Secondary Education

Certification for Initial Licensure

College of Education and Professional Studies

Who Should Enroll

Individuals with baccalaureate degrees who are seeking initial certification as secondary school teachers in one of the following areas of specialization:

• Literature, communication and language
• Fine arts
• Mathematics
• Social sciences
• Sciences (biology, chemistry, geology/earth science, or physics)
• Communicative disorders
• Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

State certification standards are not identical for all areas of specialization, may vary from state to state, and may change for a given state. To ensure that standards are met, students should consult with an academic advisor in the College of Education and Professional Studies, as well as their content area adviser.

Key Features

• Students select their area of specialization
• Meets certification requirements of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (external site), including a portfolio.

Program Curriculum

Specialization in selected content area (see list above), 14-15 credits
SPED 530 The Exceptional Child, 3 credits
TED 740* History/Philosophy/Multicultural Foundations of American Education, 4 credits
TED 745* Psychology of Teaching, 6 credits (requires field experience during the school day)
READ 622* Content Area Literacy in Middle and Secondary Schools, 3 credits
TED 623 Writing, Listening and Speaking in the Content Area, 3 credits

Content Area Study* (varies by department), 3-8 graduate credits

TED Techniques (in area of specialization), 3 credits
Student Teaching or TED 475 Intern Teaching, 12 credits

Intern teachers are licensed by the state in which they teach and are paid a partial salary by the school district. They are responsible for a partial teaching load and work closely with an established teacher for one semester. Because of this teacher-intern requirement, early and close liaison with the Director of Student Teaching is strongly recommended.

Certification in two areas requires a techniques course and student teaching in both areas.

For licensure, candidates must complete the program with a minimum GPA of 3.0.

*These courses may also be applied to a master of science degree in secondary education (emphasis in Fine Arts, Math or Science). Students should consult with an advisor and send a written request to change their academic plan before taking additional courses toward a degree (see How to Apply).

Admission Requirements

• Completed application for graduate study at UW-RF with application processing fee.
• An earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
• Official transcripts from all institutions attended as an undergraduate student, sent directly to Graduate Studies from the institution.
• An overall undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.75 (on a four-point scale) or an average of at least 2.90 based on the last 60 semester credits (90 quarter credits) of the undergraduate program.
• The equivalent of a major or strong minor in the content area.
• Passing scores in the PRAXIS II Examination in their content area.
• May be required to take undergraduate or graduate courses to meet academic deficiencies.

For More Information

Contact Dr. Geoffrey Scheurman, Graduate (Initial Certification) Coordinator
E-mail: geoffrey.scheurman@uwrf.edu

Please contact your adviser for information regarding Wisconsin DPI portfolio requirements.