Elementary Education

The Early Childhood minor is designed to acquaint the student with developmentally appropriate practices for children from birth through age 8. The minor prepares students with the professional knowledge, understanding, and skills necessary for designing programs to foster the growth and development of children during the period of early childhood.

The minor is excellent preparation for students interested in Education (e.g., early childhood, administration, parent education), in Law (e.g., Child and Family advocacy), Social Service (e.g., family casework, child welfare, licensing, child protection, child policy) or in various health related areas (e.g., pediatrics, nursing, Child Life Specialist) involving children. It is also appropriate for students who are interested in gaining a broader understanding of children and families in contemporary society.

An Early Childhood Education minor would lead to licensure for grades PK-6 (age birth through age 12). This would allow you to work in early childhood/head start programs, 3K, 4K and preschool classrooms.

The Special Education minor prepares students to teach individuals with a variety of disabilities and to interact effectively with children and family systems. Students will have an emphasis in one of the following areas: Specific Learning Disability, Emotional Behavioral Disorder, or Cognitive Disability. Topics include: special education services and methods; individual educational assessment and IEP development; national, state and local policies; special education models, theories and philosophies; the academic, social, emotional and behavioral development of children; and more.  

A Special Education minor would lead to licensure in grades 1-8 (age 6 through age 13-14) and grades 6-8 (age 12 through age 13-14) in a special education class setting. This licensable minor would be a cross categorical license allowing one to teach individuals with a variety of disabilities.

Students will gain a comprehensive background in biology and can conduct research using the latest techniques. The Biology program is strengthened by the environmental resources of the Lake Superior region and by close working relationships with regional research laboratories. Field and laboratory research experience and internships are provided through cooperation with UW-Superior's Lake Superior Research Institute, Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and faculty research grants.

A Biology Education major leads to licensure in grades 5-12 (EA-A, ages 10-21) and would allow one to teach classes like biology, life science and other natural science classes.

Students will gain an understanding of the central concepts, institutional practices and assessments of English/Language Arts. Coursework for the major includes a range of literary periods and genres, as well as courses in writing, film, and rhetoric. Students can also delve into topics such as: acting for theatre; British, American or world literature; literature by women; nonfiction literature; and German and Spanish language.

A Broad Field Language Arts Education major leads to licensure in grades 5-12 (EA-A, ages 10-21) and would allow one to teach classes like creative writing, English, public speaking, communication and other language arts classes.

Students will cover several branches of science, including biology, chemistry, Earth science, geology and physics. 

The Broad Field Science Program broadly trains students in the sciences. It is especially well-suited for students interested in teaching science at the Early Adolescence-Adolescence Level. This major leads to licensure in grades 5-12 (EA-A, ages 10-21) and would allow one to teach classes in the sciences.

Students will analyze chemical compounds, evaluate the properties of elements and study the intricacies of how they interact and react. Additionally, students will learn how to create and implement experiments while collaboratively engaging with other students and faculty.

A Chemistry Education major leads to licensure in grades 5-12 (EA-A, ages 10-21) and would allow one to teach chemistry classes.

The Broad Field Social Studies major prepares students to teach in their area of concentration and to teach "fusion" courses. Fusion courses are defined as those that integrate several social studies disciplines and require composite preparation in social studies. Civics, social problems, American problems, area studies, and contemporary issues are examples of fusion courses.

A Broad Field Social Studies Education major leads to licensure in grades 5-12 (EA-A, ages 10-21) and would allow one to teach classes like civics, world history, economics and other social studies classes. Students choose a concentration in either Political Science or History to teach those subjects at the 11th or 12th grades and advanced placement (AP) courses.

Through the study of nonfiction and fiction literature, poetry, novels, and short stories, students will evaluate, critique, and discuss writers such as Chaucer, Shakespeare, Plath, Huxley and others. Students will be able to thoughtfully analyze and interpret literary texts, and comprehend major texts and traditions of language and literatures. The English Secondary Education major contains a concentration in English literature.

An English Secondary Education major leads to licensure in grades 5-12 (EA-A, ages 10-21) and would allow one to teach literature and composition-based courses.

Through courses that cover anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology and sociology, students will engage an increasingly diverse and interconnected world. By studying various world regions, and the connections among them, students gain a better sense of their own place in the world and develop the knowledge and skills to navigate an increasingly complex future.

A History Education major would leads to licensure in grades 5-12 (EA-A, ages 10-21) and would allow one to teach history classes.

Mathematics has long been regarded as science in its purest form. As the foundation for all applied sciences, business, economics, and computer programming, mathematics serves as the cornerstone for our changing society. The concepts and applications of computation, cryptography, abstract algebra, and mathematical proofs will engage and challenge students’ minds and critical thinking skills, stretching their understanding of formal mathematics.

A Math Education major leads to licensure in grades 5-12 (EA-A, ages 10-21) and would allow one to teach math classes like geometry, algebra 1 & 2, calculus and other math courses.

Students will gain a comprehensive background in biology and can conduct research using the latest techniques. The Biology program is strengthened by the environmental resources of the Lake Superior region and by close working relationships with regional research laboratories. Field and laboratory research experience and internships are provided through cooperation with UW-Superior's Lake Superior Research Institute, Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and faculty research grants.

A Biology Education minor would lead to licensure in grades 5-12 and would allow one to teach classes like biology, life science and other natural science classes.

Students will analyze chemical compounds, evaluate the properties of elements and study the intricacies of how they interact and react. Additionally, students will learn how to create and implement experiments while collaboratively engaging with other students and faculty.

A Chemistry Education minor would lead to licensure in grades 5-12 and would allow one to teach chemistry classes.

Through the study of nonfiction and fiction literature, poetry, novels, and short stories, students will evaluate, critique, and discuss writers such as Chaucer, Shakespeare, Plath, Huxley and others. Students will be able to thoughtfully analyze and interpret literary texts, and comprehend major texts and traditions of language and literatures.

An English Education minor would lead to licensure in grades 5-12 and would allow one to teach English classes.

Students will cover topics including: nutrition; human structure and function; mental health and stress management; human sexuality; disease prevention and control; drugs, health and human behavior; responding to emergencies and safety education, and more.

A Health minor would lead to licensure in grades 1-8 (age 6 through age 13-14) and would allow you to teach elementary school and middle school health. 

The concepts and applications of computation, cryptography, abstract algebra, and mathematical proofs engage and challenge students’ minds and critical thinking skills, stretching their understanding of formal mathematics.

A Math Education minor would lead to licensure in grades 5-12 and would allow one to teach math classes like geometry, algebra 1 & 2, calculus and other math courses.

Active citizenship is the foundation of the Political Science program at UW-Superior. We offer courses that are designed to create students who can study the roots of problems, formulate creative solutions to existing local, state, national and international problems, and develop strategies that ultimately address and solve them.

A Political Science Education minor would lead to licensure in grades 5-12 and would allow one to teach political science classes.

Sociology students examine all aspects of human society, from how it develops and functions to how it's structured. Students explore and analyze selected contemporary social issues relevant to the global community from a historical and sociological perspective, including courses in environmental sociology, global social problems, race and ethnicity, sociology of gender, and social change.

A Sociology Education minor would lead to licensure in grades 5-12 and would allow one to teach sociology classes. 

Special education teachers work with students who have a wide range of learning, mental, emotional and physical disabilities. They adapt general education lessons and teach various subjects, such as reading, writing and math, to students with mild and moderate disabilities. They also teach basic skills, such as literacy and communication techniques, to students with severe disabilities.

A Special Education minor would lead to licensure in grades 5-12. This licensable minor would be a cross-categorical license allowing one to teach individuals with a variety of disabilities.

Students are provided a background in art education, children's artistic development, and program planning and evaluation in art for the elementary school child. Students will also learn how to develop lessons and units in art.

An Art Education major would lead to licensure from grades K-12 and would allow students to teach art classes at any age level.

Our long-standing reputation for training highly-qualified music educators is evidenced by our near-100% job placement rate and the quality of music programs led by our alumni. Music Education students are involved in hands-on teaching of young musicians, guest conduct college ensembles, and perform a wide variety of music on their major instrument or voice. One-on-one lessons are offered to students. Two degree programs are offered: Instrumental/General and Choral/General.

A Music Education major would lead to either choral/general or instrumental/general licensure from grades K-12 and would allow students to teach either choral or instrumental classes such as band, orchestra or choir at any age level.

Physical Education students will gain an understanding of the seven dimensions of wellness: physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual, career, social and environmental. The program fosters the intellectual growth of all students concerning wellness for life, and develops critical thinking skills, positive attitudes, and personal responsibility in all students toward leading productive and healthy lifestyles.

A Physical Education major would lead to physical education licensure from grades K-12 and would allow students to teach physical education classes at any age level.