Teacher Education Programs program
Undergrad major Teaching/CertificationPursue your dream to teach.
Few professions offer the challenges, satisfactions and rewards that are available as a teacher. Your individuality and creativity are cultivated in the exciting process of creating opportunities for children and adolescents to learn, and you have the joy of watching this process in action every day.
UW-La Crosse's School of Education strives to become a leader in the preparation of globally-responsive teachers who demonstrate a profound respect for the dignity of all learners.
| Program | Certified to teach |
| Early childhood education | birth-grade 3 |
| Elementary and middle school education | grades K-9 |
| Middle and high school education | grades 4-12 |
| Art, Music, World Language, Physical Education/Health, Special Education, TESOL | grades K-12 |
UWL helped me to think globally. Faculty members in my programs encouraged hands-on engagement with people at the ESL Institute and in local immigrant communities. These interactions gave me insight in differing world views and shared international challenges.
Benjamin Levelius
Teaching jobs
Well-prepared teachers are in high demand in Wisconsin and across the nation. State educator effectiveness data show that novice teachers who are UWL graduates exceed the Wisconsin averages in performance in virtually every category. Graduates of UWL’s teacher education programs enjoy near 100% job placement rates due to exceptional preparation, advising and support from university faculty and staff.
UWL students are well prepared through active collaboration with local school districts. UWL leads the state in the scope and depth of our collaborative relationships with area schools and districts, and we promote leadership and confidence in our education majors as they assume increasing autonomy in the PK12 classroom throughout their clinical experiences.
Entry-level careers
- Elementary, middle or high school teacher
- Kindergarten teacher
- Pre-school or head start teacher
- Infant/toddler teacher
- Salesperson with educational publisher
Program requirements
Students must apply for admission to any teacher education program. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and individual programs have specific criteria that must be met for admission. The process of applying to a teacher education program is described on the UWL School of Education webpage. Students are also required to disclose past criminal offenses and complete a criminal background check.
Options to pursue in teaching at UW-La Crosse
By completing general education requirements, teacher education requirements, and benchmark assessments for the major in ECE, candidates may be certified to teach students from birth to grade 3. Candidates complete over 1000 hours of immersive, authentic clinical experiences in early childhood-grade 3 settings. Candidates are prepared to teach in public, private, and parochial elementary schools, as well as early childhood education settings. Candidates are prepared to provide instruction in all regular education curriculum areas: reading and language arts, general science, mathematics, and social studies.
By completing general education requirements, teacher education requirements for the elementary and middle school education major, and benchmark assessments, candidates may be certified to teach students in grades K-9. Candidates may also choose majors that lead to one or multiple certifications:
- Elementary/Middle Education (grades K-9)
- Elementary/Middle Education (grades K-9) & Special Education (grades K-12)
- Elementary/Middle Education (grades K-9) & Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (grades K-12)
- Elementary/Middle Education (grades K-9) & French Education (grades K-12)
- Elementary/Middle Education (grades K-9) & Spanish Education (grades K-12)
All candidates complete over 1000 hours of immersive, authentic clinical experiences in grade K-9 classrooms. Candidates are prepared to teach in public, private, and parochial elementary and middle schools. Candidates are prepared to provide instruction and assessment in all curricular areas: reading and language arts, general science, mathematics, and social studies.
Candidates for the Special Education (grades K-12) license also complete clinical experiences in special education settings. Candidates are prepared to teach in public, private, and parochial schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, in programs that provide services to pupils with intellectual, emotional-behavioral, specific learning, or other disabilities.
Candidates for the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (grades K-12) license also complete clinical experiences in settings with English learners. Candidates are prepared to teach English as a second language in public, private, and parochial schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
Candidates for the French or Spanish (grades K-12) licenses also complete clinical experiences in settings with French or Spanish language learners and a language immersion experience. Candidates are prepared to teach regular education in immersion settings, and to teach French or Spanish language in public, private, and parochial schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
Students selecting this program option must complete a major aligned with their chosen licensure area. Candidates are prepared to teach in public, private, and parochial middle and high schools. By completing general education requirements, teacher education requirements, major content area requirements, and benchmark assessments, candidates are prepared to teach students in grades 4-12 in their content area. Candidates complete over 1000 hours of immersive, authentic clinical experiences in middle and high school classrooms.
Majors (Licensure area bolded):
- Broad Field Social Studies Education
- Broad Field Social Studies Education: History Concentration
- Broad Field Social Studies Education: Political Science Concentration
- Broad Field Social Studies Education: Sociology Concentration
- Biology – Science Education Emphasis
- Chemistry – Science Education Emphasis
- Physics – Science Education Emphasis
- English Education
- Mathematics Education
Students selecting this program option must complete a major aligned with their chosen licensure area. Candidates are prepared to teach in public, private, and parochial elementary, middle, and high schools. By completing general education requirements, teacher education requirements, major content area requirements, and benchmark assessments, candidates are prepared to teach students in grades K-12 in their content area. Candidates complete nearly 1000 hours of immersive, authentic clinical experiences in K-12 classrooms. Candidates for the French or Spanish (grades K-12) licenses also complete a language immersion experience.
Majors (Licensure area bolded):
- Art Education
- French Education
- French Education & Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
- Music Education – Choral & General Music Emphasis
- Music Education – Instrumental & General Music Emphasis
- Physical, Adapted, and School Health Education (PASHE)
- Spanish Education
- Spanish Education & Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
View all programs
uwlax.edu/academics
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