UW-Superior revises education programs to align with new Wisconsin licensing requirements
In response to recent educator licensing changes made by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), the University of Wisconsin-Superior’s Department of Education has announced changes to two of its degree programs. UW-Superior is one of the first institutions to receive formal approval from DPI for programs that align to the new licensure requirements.
UW-Superior’s elementary education major will now lead to a K-9 teaching license. Prior to the changes, the program led to licensure for either Early Childhood to Middle Childhood (EC-MC, birth-6th grade) or Middle Childhood to Early Adolescence (MC-EA, grades 1-8) and required an early childhood education or subject minor. The program changes will now more easily allow students to complete their degree in four years and will apply to the on-campus and online formats. The license changes made by the DPI are intended to broaden the grades and subjects students are licensed to teach in an effort to address the teacher shortage in the state and across the nation.
Students will be able to enroll in the new Elementary Education K-9 program immediately to begin classes as early as the Fall ’20 semester. All of UW-Superior’s existing undergraduate teacher programs remain approved by Wisconsin DPI and can continue to admit students through August 2023. Students in the current Elementary Education EC-MC or MC-EA programs will be able to complete their existing program or opt to transition to the new K-9 program.
“After much time and effort by our faculty and staff in redesigning our programs, we are excited to share our new Elementary Education K-9 program with the community. This will allow students to earn a teaching license in fewer credits, saving them time and money,” said Mary Churchill, chair of the UWS Department of Education. “It also gives students more flexibility in their employment after graduation, something that will also help school districts fill their classrooms with quality teachers more easily.”
The newly designed Elementary Education K-9 program will include curriculum changes, such as the addition of a children’s literature course and expanded existing courses to cover the license’s new age ranges. The new K-9 program also provides opportunities for students to take elective courses.
UW-Superior has also received approval from the Wisconsin DPI for changes to its online Education Specialist in Educational Administration – Superintendent/District Administrator program. Beginning Sept. 1, graduates of the program will receive a PK-12 superintendent license.
“The new Ed Specialist program continues a UW-Superior tradition of providing high quality superintendents to Wisconsin and the surrounding areas,” said Churchill. “Its online format is perfect for working, educational professionals from around the state.”
While the UW-Superior programs are designed to align with Wisconsin state licensure requirements, many students apply for licenses in other states, such as Michigan and Minnesota. Students are urged to check with their state’s Department of Education to determine if there are additional requirements.
The UW-Superior has been training educators since its inception in 1893. The education programs have steadily increased in enrollment, bucking state and national trends, and are among the largest offered at the university with 586 enrolled in undergraduate programs and 265 in graduate programs in Fall 2019.
For more information about UW-Superior education programs, visit uwsuper.edu/education.
