Elementary Education

专业介绍

Elementary Education graduates receive a bachelor’s degree, teacher certification in grades K-9, and an outstanding preparation to enter one of the most important careers ever: teaching children and youth! Our program prides itself on teaching educators to successfully work in a variety of grade levels and subject areas. Post-graduation job placement is exceptionally high.

The Elementary Education professional sequence is a two-year commitment, typically starting in the fall of the junior year, although some courses may be taken in the sophomore year. Coursework and field experiences lead to the capstone experience of student teaching.

Our graduates become teacher leaders committed to teaching all children effectively and advancing social and educational justice through classroom practices, personal interactions, and community engagement. Social justice is at the heart of our program, and our graduates are prepared to navigate the opportunities and complexities of our current educational system while also imagining and innovating beyond it. We teach research-based practices that assist teachers throughout their careers in education.

Students are encouraged to get involved as soon as they arrive on campus, and we have a variety of ways for this to happen. Many education-related courses are open to freshmen and sophomores. The School of Education’s Buddy Program, in which new students are paired with a junior or senior in the program, helps students find a supportive community on our Big Ten campus. Many students volunteer in local schools and community organizations, including Schools of Hope. We also welcome students to join our chapter of Aspiring Educators, a pre-professional educators association.

UW–Madison’s Elementary Education program educates teachers to recognize, appreciate, and value the wide range of gifts diverse students bring to our increasingly multicultural, complex world. It contends directly with issues of equity in education, and supports teachers in creating classroom conditions where all children can thrive. 

See what an Elementary Education professor and teacher candidate have to say about the Elementary Education Program at UW–Madison.