Students who wish to major or minor in education at Carthage, and complete the Teacher Education Program, must complete a series of steps during their four years at Carthage.

Major & Minor Requirements

Carthage prepares students to teach students in elementary/middle school, cross-categorical special education, and early adolescence/adolescence (middle/high school). Please click on one of the categories below for a list of requirements for that major or minor.

Current students: You should follow the official College Catalog from the year you entered Carthage and work with your advisors and the department chair to ensure all requirements are met.

The Education Department offers a major in elementary and middle school education (grades K-9).

Required Courses (36 credits)
  • EDU 1010 Education and Society (4 credits)
  • EDU 2050 Teaching and Supporting Learners with Diverse Characteristics and Needs (4 credits)
  • EDU 2130 Multicultural Children’s and Early Adolescents’ Literature (4 credits)
  • EDU 2150 Creative Arts: Music and Art in Elementary and Middle Schools (4 credits)
  • EDU 2720 Fostering Engagement and Positive Behavior in the Classroom (Grades K-9) (4 credits)
  • EDU 3160 Social Studies in the Elementary and Middle Schools (4 credits)
  • EDU 3230 Reading and Language Arts in the Middle Grades (4 credits)
  • EDU 3250 Effectively Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary/Middle School (4 credits)
  • EDU 3260 Effectively Teaching Science in the Elementary/Middle School (4 credits)
Choose One (4 credits)
  • EDU 200T Urban Education Immersion Experience (4 credits)
  • EDU 2340 Foundations in Urban Education (4 credits)
  • EDU 3240 English Language Learner: Methods and Studies in Education (4 credits)
  • EDU 4282 Culturally Responsive Instruction (4 credits)

The elementary and middle school major also must earn a minor (either licensable or non-licensable) or second major.

Licensable Minors
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • English
  • French
  • Geography
  • German
  • Health (for Exercise and Sport Science majors only)
  • History
  • Mathematics
  • Natural Science/STEM
  • Physics
  • Spanish
  • Speech Communication
Non-Licensable Minors
  • Art (Studio Art or Art History)
  • Business
  • Computer Science
  • Economics
  • Marketing
  • Music
  • Political Science
  • Psychological Science
  • Sociology
  • Theatre
  • Urban Education

For teacher candidates seeking grades 4-12 certification: Students preparing for middle/secondary teaching must complete a licensable major in the academic area in which they plan to teach and an early adolescence through adolescence education minor.

Students may not pursue a secondary education minor if they do not plan to complete EDU 4900 Student Teaching Seminar. Students majoring in physical education, music, art, and theatre should refer to the respective areas of the catalog for additional requirements.

Required Courses (36 credits)
  • EDU 1010 Education and Society (4 credits)
  • EDU 2010 Educational Psychology and Assesment (4 credits)
  • EDU 2050 Teaching and Supporting Learners with Diverse Characteristics and Needs (4 credits)
  • EDU 2570 Fostering Engagement and Positive Behavior in the Classroom (Grades 5-12) (4 credits)
  • EDU 3520 Developmental and Content Area Reading (4 credits)
  • 4200 Methods and Materials (in appropriate content area) (4 credits)
  • EDU 4900 Student Teaching Seminar (12 credits)
Choose One (4 credits)
  • EDU 200T Urban Education Immersion Experience (4 credits)
  • EDU 2340 Foundations in Urban Education (4 credits)
  • EDU 3240 English Language Learner: Methods and Studies in Education (4 credits)
  • EDU 4282 Culturally Responsive Instruction (4 credits)

Note: English majors must also take EDU 2130 Multicultural Children’s and Early Adolescents’ Literature (4 credits).

History, science, and social science majors must satisfy the environmental education requirement by completing:

  • BIO 1011 Exploring Climate Change (4 credits)

OR

  • BIO 1020 Plants and People (4 credits)

OR

  • BIO 1030 Conservation for Educators (4 credits)

OR

  • ENV 1000 Introduction to Environmental Science (4 credits)
Senior Thesis

Middle and high school education students will complete the senior thesis in their major fields.

NOTE: Topics courses may not ne used to satisfy content course requirements.

Students seeking the major in cross-categorical special education must also have a major in elementary and middle school education or a content major and a middle and high school education minor.

After completing the cross-categorical special education major, students are eligible for both licenses: ages 5-12 and ages 13-21. They must apply for both licenses to ensure that their certification will span grades K-12 (ages 5-21).

Required Courses (22 credits)
  • EDU 2080 Instructional Technology for Exceptional Learners (4 credits)
  • EDU 2120 Inclusion: Communication and Collaboration with Families, Professionals, and Communities (4 credits)
  • EDU 3110 Comprehensive Assessment of Exceptional Learners (4 credits)
  • EDU 4090 Methods for Teaching Elementary Level Exceptional Learners (4 credits)
  • EDU 4100 Methods for Teaching Secondary Level Exceptional Learners (4 credits)
  • EDU 4300 Professional Seminar (2 credits)

The broad field social science education major emphasizes breadth over depth in the social sciences and is solely for students who are also pursuing teacher certification in middle and high school education, grades 4-12.

Broad Field Social Science Education Major Requirements

This major consists of two components plus a minor:

Social Science Courses

Take a total of 32 credits from at least five of these disciplines:

  • Geospatial Science
  • History
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Economics

Note: A minimum of 4 credits must be earned in each discipline, but no more than 8 credits can be from any one discipline — except for the minor/field that the student chooses for certification (see below).

Completion of the middle and high school minor

All broad field social science education majors must select a minor from the following list, which is not included in the 32 credits listed in the major (above), and for which they will be licensed in grades 4-12: history, political science, sociology, economics, or psychology. They must earn 20-24 credits in the minor department. See minor requirements for the selected department.

Senior Thesis
The senior thesis is completed as part of the EDU 4200 course: Methods and Materials in Teaching Secondary Social Science.

For teacher candidates seeking elementary and middle school (grades K-9) certification or middle and high school (grades 4-12) certification, candidates will major in elementary and middle school education or minor in middle and high school education. They must all complete the courses losted below:

Required Courses (24 credits)
  • EDU 200T Urban Education Immersion Experience (4 credits)
  • EDU 2340 Foundations in Urban Education (4 credits)
  • SWK 2500 Engaging Multicultural Students and Families (4 credits)
  • EDU 3240 English Language Learner: Methods and Studies in Education (4 credits)
  • EDU 4282 Culturally Responsive Instruction (4 credits)
  • EDU 4340 Urban and Cultural Leadership (4 credits)

Learn more about the Urban Teacher Prep Program

The natural science/STEM minor is open to teacher candidates seeking elementary and middle school licensure (grades K-9). The STEM minor consists of 20 credits. All students must complete four foundation courses (16 credits) of the following:

Choose One (4 credits)
  • BIO 1011 Exploring Climate Change (4 credits)
  • BIO 1020 Plants and People (4 credits)
  • BIO 1030 Conservation for Educators (4 credits)
Choose One (4 credits)
  • CHM 1000 Better Living Through Chemistry (4 credits)
  • CHM 1010 General Chemistry I (4 credits)
Choose One (4 credits)
  • EGR 1010 Intro to Engineering Design (4 credits)
  • PHY 1030 Astronomy (4 credits)
Choose One (4 credits)
  • GEO 1600 Earth Revealed* (4 credits)
  • ENV 1000 Introduction to Environmental Science (4 credits)

*Or other appropriate earth science course selected in consultation with the Geospatial Science Department.

In addition to the 16 core credits, students must then complete an additional four credits:
  • EDU 3270 Exemplary STEM Education (4 credits)

For teacher candidates seeking middle and high school education licensure (grades 4-12), the broad field science minor, as a supplement to a science major and middle and high school education certification, will prepare students to teach science in middle and high schools.

Requirements

1. Major in biology, chemistry, or physics.

2. Complete an additional 24 credits from the following list of courses, two from each of the three core areas of science not in their major field:

Chemistry
  • CHM 1010 General Chemistry I (4 credits)
  • CHM 1020 General Chemistry II (4 credits)
Biology
  • BIO 1011 Exploring Climate Change (4 credits)
  • BIO 1020 Plants and People (4 credits) OR BIO 1030 Conservation for Educators (4 credits) OR BIO 3100 General Ecology (4 credits)
Physics
  • PHY 2100 Physics I (4 credits)
  • PHY 2110 Physics II (4 credits)

or

  • PHY 2200 General Physics I (4 credits)
  • PHY 2210 General Physics II (4 credits)
Earth and Space Science
  • PHY 1030 Astronomy (4 credits)
  • ENV 1000 Introduction to Environmental Science (4 credits)

For non-education majors, education involves the ability to teach, manage, and lead a group of people. Therefore, students majoring in management, psychological science, social work, religion, and related disciplines would benefit greatly with a minor in educational studies. This minor provides the background information on basic educational theories, child and adolescent psychology, and foundational knowledge about how their majors connect with the ability to teach, manage, and lead groups of people.

Required Courses (12 credits)
  • EDU 1010 Education and Society (4 credits)
  • EDU 2010 Education Psychology and Assessment (4 credits)
  • EDU 2050 Teaching and Supporting Learners with Diverse Characteristics and Needs (4 credits)
Choose Two (8 credits)
  • EDU 2130 Multicultural Children’s and Adolescents’ Literature (4 credits)
  • EDU 200T Urban Education Immersion Experience (4 credits)
  • EDU 2340 Foundations in Urban Education (4 credits)
  • EDU 2570 Fostering Engagement and Positive Behavior in the Classroom (Grades 5-12) (4 credits)
  • EDU 2720 Fostering Engagement and Positive Behavior in the Classroom (K-9) (4 credits)
  • EDU 3240 English Language Learner: Methods and Studies in Education (4 credits)
FIield Experience Required (4 credits)
  • EDU 3500 Fieldwork in Education (4 credits)

 

Additional Licensure Programs

Students who intend to teach art in a school setting must obtain grades K-12 licensure from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Students Can Obtain Licensure if They:
  • Complete all courses in the studio art major.
  • Complete all required education courses for the K-12 Art Education Licensure Program.
  • Successfully pass the Core Academic Skills for Educators test (waived with minimum ACT score of 23 with at least 20 on reading, English, and math, or SAT score composite of 1070 with a minimum of 450 in math and verbal). Contact the Education Department for registration information. Passing scores are: Reading 156, Writing 162, Mathematics 150.
  • Maintain a cumulative 2.75 GPA for all post-secondary course work (earned at all higher education institutions).
  • Apply for acceptance into the Teacher Education Program (TEP) sophomore year. 
  • Pass Praxis II.
  • Attend required student-teacher meeting and apply for acceptance into the Student Teaching Program junior year.
  • Successfully pass the Preliminary edTPA Portfolio the semester before student teaching.
  • Successfully complete the Student Teaching semester and pass the edTPA licensure process.
    To be eligible for student teaching, students must:
    a) complete pre-student teaching clinical experiences
    b) pass the edTPA Preliminary Portfolio
    c) Pass the Praxis II exam in Art
    d) successfully complete a pre-student teaching interview
    e) maintain a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA

Please contact the Education Department for specific requirements and deadlines for acceptance to the student teaching semester.

The pre-student teaching clinical experiences are developmental in scope and sequence and will occur in a variety of settings with a balance of observation/teaching experiences at the elementary, middle, and secondary level. To meet the clinical experience requirements, students must register and successfully complete all education courses requiring a pre-student teaching clinical experience.

Course Requirements

Students will take the following courses before acceptance into the TEP:

  • EDU 1010 Education and Society (4 credits)
  • EDU 2010 Educational Psychology and Assessment (4 credits)
  • EDU 2150 Creative Arts: Music and Art in Elementary and Middle Schools (4 credits)

Students will take the following courses after they have been accepted into the TEP:

  • EDU 3050 Teaching and Supporting Learners with Diverse Characteristics and Needs (4 credits)
  • EDU 3520 Developmental and Content Area Reading (4 credits)
  • ART 4210 Art and Curriculum Methods: Early Childhood through Early Adolescent (K-5) (4 credits)
  • ART 4220 Art and Curriculum Methods: Early Adolescent through Adolescent (6-12) (4 credits)
  • EDU 4900 Student Teaching Seminar (12 credits)

Learn more about studying Art at Carthage

Carthage offers a Bachelor of Music in Music Education (BMME) with certifications in instrumental music education and vocal music education.

The BMME meets Wisconsin licensure requirements as well as the standards set forth by the National Association of Schools of Music. Please note: the completion of the BMME program does not guarantee licensure. State requirements (i.e., student teaching, content tests and other assessments, criminal background checks, etc.) must be met in addition to the completion of the curricular components of the program. Together with their advisor, students pursuing the BMME must plan their program with care in order to meet both the requirements for graduation and the requirements for a teaching license.

In addition to the Carthage General Education requirements (48 credits), the BMME program has four components that must be completed:

  • Musicianship and Performance (43 credits)
  • Core Music Education (14 credits)
  • Concentration area — either Instrumental or Vocal Music Education (14 credits)
  • Professional Education (20 credits)

BMME students must earn a C or better in all MUS coursework and are exempt from the 82 credits outside the department that are typically required for graduation.

BMME students must be accepted into the Teacher Education Program in order to take any Core Music Education, Concentration, or Professional Education courses above the 2000 level.

Musicianship and Performance (43 credits)
  • MUS 0160 Keyboard Skills I (1 credit)
  • MUS 0170 Keyboard Skills II (1 credit)
  • MUS 0180 Keyboard Skills III (1 credit)
  • MUS 0190 Keyboard Skills IV (1 credit)
  • MUS 0700 Recital Attendance (0 credits)
  • Primary Applied Lesson (7 credits) (1 credit course, 7 terms)*
  • Primary Large Ensemble (0-7 cr.) (0-1 credit course, 7 terms)*
  • MUS 1010 Music Theory I (3 credits)
  • MUS 1020 Aural Skills I (1 credit)
  • MUS 1030 Music Theory II (3 credits)
  • MUS 1040 Aural Skills II (1 credit)
  • MUS 1800 Music Technology (2 credits)
  • MUS 2010 Music Theory III (3 credits)
  • MUS 2020 Aural Skills III (1 credit)
  • MUS 2030 Music Theory IV (3 credits)
  • MUS 2040 Aural Skills IV (1 credit)
  • MUS 2180 Conducting Fundamentals (2 credits)
  • MUS 3050 Music History I (4 credits)
  • MUS 3060 Music History II (4 credits)
  • MUS 400* Music History Depth Elective (4 credits)
  • MUS 4980 Half Recital Completion (0 credits)

* Students work with their faculty advisor to identify the appropriate lesson and ensemble placements. Except for the student teaching semester, students are encouraged to continue with primary applied lessons while enrolled full-time as a music major.

Core Music Education (14 credits)
  • MUS 1180 Introduction to Music Education (2 credits)
  • MUS 1190 Exploring PreK-12 Music Curriculum (4 credits)
  • MUS 2710 Culturally Responsive Music Pedagogy (4 credits)
  • MUS 3200 Field Experience** (0 credits)
  • MUS 4210 General Music Methods (4 credits)

**To be taken concurrently with MUS 1180, 1190, 2710, 4200, 4210, and 4220.

Instrumental Music Education Concentration (14 credits)
  • MUS 2050 Woodwind Techniques (1 credit)
  • MUS 2060 Brass Techniques (1 credit)
  • MUS 2070 Percussion Techniques (1 credit)
  • MUS 2080 String Techniques (1 credit)
  • MUS 2740 Choral Pedagogy for Instrumentalists (2 credits)
  • MUS 2900 Instrumental Conducting and Techniques (2 credits)
  • MUS 3120 Orchestration (2 credits)
  • MUS 4200 Instrumental Music Methods (4 credits)
Vocal Music Education Concentration (14 credits)
  • MUS 2750 Band and Orchestra Pedagogy for Vocalists (2 credits)
  • MUS 2910 Choral Conducting and Techniques (2 credits)
  • MUS 3130 Choral Literature (2 credits)
  • MUS 3150 Choral Rehearsal Techniques (2 credits)
  • MUS 3490 Vocal Pedagogy (2 credits)
  • MUS 4220 Vocal Music Methods (4 credits)
Professional Educaion (20 credits)
  • EDU 2010 Educational Psychology and Assessment (4 credits)
  • EDU 2050 Teaching Learners with Diverse Characteristics (4 credits)
  • EDU 4900 Student Teaching/Seminar (12 credits)

Learn more about studying music at Carthage

Students who intend to teach physical education in a school setting can obtain grades preK-12 licensure from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction if they complete the following:

  1. Complete all courses in the Exercise and Sport Science major with Physical Education Concentration.
  2. Complete all required education courses for the K-12 Physical Education Licensure Program (Secondary Education minor).
  3. Apply for acceptance into the Teacher Education Program (TEP) sophomore year. Please contact the Education Department for specific requirements related to acceptance into the TEP.
  4. Apply for acceptance into the Student Teaching Program (STP) junior year. Please contact the Education Department for specific requirements related to acceptance into the STP.
  5. Successfully complete student teaching. To be eligible for student teaching, students must complete pre-student teaching clinical experiences that are developmental in scope and sequence and will occur in a variety of settings with a balance of observation at the elementary, middle, and secondary level. To meet the clinical experience requirements, students must register and successfully complete an education course requiring a prestudent
Required Courses for Physical Education K-12 License (52 credits)
  • EDU 1010 Education and Society (4 credits)
  • EDU 2010 Educational Psychology and Assessment (4 credits)
  • EXS 2700 Elementary Physical Education: Principles of Movement (4 credits)
  • EDU 2050 Teaching and Supporting Learners with Diverse Characteristics and Needs (4 credits)
  • EDU 3520 Developmental and Content Area Reading (4 credits)
  • EXS 4200 Methods and Materials of Teaching Physical Education (4 credits)
  • EDU 4900 Student Teaching Seminar (12 credits)
  • BIO 1040 Human Anatomy and Physiology (4 credits)
  • HIS 1000 Issues in American History (4 credits)
  • Any appropriate social science course* (4 credits)
  • Any appropriate physical science course* (4 credits)
    *At least one must be a lab science.

Learn more about studying exercise and sport science at Carthage

Students pursuing teacher licensure in theatre must declare a general theatre major and a secondary education minor, and fulfill all requirements for acceptance into the Teacher Education Program (TEP). In addition to fulfilling all secondary education minor requirements, the student must also take:

  • THR 2180 Theatre for Children (4 credits)
  • THR 4200 Methods and Materials in Teaching Theatre (4 credits)
  • THR 4550 Directing (4 credits)

Students should consult with their advisors on the exact sequence of courses.

Learn more about studying theatre at Carthage

 

Admission into the Teacher Education Licensure Program

Admission into the Teacher Education Licensure Program requires:

  • A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale computed on all credits of collegiate-level coursework for undergraduate programs at any and all postsecondary schools attended.
  • The GPA needed in education courses, major and minor, must be at least 2.75.
  • Students must successfully complete a criminal background check prior to admittance to the Teacher Education Program.
  • Students should apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program after completing foundation courses in education with a C- or better (EDU 1010, 2010, and 2720 for Middle Childhood/Early Adolescent majors or 2570 for Early Adolescent/Adolescent minors and Theatre majors; including EXS 2700 for Exercise and Sport Science majors, MUS 1180 for Music majors, and EDU 2150 for Art Education majors) and in general education (COR 1200 with a C or better).

No student seeking licensure may enroll in Education courses numbered 3000 and above without first having been admitted to the Teacher Education Program. Students must consult their Steps to Becoming a Teacher handbook for the

Student Teaching

Student teaching is required for all licensure programs (initial and add-on). In order to be approved for student teaching and later endorsed for licensure, a student must:

  • Have a minimum grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale for the entire undergraduate program, which includes courses from all institutions of higher learning prior to attending Carthage.
  • Need to successfully complete pre-student teaching field experiences.
  • Pass the appropriate Praxis II content test, or use an approved alternative of earning a 3.0 or higher in the appropriate courses as listed in the Steps handbook.
  • Pass the FORT Exam (or an approved alternative for cross-categorical special education majors only) by the time that they apply to student teach, and successfully complete an interview. 

Students must be admitted to the Teacher Education Program at least one term prior to application for student teaching.

FORT exam

The Foundations of Reading Test (FORT) is required for students majoring in Elementary Education and/or Cross-Categorical Special Education, Reading Teachers, and Reading Specialists in order for them to obtain their Wisconsin Teaching License.

*Please note that students may qualify for alternatives to testing based upon certain GPA and coursework requirements with approval from the Education Department chair.