The core program in Elementary Education requires 60 credits of professional coursework in addition to other degree requirements. Students are certified to teach kindergarten through grade 9 (K-9) and can also teach at the 4K level.

The option coursework listed here is one component of the Elementary Education, BSE degree requirements.

Professional Sequence

The professional coursework was designed to be completed in four semesters, starting in the fall after admission to the program. Each semester of the sequence must be followed sequentially and taken in consecutive semesters unless a modification is approved. Most classes must be taken during specified semesters, while the scheduling of other requirements is more flexible; some may be completed prior to beginning the sequence.

Semester 1
CURRIC 312 ESL/Bilingual Issues3
CURRIC 319 Pedagogical Content Knowledge for Teaching Elementary Mathematics 1 13
CURRIC 339 Cultural Foundations of Learning and Development 13
CURRIC/​RP & SE  406 Race, Intersectionality, and Equity in Education 13
ED POL 300 School and Society 23
or ED POL/​HISTORY  412 History of American Education
Required Program Elective 1 23
Semester 2
CURRIC 318 Teaching Reading and Writing3
CURRIC 320 Pedagogical Content Knowledge for Teaching Elementary Mathematics 2 13
CURRIC 372 Teaching Science3
CURRIC 550 Methods, Materials and Activities in Early Childhood Education3
CURRIC 340 Elementary Education Practicum I3
Semester 3
CURRIC 370 Teaching Mathematics3
CURRIC 371 Teaching Social Studies3
CURRIC/​RP & SE  506 Strategies for Inclusive Schooling3
CURRIC 367 Elementary Education Practicum II3
Required Program Elective 2 23
Semester 4
CURRIC 463 Seminar in Elementary Education2
CURRIC 464 Student Teaching in the Elementary School10
or CURRIC 454 Student Teaching in the Middle School
1

May be taken before semester 1 of the professional sequence, including prior to program admission.

2

May be taken any time before semester 4 of the professional sequence, including prior to program admission. Enrollment in either ED POL 300 or ED POL/​HISTORY  412 can follow this schedule. 

Elective Courses

The professional sequence includes 6 credits selected from the following options. Additional courses that expand a student's skill set or further a student's knowledge as a future teacher may also be considered to meet this requirement. Contact the Elementary Education Program Manager for approval prior to enrolling in additional courses. The frequency in which the listed courses are offered can vary based on teaching schedules as well as student interest.

Elective Course Options

ART ED 321 Introduction to Teaching Art2
COMP SCI 402 Introducing Computer Science to K-12 Students2
CURRIC 209 Digital Media and Literacy3
CURRIC 277 Videogames & Learning3
CURRIC/​MUSIC  300 Principles of Music Education2
CURRIC 305 Integrating the Teaching of Reading with Other Language Arts3
CURRIC/​CHICLA  306 Latinx Literacies3
CURRIC 309 Reading and Writing Across the Content Areas3
CURRIC 311 Language Acquisition and Use In and Out of Schools3
CURRIC 314 Becoming Literate in and out of Schools3
CURRIC 315 Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum in Early Childhood3
CURRIC 316 ESL/Bilingual Methods3
CURRIC 317 Dimensions of Literacy3
CURRIC/​CHICLA  321 Chicano/Latino Educational Justice3
CURRIC 328 Arts Integration for Teaching and Learning3
CURRIC 331 Taking Education Outside of School3
CURRIC 338 Linguistics for Teachers3
CURRIC 357 Game Design I3
CURRIC/​SLAVIC/​THEATRE  362 Drama for Teaching and Learning3
CURRIC 368 The Teaching of Reading3
CURRIC 369 The Teaching of Language Arts3
CURRIC/​C&E SOC/​ENVIR ST  405 Education for Sustainable Communities3
CURRIC 432 Game Design II3
CURRIC 500 Literacy and Language Development3
CURRIC 504 Literacy Assessment and Intervention3
CURRIC/​ED POL/​HISTORY/​JEWISH  515 Holocaust: History, Memory and Education3
CURRIC/​ED POL/​RELIG ST  516 Religion and Public Education3
CURRIC/​THEATRE  525 Theatre in Education3-4
CURRIC 632 Literature and Literacy3
CURRIC 660 Foundations of Early Childhood Education2-3
CURRIC 663 Learning Environments for Initial Education Programs3
CURRIC 677 3
ED POL 300 School and Society3
ED POL/​HISTORY  412 History of American Education3
KINES 325 Group Development and Behavior Management3
L I S 622 Childrens Literature3
RP & SE 300 Individuals with Disabilities3

Content Area Minor (Optional Requirement)

Students may elect to complete a minor in one of the following content areas. Minors provide a depth of study in a particular area of interest and also inform classroom instruction. Upon completion, the minor will be posted on the UW-Madison transcript, but students will not receive an additional certification in the subject area. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction no longer offers content licenses in association with the K-9 educator license.

The completion of a minor is required to teach middle school licensing in some states and may benefit students particularly interested in teaching at this level. Choose from the links below for more details about the requirements of each minor.

Minor Options

Additional Certification Options in Elementary Education

Students interested in Early Childhood Education (birth-Grade 3) and/or English as a Second Language (grades K-12) may earn certification in these areas along with the completion of the K-9 program. It is also possible to combine K-9 Elementary Education with K-12 Special Education certification through the completion of this named option.

The Early Childhood Education (ECE) certification minor requires an additional 6 credits of required coursework, CURRIC 660 Foundations of Early Childhood Education, CURRIC 663 Learning Environments for Initial Education Programs, and only 3 credits of K-9 electives for a total of 63 credits. The K-9 professional sequence listed above will be modified to accommodate the ECE minor; see the ECE/K-9 Four Year Plan for this sequence.

The English as a Second Language (ESL) certification minor requires an additional 9 credits of required coursework, CURRIC 311 Language Acquisition and Use In and Out of Schools, CURRIC 338 Linguistics for Teachers, CURRIC 316 ESL/Bilingual Methods, and only 3 credits of K-9 electives for a total of 66 credits. The K-9 professional sequence listed above will be modified to accommodate the ESL minor; see the ESL/K-9 Four Year Plan for this sequence.

Certification in both Early Childhood Education and English as a Second Language requires the completion of the five additional required ECE and ESL courses listed above. These courses will fulfill the entire K-9 electives requirement for a total of 69 credits. The K-9 professional sequence listed above will be modified to accommodate both minors; see the ECE/ESL/K-9 Four Year Plan for this sequence.

Certification in both K-9 Elementary Education and K-12 Special Education requires the completion of the Kindergarten - 9th Grade/Special Education Kindergarten - 12th Grade Dual Certification named option; 70 credits are required.

Elementary Education: Sample Four-Year Plans

These sample four-year graduation plans reflect the certification options available to students completing a degree in Elementary Education. A plan is included for:

  • Kindergarten - Grade 9 Certification
  • Early Childhood Education/Kindergarten - Grade 9 Certifications
  • English as a Second Language/Kindergarten - Grade 9 Certifications
  • English as a Second Language/Early Childhood Education/Kindergarten - Grade 9 Certifications
  • Special Education Kindergarten - Grade 12/Kindergarten - Grade 9 Certifications

Four-year plans are designed to guide your course selection throughout your academic career; they do not establish a contractual agreement. Use them along with your DARS report and Course Search and Enroll to create a four-year plan reflecting your placement scores, incoming credits, and individual interests. Consult with an academic advisor to develop a personalized plan of study and refer to the Guide for a complete list of requirements. You will likely revise your plan several times during your academic career here, based on your activities and changing academic interests.

Kindergarten - Grade 9 Certification

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Communication A (fall or spring semester)3Communication A (fall or spring semester)3
Liberal Studies course work12-15Quantitative Reasoning A3
 Ethnic Studies3
 Liberal Studies course work6-9
 15 15
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Quantitative Reasoning B3Liberal Studies or General Elective course work15
Liberal Studies course work7 
Liberal Studies or General Elective course work5 
 15 15
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CURRIC 3123CURRIC 318 (Also meets Communication B)3
CURRIC 31913CURRIC 32013
CURRIC 33913CURRIC 3723
CURRIC/​RP & SE  40613CURRIC 5503
ED POL 300 or 412 (412 also meets U.S./European History)23CURRIC 3403
Required Program Elective 1 23 
 18 15
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CURRIC 3703CURRIC 4632
CURRIC 3713CURRIC 454 or 46410
CURRIC/​RP & SE  5063 
CURRIC 3673 
Required Program Elective 223 
 15 12
Total Credits 120
1

May be taken before semester 1 of the professional sequence, including prior to program admission.

2

May be taken any time before semester 4 of the professional sequence, including prior to program admission. Enrollment in either ED POL 300 or ED POL/​HISTORY  412 can follow this schedule. 

A minimum of 120 credits is still required to complete the degree.

Early Childhood Education/Kindergarten - Grade 9 Certifications

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Communication A (fall or spring semester)3Communication A (fall or spring semester)3
Liberal Studies course work9-12Quantitative Reasoning A3
 Ethnic Studies3
 Liberal Studies course work6-9
 12 15
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Quantitative Reasoning B3Liberal Studies or General Elective course work15
Liberal Studies course work10 
Liberal Studies or General Elective course work2 
 15 15
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CURRIC 3123CURRIC 318 (Also meets Communication B)3
CURRIC 31913CURRIC 32013
CURRIC 33913CURRIC 3723
CURRIC/​RP & SE  40613CURRIC 5503
CURRIC 66013CURRIC 3403
ED POL 300 or 412 (412 also meets U.S./European History)23Required Program Elective 23
 18 18
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CURRIC 3703CURRIC 4632
CURRIC 3713CURRIC 464 or 46810
CURRIC/​RP & SE  5063 
CURRIC 66323 
CURRIC 3673 
 15 12
Total Credits 120
1

May be taken before semester 1 of the professional sequence, including prior to program admission.

2

May be taken any time before semester 4 of the professional sequence, including prior to program admission. Enrollment in either ED POL 300 or ED POL/​HISTORY  412 can follow this schedule. 

A minimum of 120 credits is still required to complete the degree.

English as a Second Language/Kindergarten - Grade 9 Certifications

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Communication A (fall or spring semester)3Communication A (fall or spring semester)3
Liberal Studies course work9-12Quantitative Reasoning A3
 Ethnic Studies3
 Liberal Studies course work6-9
 12 15
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Quantitative Reasoning B3Liberal Studies or General Elective course work12
Liberal Studies course work7 
Liberal Studies or General Elective course work5 
 15 12
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CURRIC 3113CURRIC 318 (Also meets Communication B)3
CURRIC 3123CURRIC 32013
CURRIC 31913CURRIC 3383
CURRIC 33913CURRIC 3723
CURRIC/​RP & SE  40613CURRIC 5503
ED POL 300 or 412 (412 also meets U.S./European History)23CURRIC 3403
 18 18
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CURRIC 3163CURRIC 4632
CURRIC 3703CURRIC 454 or 46410
CURRIC 3713 
CURRIC/​RP & SE  5063 
CURRIC 3673 
Professional Program Elective23 
 18 12
Total Credits 120
1

May be taken before semester 1 of the professional sequence, including prior to program admission.

2

May be taken before semester 4 of the professional sequence, including prior to program admission. Enrollment in either ED POL 300 or ED POL/​HISTORY  412 can follow this schedule. 

A minimum of 120 credits is still required to complete the degree.

Early Childhood Education/English as a Second Language/Kindergarten - Grade 9 Certifications

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Communication A (fall or spring semester)3Communication A (fall or spring semester)3
Liberal Studies course work9-12Ethnic Studies3
 Quantitative Reasoning A
 Liberal Studies course work6-9
 12 15
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Quantitative Reasoning B3Liberal Studies or General Elective course work12
Liberal Studies or General Elective course work9 
 12 12
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CURRIC 3113CURRIC 318 (also meets Communication B)3
CURRIC 3123CURRIC 32013
CURRIC 31913CURRIC 3383
CURRIC 33913CURRIC 5503
CURRIC/​RP & SE  40613CURRIC 3713
CURRIC 66013CURRIC 3403
 18 18
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CURRIC 3163CURRIC 4632
CURRIC 3703Complete one of:10
CURRIC 3723
CURRIC/​RP & SE  5063
CURRIC 66323
CURRIC 3673ED POL 300 or 41223
 18 15
Total Credits 120
1

May be taken before semester 1 of the professional sequence, including prior to program admission.

2

CURRIC 663 may be taken before semester 4 of the professional sequence, including prior to program admission. ED POL 300 and ED POL/​HISTORY  412 may be taken at any time, including prior to program admission.

A minimum of 120 credits is still required to complete the degree.

Special Education Kindergarten - Grade 12/Kindergarten - Grade 9 Certifications

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Communication A (fall or spring semester)3Communication A (fall or spring semester)3
Liberal Studies course work9-12Quantitative Reasoning A3
 RP & SE 3003
 Liberal Studies course work5-8
 12 14
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Quantitative Reasoning B3Liberal Studies course work7
Ethnic Studies3Liberal Studies or General Elective course work5
Liberal Studies course work6 
 12 12
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CURRIC 31913CURRIC 318 (Also meets Communication B)3
RP & SE 33013CURRIC 32013
CURRIC/​RP & SE  40613RP & SE 4643
RP & SE 4653RP & SE 4723
CURRIC 5503RP & SE 4733
RP & SE 60513RP & SE 4763
 18 18
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
RP & SE/​CURRIC  3653CURRIC 4631
CURRIC 3713CURRIC 4647
CURRIC 3723RP & SE 4571
RP & SE 4663RP & SE 4777
RP & SE 5153 
CURRIC 3733 
 18 16
Total Credits 120
1

May be taken before semester 1 of the professional sequence, including prior to program admission.

A minimum of 120 credits is still required to complete the degree.