School of Education
Broad Field (Natural) Science Discipline-Related and Major Requirements
Faculty advisor: Professor John Rudolph, 226A Teacher Education, 265-3431, jlrudolp@wisc.edu. Students not yet admitted to this program should consult with advising staff at Education Academic Services (EAS), Room 139 Education Building, 1000 Bascom Mall, 608-262-1651.
IMPORTANT: The secondary education faculty members are restructuring their teacher certification programs at UW-Madison. These programs are moving to post-baccalaureate certification, which means that students will only be certified to teach these subjects through graduate-level work in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. The current undergraduate teacher licensing programs will be discontinued and certification will no longer be offered at the undergraduate level. Students will begin the new graduate programs in summer 2015.
The affected programs are English, Mathematics, Social Studies (Broad Field Social Studies, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology), and Science (Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, Broad Field/Natural Science, and Physics).
The last group of undergraduates will be admitted to the current professional programs in fall 2013. The application period for this admission period will extend from October 2012 to February 1, 2013.
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.
Broad Field Science Discipline-Related Course Work
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.
Broad Field Major Requirements
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.
- 24 credits in one of four fields: Biology (botany, zoology); Chemistry; Physics; or Earth and Space Science (astronomy, geoscience, atmospheric and oceanic sciences, physical geography). This usually represents the course requirements for the field minor. Where the field minor is less than 24 credits, students must choose electives to total 24 credits. See a Science faculty advisor for specific course work in the earth science area. It is strongly recommended that 14 credits in the 24-credit area be in upper-level courses.
- 14 credits in another of the fields listed above. Students are encouraged to select a subject area that is of particular interest, as many students choose to pursue certification in this area by completing the minor, 24-27 credits.
- One full-year course (minimum 8 credits) in each of the two remaining fields. For Earth and Space Science, see the Earth and Space Science major.
- 5 credits in human physiology (usually Physiol 335). Note: Credit for Physiology may not be used toward the Biology minor requirements.