Student teaching many young children


Education Department

The University of Wisconsin-Superior was founded as a teacher education college in 1893. That strong heritage of innovation and quality continues to guide our education programs today. Whether you’re interested in teaching at the birth to Pre-K level, elementary, high school or a specialty area, we have programs to help you become an educator who makes a lasting difference in students’ lives.

Teaching is one of the world’s most important and impactful professions. It is also one of the most challenging and rapidly changing. Our instructors teach the latest in instructional methods while providing techniques to support social-emotional development in diverse and inclusive classrooms.

While our programs are designed to align with Wisconsin state licensure requirements, many students apply for licenses in other states, such as Michigan and Minnesota. Students are encouraged to check with their state’s educator licensing agency to determine if there are additional requirements.

Completing my BFLA through Distance Learning has been such a wonderful experience. I have the flexibility of taking classes while working full time and taking care of my family. The staff and faculty have been extremely helpful and understanding throughout my academic journey and are willing to expertly find answers to any questions I may have.

Angela McKay,
Broad Field Language Arts, Curriculum and Instruction

The coaching program at UW-Superior has provided me with a place to sharpen my abilities in the coaching field, through the relationships that I built and the people that I met, this program has given me a chance to become a better person and coach.

Ty Proffitt,
Exercise Science, Sports Management and Coaching

The ECED Program at UW-Superior has provided me with a well-rounded understanding of the development, learning, and exceptionalities of young children. Through my courses, I was able to observe, apply, and reflect on my knowledge of young children’s development with great support from my professors. I’m confident that the experiences and knowledge I have gained will serve me in my future classroom and beyond.

Evelyn Sanda,
Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education
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Our Undergraduate Teacher Education Programs are your key to an exciting, rewarding career. If you have been called to teach, you already know the joy of seeing that “aha” moment when helping a child learn. Your journey toward learning the art and science of teaching starts today — at UW-Superior.

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UW-Superior’s Educational Administration Program offers graduate and postgraduate academic programs leading to a Master of Science in Education (MSE) degree and a Specialist in Education (EdS) degree. Program curriculum meets the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) Standards, which are directly linked to Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction PI 34 licensure requirements.

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UW-Superior’s Graduate Program in Counseling provides professional education and training leading to a Master of Science in Education Degree in Community and School Counseling. The program features:

  • State-of-the-art clinical training.
  • Professionals as faculty.
  • Courses offered evenings, online, and on weekends.
  • Individualized mentoring.
  • MSE degree can be completed in as little as 2 1/2 years.
  • General and specialized programs of study.

Format

Besides being offered in a variety of styles that contribute to effective student learning, our classes are offered with our students’ schedules in mind. Most of our classes are offered from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. or 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weeknights. We also offer some weekend condensed and online classes.

Class Size

  • Our classes provide for an intimate learning environment with a class size of 10 to 15 students. This allows for more individualized attention and flexibility regarding different instructional approaches and assignments. This also allows students and professors to get to know each other better.

Length of Program

  • Most of our students complete our program in 2 ½ to 3 academic years.

Certification and Licensure

Licensed Professional Counselor

Students who complete at least a 60-hour master’s program (with an emphasis in Community Counseling), have two years of supervised post-master’s experience, and successfully complete the National Counselor Exam are eligible to be licensed as professional counselors by the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy or the Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing. Students who are graduates of the M.S.E. Counseling program are currently eligible for this license. For more information, visit https://mn.gov/boards/behavioral-health/licensees/continuing-education/lpc-lpcc-continuing-education.jsp.

Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy

Students may qualify to become a Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Minnesota. Students must complete graduate academic work, complete supervised post-degree experience, and pass the required national and state exams as outlined in Minnesota Rules 5300. The national examination may be taken as soon as the required academic work is completed. For more information, visit https://mn.gov/boards/marriage-and-family/.

School Counselor State Certification

Minnesota Educational Requirements:

(Option 1) Hold a master’s degree or the equivalent from a college or university that is regionally accredited AND show verification of completing a Board of Teaching preparation program leading to the licensure of school counselors.
Required Coursework: See https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/8710.6400/
Experience Requirements: The school counselor demonstrates through pre-practicum and practicum experiences the ability to provide educational counseling services to students. The practicum experiences must include a series of formal observations and directed instructional experiences with kindergarten or primary, intermediate, middle level, and senior high school students who are participating in a range of educational programming models.
Examination: Our program requires the Praxis Professional School Counselor (5421) or Praxis School Counselor (5422) exam. 
Institution Recommendation Required? Yes 
Certification: K-12
Background Check: National and State fingerprint check

Wisconsin Educational Requirements:

A master’s degree from an approved school counseling and guidance program and the institutional endorsement.
Experience Requirements: Clinical Experiences as provided in COUN 756 Internship – School Counseling (prek-12).
Examination: Our program requires the Praxis Professional School Counselor (5421) or Praxis School Counselor (5422) exam.
Institution Recommendation Required? Yes
Certification: K -12
Reciprocity: UW-Superior education programs are approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to fulfill licensure requirements for the state of Wisconsin. If you seek licensure in a state other than Wisconsin, please see the Institutional Certification Office FAQ page.
Background Check: Yes

A master’s degree from an approved school counseling and guidance program and the institutional endorsement.
Experience Requirements: Clinical Experiences as provided in COUN 756 Internship – School Counseling (prek-12).
Examination: Our program requires the Praxis Professional School Counselor (5421) or Praxis School Counselor (5422) exam.
Institution Recommendation Required? Yes
Certification: K -12
Reciprocity: UW-Superior education programs are approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to fulfill licensure requirements for the state of Wisconsin. If you seek licensure in a state other than Wisconsin, please see the Institutional Certification Office FAQ page.
Background Check: Yes
School Counselor Licensing | Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

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Students benefit from hands-on field experiences woven into the program from beginning to end. Faculty and staff get to know each student’s unique abilities and goals and strive to match them with student-teaching placements that, upon completion, leave students prepared to begin teaching in a classroom of their own.

Any Questions?

Meet the Department

Linsey Strand
Senior Lecturer
Amy Flaig
Cooperative Edu Prog Coord
Amanda Zbacnik
Associate Professor
Sarah Bianchet
Senior Lecturer
Donald Polkinghorne
Preceptor
MaKenzie Johnson
Teaching Assistant Professor
Peter Graves
Senior Lecturer
Donna Lebsack
Graduate Advisor
Tanya Skalecki
Senior Lecturer
Anthony Amys
Senior Lecturer
Jessica Urbaniak
Assistant Professor
Nicholle Schuelke
Associate Professor, Department Chair
Wendy Kropid
Associate Dean for Educator Preparation Programs
Leah Budnik
Senior Lecturer
Kara Woodley
Assistant Professor – Special Education
Corianne Almekinder
Senior Lecturer
Melissa Hepokoski
Graduate Advisor
Robert Gagne
Graduate Advisor
Amanda Wood
Teaching Assistant Professor
Tanya Amys
Senior Lecturer
Tammy Rady
Administrative Assistant III
Mandi Shimek
Senior Lecturer
Michelle Androsky
Administrative Assistant III
Kelly Sundeen
Senior Lecturer
Susan Schmidt
Lecturer
Stephanie Polkowski
Teaching Associate Professor
Billie Larson
Senior Lecturer
Alexa Connolly
Senior Lecturer
Megan Anderson
Assistant Professor
Sally Pernu
Senior Lecturer
Laura DeBer
Senior Lecturer
Caitlin Knoll
Senior Lecturer
Melissa Murray
Senior Lecturer
Colleen Chambers
Preceptor
Daniel Hurley
Teaching Assistant Professor
Amy Carpenter
Teaching Associate Professor
Tessa Davis-Price
Senior Lecturer
Michael Schlangen
Senior Lecturer
Kayla Taylor
Senior Lecturer
Melissa Isabella
Senior Lecturer
Kelsey Olin
Senior Lecturer
Chelsie Wermager
Senior Lecturer
John Paul
Professor, Associate Dept. Chair
Amy Warring
Teaching Assistant Professor, Counseling
Jaime Milbridge-Scott
Senior Lecturer, Counseling
Sara Brosz
Senior Lecturer
Emily Kyllonen
Senior Lecturer
Lynn O’Brien
Senior Lecturer
Angela Radzak
Cooperative Educational Program Coordinator
Karen Pick
Cooperative Educational Program Coordinator
Michael Buncher
Data Reporting Specialist