Faculty advisors: Professor Peter Hewson, 226D Teacher Education Building, 263-4639, pwhewson@facstaff.wisc.edu; Professor James Stewart, 226C Teacher Education, 263-4638, jhstewar@facstaff.wisc.edu; Professor John Rudolph, 226A Teacher Education, 265-3431, jlrudolp@facstaff.wisc.edu. Students not yet admitted to this program should consult with advising staff at Education Academic Services (EAS), Rust-Schreiner Halls, 115 North Orchard Street, 262-1651.
Completion of the Broad Field (Natural) Science major leads to licensing in two areas: the minor and Broad Field Science. The minor subject area (e.g., Biology, Physics) will be listed separately on the teaching license and can be taught as a separate subject in the classroom. The Broad Field license permits individuals to teach courses in grades 6-12 that are not specifically titled physics, chemistry, biology, or earth science. Options may also exist for graduates to add licenses in additional science subject areas. The flexibility of this major is particularly helpful in junior high and middle school settings where courses such as "Life Science" or "General Science" are common elements of the curriculum.
Complete 6 credits of Mathematics or Statistics, or any college level Math, excluding 120-132. This is supporting course work, will not be calculated in the major credits or grade point average for graduation, and cannot count toward program admission. This course work should be incorporated into the Liberal Studies requirements where possible.
Complete a minimum of 59 credits in science courses. The credits required for program admission must be chosen from upper-level major course work (Chem 221, 223; Physics 205, 241; all other courses numbered 300-699) must be taken in residence on the UW-Madison campus. Note: Students should consult with a science faculty advisor as soon as possible to discuss the selection of major course work.
Students completing a minor in Physics, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, or Biology as part of the Broad Field Science major may wish to expand the minor into a major, thus completing a double major. The completion of a double major with Natural Science affords the opportunity to master one content area while developing the breadth of understanding associated with the Broad Field major. A major in one of the above disciplines may benefit students interested in graduate school or those wishing to teach primarily in one subject.