Teacher Education Programs program

Undergrad major Teacher license

Pursue 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 is 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

Faculty members in my programs encouraged hands-on engagement with people at the English as a Second Language Institute and in local immigrant communities. UWL helped me to think globally.

Benjamin Levelius

Teaching jobs

Well-prepared teachers are in high demand in Wisconsin and across the nation. State educator effectiveness data show that UWL graduates exceed the Wisconsin averages in performance in virtually every category as new teachers. 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 PK-12 classroom throughout their clinical experiences.

Options to pursue in teaching at UW-La Crosse

Early childhood education - birth - grade 3

Candidates will be certified to teach students from birth to grade 3. Candidates complete over 1,000 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.

Elementary and middle school education - grades K-9

Candidates will be certified to teach students in grades K-9. They complete general education requirements, teacher education requirements for the elementary and middle school education major, and benchmark assessments. 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 1,000 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), Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (grades K-12), French Education (grades K-12) or Spanish Education (grades K-12) licenses also complete clinical experiences in these licensure areas.

Middle and high school education - grades 4-12 - Secondary teacher preparation

Candidates will 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

K-12 Education

Candidates will 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

QR Code for https://www.uwlax.edu/academics/teacher-education-programs/

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.