UW-River Falls Academic Plan

Welcome . . .

to the beginning of your journey in the teaching profession. You have selected one of the premier teacher preparation institutions in the nation, an institution rated by the National Education Association as one of the top ten in the country, and one of only three recognized for the quality of all its programs. Our programs are accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation for Teacher Education (NCATE), approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, and meet all the standards established by national professional organizations.

Department of Teacher Education
257 Wyman Education Building
(715) 425-3230

Goals and objectives

The College of Education is committed to excellence in the preparation and continuing education of teachers at all levels. The elementary education major offers undergraduate students a unique program which coordinates their academic course work with a broad range of teaching experiences in preschools, elementary and middle level schools. In keeping with the mission of the university, our students are immersed in working partnerships with "real" schools, teachers and children. This allows them to apply their knowledge and decision-making skills as they learn them in their classes. It is our goal to educate future teachers who are aware of the rewards and challenges involved in elementary education and are prepared to become contributing members of that learning community upon graduation.

Program

The four-year curriculum leading to the bachelor’s degree in elementary education is designed to prepare teachers for elementary schools, grades 1-8 (middle childhood through early adolescence). The program consists of a minimum of 132 semester hours that give students a broad general education, professional preparation for effective teaching at the elementary education level and special preparation in an academic minor. Upon completion of these requirements, the elementary education major is certifiable for middle childhood-early adolescence. Addition of the early childhood minor meets requirements for pre-k and kindergarten certification.

Admission to teacher education is required the semester prior to enrolling in the Block sequence. See the college web page http://www.uwrf.edu/college-of-education/ for a complete list of requirements for admission and current admission deadline dates. Students spend three days per week for two semesters at public schools with innovative instructional programs. The techniques blocks involve two semesters of the junior year and includes the following courses:
Block I: TED 312, 315, 317 12 cr. hrs.
Block II: TED 310, 311, 316 12 cr. hrs.

Faculty

The elementary education faculty consists of nine full-time faculty members who have expertise in the areas of reading, mathematics, language arts, science, social studies, early childhood, elementary and middle level curriculum, and who have extensive experience in elementary classrooms. All faculty serve as academic advisors and as supervisors in the prestudent teaching and student teaching field experiences. This provides students the opportunity for one-to-one interactions with their elementary education professors throughout the course of their program.

Additional Opportunities

UWRF is an active member of the Consortium for Overseas Student Teaching (COST), an association that places education students in schools in foreign countries to fulfill student teaching requirements. To be eligible, you must complete the first nine weeks of your student teaching in the United States and apply for both USA and overseas student teaching one year in advance of the intended student teaching semester. All UWRF standard eligibility requirements must be met. Those accepted will have demonstrated above average ability, good character, flexibility, and strong motivation.

Bachelor of Science Degree. Elementary Education: Middle Childhood-Early Adolescence.
Academic Advising Plan.

This suggested plan of study shows how the undergraduate degree in elementary education may be completed within 8 semesters with a total accumulation of 132 credits. Courses are also offered during summer sessions to reduce credit loads during the Fall and Spring semesters.

Semester 1 (Fall)

GE Goal I ENGL 100 Academic Reading/Writing ~ 3
GE Goal II ART 100 Introduction to Art ~ 3
GE Goal II Social or Behavioral Science ~ 3
GE Goal III Laboratory Science ~ 3
GE Goal V Ethical Citizenship ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 15

Semester 5 (Fall)

HEAL 361 Methods and Materials in Health for the Elementary Teacher ~ 3
MUS 350 Music for Elementary Teachers ~ 2
GE Goal IV Multidisciplinary Course ~ 3
Minor course 3 of 8 ~ 3
Minor course 4 of 8 ~ 3
Minor course 5 of 8 ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 17

Semester 2 (Spring)

GE Goal I CSTA 101 Fundamentals of Speech ~ 3
GE Goal I ENGL 200 Investigating Ideas ~ 3
GE Goal II HIST 100 Defining Themes in US History 3
GE Goal II MUS 100 Understanding Music ~ 3
GE Goal III Science Course ~ 3
GE Goal V P ED 108 Health and Fitness for Life ~ 1
Total semester credits ~ 16

Semester 6 (Spring)

TED 312 Techniques in Elem. Ed.: Science ~ 4
TED 315 Techniques in Elementary Ed.: Math ~ 4
TED 316 Developmental Reading ~ 4
Minor course 6 of 8 ~ 3
Minor course 7 of 8 ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 18

Semester 3 (Fall)

MATH 246 Math for Elementary Teachers I ~ 4
TED 155 Introduction to Technology Integration ~ 2
TED 211 Educational Psychology ~ 5
TED 255 Reading Guidance for Children ~ 3
GE Goal V PE Lifetime Activity 1 of 2 ~ .5
GE Goal V PE Lifetime Activity 2 of 2 ~ .5
Global Diversity Course (G) ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 18

Summer (year three)

TED 420 School and Society ~ 3

Semester 7 (Fall)

TED 310 Techniques in Elem. Ed.: Lang Arts ~ 4
TED 311 Techniques in Elem. Ed.: Soc. Studies ~ 4
TED 317 Reading Practicum ~ 4
Minor course 8 of 8 ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 17

Semester 4 (Spring)

ART 250 Art in the Schools ~ 2
MATH 247 Math for Elementary Teachers II ~ 4
P ED 326 Techniques in Physical Education
for the Elementary School Teacher ~ 2
TED 252 Foundations of Multicultural Education ~ 3
Minor course 1 of 8 ~ 3
Minor course 2 of 8 ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 17

Semester 8 (Spring)

TED 472 Student Teaching ~ 12
Total semester credits ~ 12

Summer Offerings:

TED 420 School and Society ~ 3

Summary of Degree Requirements

General Education ~ 39 cr.
University Requirements ~ 3 cr.
Major ~ 46 cr.
Required Courses ~ 25 cr.
Minor ~ 24 cr.
Credits to Degree ~ 137 cr.

Students must maintain a 2.75 GPA from admittance
through certification in this program.

PDF version

Updated December 2007

This academic plan is an example of how students might choose to fulfill program requirements within a period of four years. After consulting with their advisers students may make other course choices which would meet the program requirements and be more suitable for them.

Minor areas recommended for additional licensing include:
Dance, Foreign Language, Health Education, Mathematics,
Language Arts/Reading, Social Studies, Science, TESOL

Other acceptable minors are:
Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, Communicative Disorders, Communication Studies, Computer Science, Earth Science, Economics, English, Geography, History, Journalism.