Admissions to the Elementary Education: Kindergarten - 9th Grade/Special Education Kindergarten - 12th Grade Dual Certification have been suspended as of fall 2023 and will be discontinued as of summer 2025. If you have any questions, please contact the department.
Requirements
The Elementary Education Kindergarten - 9th Grade/Special Education Kindergarten - 12th Grade option requires 70 credits of professional coursework in addition to other degree requirements. RP & SE 300 Individuals with Disabilities must also be completed prior to beginning the professional sequence.
The option coursework listed here is one component of the Elementary Education, BSE degree requirements.
Individuals with Disabilities - Prerequisite for Program Admission
This course must be completed by the end of the summer of the application year, before beginning the professional course sequence.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| RP & SE 300 | Individuals with Disabilities | 3 |
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 other requirements may be completed prior to beginning the sequence.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 (Fall) | ||
| CURRIC 319 | Pedagogical Content Knowledge for Teaching Elementary Mathematics 1 1 | 3 |
| RP & SE 330 | Behavior Analysis: Applications to Persons with Disabilities 1 | 3 |
| CURRIC/RP & SE 406 | Race, Intersectionality, and Equity in Education 1 | 3 |
| RP & SE 465 | Language and Reading Instruction for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| CURRIC 550 | Methods, Materials and Activities in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| RP & SE 605 | Development, Learning and Education Foundations in Special Education 1 | 3 |
| Semester 2 (Spring) | ||
| CURRIC 318 | Teaching Reading and Writing | 3 |
| CURRIC 320 | Pedagogical Content Knowledge for Teaching Elementary Mathematics 2 1 | 3 |
| RP & SE 464 | Diagnosis, Assessment, and Instructional Planning in Special Education | 3 |
| RP & SE 472 | Methods in Transition and Vocational Education | 3 |
| RP & SE 473 | Classroom Management for Inclusive Classrooms | 3 |
| RP & SE 476 | Special Education Practicum: Secondary (Grades 4-12) | 3 |
| Semester 3 (Fall) | ||
| RP & SE/CURRIC 365 | Teaching Mathematics in Inclusive Settings | 3 |
| CURRIC 371 | Teaching Social Studies | 3 |
| CURRIC 372 | Teaching Science | 3 |
| RP & SE 466 | Diversity in Special Education | 3 |
| RP & SE 515 | Access to the General Curriculum for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| CURRIC 373 | Elementary Teaching Practicum III | 3 |
| Semester 4 (Spring) | ||
| CURRIC 463 | Seminar in Elementary Education | 1 |
| CURRIC 464 | Student Teaching in the Elementary School | 7 |
| RP & SE 457 | Elementary Student Teaching Seminar - Elementary/Special Education Dual Major | 1 |
| RP & SE 477 | Special Education Student Teaching: Elementary (PK - Grade 9) | 7 |
- 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.
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. For more details about the requirements of each minor, choose from the links below.
Minor Options
Four-Year Plan
Elementary Education
Kindergarten - 9th Grade/Special Education K-12 Dual Certification
This four-year sample graduation plan is designed to guide your course selection throughout your academic career; it does not establish a contractual agreement. Use it 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.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Communication A (fall or spring semester) | 3 | Communication A (fall or spring semester) | 3 |
| Liberal Studies course work | 9-12 | Quantitative Reasoning A | 3 |
| RP & SE 300 | 3 | ||
| Liberal Studies course work | 5-8 | ||
| 12 | 14 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Quantitative Reasoning B | 3 | Liberal Studies course work | 7 |
| Ethnic Studies | 3 | Liberal Studies or General Elective course work | 5 |
| Liberal Studies course work | 6 | ||
| 12 | 12 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CURRIC 3191 | 3 | CURRIC 318 (Also meets Communication B) | 3 |
| RP & SE 3301 | 3 | CURRIC 3201 | 3 |
| CURRIC/RP & SE 4061 | 3 | RP & SE 464 | 3 |
| CURRIC 550 | 3 | RP & SE 472 | 3 |
| RP & SE 465 | 3 | RP & SE 473 | 3 |
| RP & SE 6051 | 3 | RP & SE 476 | 3 |
| 18 | 18 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| RP & SE/CURRIC 365 | 3 | CURRIC 463 | 1 |
| CURRIC 371 | 3 | CURRIC 464 | 7 |
| CURRIC 372 | 3 | RP & SE 457 | 1 |
| RP & SE 466 | 3 | RP & SE 477 | 7 |
| RP & SE 515 | 3 | ||
| CURRIC 373 | 3 | ||
| 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.