Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the UW-River Falls Program

1. Can I earn a general education License Birth through Eight?
2. Will I be able to teach in kindergarten?
3. Do I have to drive to River Falls to take the courses?
4. Are courses offered in summer or J-term?
5. How many extra semesters will it take to earn both the ECSE and the Birth through Age 8 certification endorsements?
6. Will I have to complete separate student teaching requirements for ECSE and Birth through Age 8?
7. Are there extra fees?
8. How do I get my textbooks?
9. Can I go to UW-Eau Claire or UW-River Falls to participate in courses?
10. If I have already completed my 809 license, do I register at Eau Claire for this dual program?
11. If I am doing the 083 as an add on licensure to my 809, and can only take one course per semester at the UW Eau-Claire campus, what order do you recommend that I take them?
12. If I am able to take two courses per semester, what is the recommended order?
13. What are the field experience demands?

Can I earn a general education License Birth through Eight?

If you are a Special Education student at UW-Eau Claire, you may earn general Education/Early Childhood certification endorsement for Birth through age 8 concurrently with earning certification endorsement for Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE). If you hold an 809 Special Education License you may earn certification for general early childhood licensure by taking designated courses through UW-RF. This is an add-on license only. If you have a Special Ed license, but not an 809 license, you may take the additional courses to earn this license at UW-Eau Claire concurrently with taking the general early childhood education courses at UW-RF.

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Will I be able to teach in kindergarten?

Yes, the general education/early childhood license qualifies the applicant to teach children birth through age 8.

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Do I have to drive to River Falls to take the courses?

No. Every required course is offered in a distance education format at least once per year and thus may be taken at either the UW-RF or UW-EC campus. All students will be expected to participate in one all-day workshop at UW-RF on communication skills in early childhood settings offered in February each year.

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Are courses offered in summer or J-term?

At this point, the only course offered each summer is TED 424/624 Inquiry: Society and Environment for Early Elementary. No January term courses are offered at this time. Other courses are offered Fall and Spring semesters. Thus, students enrolled in the dual program are encouraged to take courses in their major offered on their home campus in the summer to enable them to take more general early childhood courses during the year.

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How many extra semesters will it take to earn both the ECSE and the Birth through Age 8 certification endorsements?

If you join the dual program early enough to allow you to combine student teaching assignments, very little time will be added to the length of your program. You should probably allow an extra semester.

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Will I have to complete separate student teaching requirements for ECSE and Birth through Age 8?

Not necessarily. You may combine your student teaching experiences by working in inclusive classrooms, providing you have completed all the necessary prerequisites for both programs prior to placement.

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Are there extra fees?

All students will be charged textbook rental and course material fees as appropriate. Students who take UW-RF courses on the UW-Eau Claire campus will also be charged a distance education fee instead of segregated (campus) fees, and therefore are not eligible for UW-RF student health services.

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How do I get my textbooks?

For all students taking undergraduate courses, there is a fee for textbook loan which is considerably less than purchasing the text. The fee is not optional; if you happen to own the text for a course, you are not exempt from this fee. You will have the option to buy the text at the end of the course. Textbooks are delivered to the Eau Claire Site prior to the beginning of each semester and collected during the final week of the semester. A textbook cannot be issued for a student until he/she is enrolled in the class. Books for graduate courses may be purchased through our campus bookstore, which is separate from the textbook loan office.

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Can I go to UW-Eau Claire or UW-River Falls to participate in courses?

You may participate in courses from either site.

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If I have already completed my 809 license, do I register at Eau Claire for this dual program?

If you are a post-baccalaureate and hold the 809 license, you need to register at UW-RF. However, you may take the UW-RF courses at the Eau Claire campus.

If I am doing the Birth through Eight General Education as an add on licensure to my 809, and can only take one course per semester at the UW Eau-Claire campus, what order do you recommend that I take them?

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If I am able to take two courses per semester, what is the recommended order?

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What are the field experience demands?

TED 330, Infant/Toddler Programs meets only once per week for two hours although it is a 3 credit course. The additional credit time is earned by spending two hours per week for nine weeks in a group infant/toddler (lab) setting to observe and assist as appropriate. This is an essential format for undergraduates. Alternatives for experienced early childhood caregivers working full time and already holding License 809 can be negotiated with the instructor.

TED 340, PreK Curriculum, and TED 335, Kindergarten Curriculum, each require 12 classroom hours for observation, assistance and to gain experience giving two lessons.

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