The UW-Madison secondary education master’s program for teachers consists of an intensive sequence of courses that span two summers and an intervening academic year. Throughout the program, students take university courses and engage in fieldwork associated with those courses. In addition to course and fieldwork, students must complete a master’s project in order to receive their degree.
Upon completion of the program, students will have earned a Master of Science in Curriculum & Instruction with certification to teach their specified subject area(s) in high school and/or middle school. (Students taught at this level are typically 10-21 years old, which corresponds to grades 6 through 12). Every graduate will also earn a certification to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) which qualifies them to teach English Language Learners while supporting core academic subject instruction.
Program Timeline
| Spring semester prior to program start date | Submit all outstanding grades and/or/documentation related to subject preparation or conditional acceptance. |
| mid-May* | First summer course registration |
| mid-June to mid August | First summer: campus courses and community-based fieldwork |
| September to mid-January** | Fall semester : campus courses and school based fieldwork |
| January to mid-June** | Spring semester: courses and fieldwork- full time student teaching |
| March to April | Teaching performance evaluation (EdTPA) |
| mid-June to early August* | Second Summer: Coursework and masters project |
| *Dates will vary (see UW Academic Calendar for official start dates) **Dates will vary by local school district calendars | |
First Summer
COURSEWORK
- EPS 600 Social & Cultural Approaches to Ed Policy (3 credits)
- C&I 675 Educational Linguistics (2 credits)
- C&I 736 Educating Linguistically And Culturally Diverse Learners (2 credits)
- C&I 635/735 Epistemology (Math/Sci) (2 credits)
- OR 535/835 Foundations in Learning (Eng/Soc St) (2 credit)
FIELDWORK
- Community-Based Practicum (3 credits)
The focus of this summer semester includes a field experience in the local community intended to involve program students with adolescents from diverse backgrounds. The university courses present assignments for students to carry out in the practicum sites. Within the content domain, program students will consider how academic subject knowledge is and should be translated into the curriculum.
Fall: Academic Semester 1
COURSEWORK
- C&I 507 Inclusive Education in Secondary Schools (2 credits)
- EdPsy 621 Adolescent Development in Educational Contexts (2 credits)
- C&I XXX Methods & Practice – Content Area (3 credits)
- C&I 673 Learning Second Languages and Literacy (2 credits)
- C&I 729 Classroom Management for Secondary Teachers (1 credit)
FIELDWORK
- School-based Practicum, 1st quarter ( 1 credit)
- Half-Day Student Teaching, 2nd quarter (4 credits)
In this semester, program students are placed in local secondary schools. University courses provide assignments for students in their practicum sites and present concepts useful for understanding schooling, teaching, and students. Topics addressed across all coursework are working with all students, universal curriculum design, understanding contemporary adolescence, and theories of literacy and strategies in learning languages.
Spring: Academic Semester 2
COURSEWORK
- C&I 674 ESL Methods (3 credits)
- C&I XXX Advanced Methods – Content Area (3 credits)
- C&I 675 Seminar (1 credit)
FIELDWORK
- Full-Day Student Teaching (8 credits)
Program students will be immersed in a semester of student teaching. University course work provides assignments for students to carry out in their student teaching as well as concepts and practices that will enhance their instructional effectiveness. Each student will also prepare and teach an instructional unit incorporating key teachings of the university courses from both semesters. This unit will also provide evidence used in candidates’ performance assessment portfolio.
SUMMER 2
COURSEWORK
- C&I 747 Capstone – Content Area (3 credits)
- ELPA 640 Legal Rights and Responsibilities (1 credit)
- C&I 675 Professional Launch Workshop series (3 credits)
MS Project
In the final summer, students will complete their master’s projects under the direction of their major professors, examining an area of their practice using varied current research. The project will show evidence of reflection and opportunities for further investigation of concepts from previous semesters.