something you think represents your strengths as a writer very well. This could be another research piece or literary analysis, or it could be something different, such as a piece of creative or professional writing.
   NOTE: If the English Education Committee requires further information about your application, then an interview with members of the committee may become part of the application process.
4. The deadlines for submission of the portfolio are September 22 and February 22. Materials should be turned in to the English office.Students must arrange their schedules so that they will have a fall semester in which they concurrently enroll in the following English methods courses:

• English 355 (3 credits)
• English 356 (3 credits)
• English 393 (1 credit)
• English 497 (2 credits)
• English Ed 396 (3 credits)

Students are encouraged to have completed all the requirements for the English major prior to taking the English methods courses.

Applicants must meet the minimum requirements for admission to the Professional Education Program as set by the School of Education.

Before you apply for the Professional Education Program you must be currently enrolled in or have completed Family and Consumer Sciences 190 (formerly FCS 290).

Applicants must meet the minimum requirements for admission to the Professional Education Program as set by the School of Education.

Additional requirements to apply to the Professional Education Program-Required by the Music Department:

• Music Education 201 must be either in-progress or completed and passed

Applicants must meet the minimum requirements for admission to the Professional Education Program as set by the School of Education.

Natural Science Majors

Applicants applying to the Science Education Program must:

• Meet the minimum requirements for admission to the Professional Education Program as set by the School of Education.
• Complete 10 credits of science in their declared major.
• Have earned a 2.75 Grade Point Average (GPA) or better in all courses required by their declared science major (including collateral courses).

Prospective transfer students should obtain a credit evaluation from the School of Education Academic and Career Advising Center in order to determine remaining coursework, Professional Education Program application requirements​, and required assessments. Students can apply to the program the semester prior to transferring, if they meet all requirements. To request a credit evaluation, please email the following information to soe@uwsp.edu.

• unofficial copies of transcripts from every university, college or technical school where you earned any credits.*
• a list of current courses
• in the body of your email, please include your name, address, email address, phone number, and teaching major(s)/minor(s)​ you wish to pursue.

*If UW-Stevens Point was the last/only institution you attended, you can provide us with your UWSP student ID number instead of providing transcripts.

Individuals who are unable to email the information can send materials to SOE Academic and Career Advising Center, 469 College of Professional Studies, Stevens Point, WI 54481.

Credit evaluation requests will be processed within two weeks of receipt. A School of Education adviser will provide prospective students with a summary of credits remaining, a curriculum planning sheet indicating courses already completed and Professional Education Program application materials. After reviewing the materials, prospective transfer students are strongly encouraged to meet with a School of Education adviser to review the credit evaluation and plan for the future. Appointments can be made by calling the School of Education Academic and Career Advising Center, 715-346-2040.

The School of Education advising staff recommends applying to UW-Stevens Point​ 7-9 months prior to transferring.

• ​Apply by December for a fall start
• Apply by August/September for a spring start

Students who have been admitted to UW-Stevens Point through the Admissions process and have completed all requirements asked of them will be invited by the Office of Admissions to sign up for an advising appointment with an appropriate adviser. Advising sessions begin in March for fall admission and October/November for spring admission. Students are strongly encouraged to apply, and follow directions received from UWSP Admissions and be advised and registered as quickly as possible. Students will be required to attend their mandatory “Teaching Intent Meeting” at their earliest convenience and will receive invitations to sign up for these meetings immediately. Teaching Intent Meetings are designed to inform our students of additional requirements to earn their teaching license, explain how the Professional Education Program Application works and answer questions pertaining to student teaching.

All students who have declared their intent to teach are welcome to meet with a professional adviser in the SOE Academic and Career Advising Center throughout the year; however, during peak advising times, students are encouraged to meet with their assigned academic advisers (if one has been assigned).

Early childhood education, elementary education, physical education, and special education majors are encouraged to meet with a professional adviser in the School of Education Academic and Career Advising Center immediately. Once a student has declared their major(s)/minor(s), we strongly recommend meeting with an Education adviser to develop a graduation plan. At this meeting, the SOE adviser can assist you in developing a semester by semester plan of courses – all the way through to graduation. This makes future advising appointments more about how students are doing, instead of what classes they need to be taking. 

Students receive a link to the School of Education Undergraduate Advising Guide when they declare their intent to teach. We recommend reading the advising guide at the beginning and end of every semester to stay on track in the program. Students should refer to the advising guide to find answers to a variety of different questions about the Professional Education Program.

Natural Science Majors

The SOE Newsletter is sent weekly via email to all students who have declared their intent to teach. The newsletter contains the most current information about happenings in the Professional Education Program and students are responsible for the information enclosed. This newsletter is sent via our Education.Office@uwsp.edu email account.

It is important to note that your UWSP email account has FOCUS and OTHER options and some important emails from many offices from campus may land in either box. You can combine your FOCUS and OTHER boxes through your “settings” in the online version of Outlook. There is a switch to turn off the FOCUS inbox and this will bring both inboxes into just one.

Several important notices from the SOE Academic and Career Advising Center are sent to UWSP email accounts, including:

• Student Teaching Meetings (Sept./Dec. and Jan./May)
• Invitations to special events (ongoing)
• Scholarship information (Dec./Jan.)
• Advising information and dates (ongoing)

We recommend that students find a consistent place on campus to call their study space. This “study space” should not be in a student’s residence hall room or at home (for commuters) – there are too many distractions in these locations. Students who utilize the same space away from their “home” actually become more efficient with their study time.

Students can’t read any faster than they can read. Once a student falls behind on their reading assignments, it is difficult to ever catch back up.

Use the Tutoring-Learning Center. Student fees pay for this resource and there is help available:

• Math and Science
• Reading in the Disciplines
• Study Skills
• Technology
• World Languages
• Writing Lab

Instructors at UW-Stevens Point are here to help students succeed. We recommend talking to instructors – early and often – not just when a student needs help.

It is extremely difficult for a student to do well if he/she is not going to class. Period.

The Praxis Subject Assessment is a standardized test offered by Educational Testing Services (ETS) and designed to evaluate a student’s knowledge in his/her content area.

Students who do not obtain a 3.00 GPA or higher in their teaching majors and teaching minors are required to take the Praxis Subject Assessment in order to complete their teacher certification requirements.

The answer to this question varies by student. Only students who do not obtain a 3.00 GPA or higher in their teaching majors and teaching minors are required to take the Praxis Subject Assessment. Students should consult a professional adviser in the School of Education Academic and Career Advising Center with questions.

Students who must take the Praxis Subject Assessment can register for the test online at the ETS website (www.ets.org/praxis). Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, depending on seat availability at the test sites.  

Praxis Subject Assessment Study Guides and Flashcards

Study guides and flash cards have been purchased for each of the subject areas and are available at the Reserve Desk of Albertson Hall (the UWSP library). Study Guides can be checked out for a three-day period.