A teaching certification in English as a Second Language (ESL) is for those who wish to teach English to non-native speakers. Students wishing to pursue a minor in ESL must be in the process of obtaining, or already have, a certification to teach at the Early Childhood, Elementary-Middle, or 4-12 grade level.
Requirements
Criminal Background Check
Criminal Background Check (CBC). For all students, a background check shall be completed no more than 6 months prior to the date of admission (advance to professional sequence) into the educator preparation program. The background check shall include a review of criminal conduct at the state and federal levels.
Professional Sequence
Students must earn a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 in all professional education coursework.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Content Area | ||
| CURRINS 541 | Principles and Methods of Teaching ESL | 3 |
| CURRINS 542 | History and Politics of Second Language Education | 3 |
| CURRINS 543 | Developing Biliteracy | 3 |
| CURRINS 546 | Language, Content, and Comprehensible Input | 3 |
| CURRINS 655 | Applied Educational Linguistics | 3 |
| Pre-Student Teaching and Student Teaching | ||
| CURRINS 350 | Field Seminar in Language Education | 1 |
| CURRINS 443 | Pre-Student Teaching in English as a Second Language Education | 2 |
| CURRINS 444 | Student Teaching in English as a Second Language Education ‡ | 3 |
| CURRINS 445 | Seminar in Language Education | 3 |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
- ‡
Students must complete an application to request/be assigned a student teaching placement. To be approved for placement, additional criteria must be met. See Benchmarks for details.
Additional Requirements for Certification
- Undergraduate students must meet the graduation and certification requirements for their primary certification.
- Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 in all UWM and transfer courses.
- Demonstrate successful completion of the Pedagogical Knowledge Assessment (PKA).
- Meet all applicable Wisconsin statutory and testing requirements.
- Complete approved coursework in the history, culture, and tribal sovereignty of American Indian tribes and bands located in Wisconsin, met through one of the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTHRO 213 | American Indian Peoples of Wisconsin (GER-CD, GER-SS) | 3 |
| ENGLISH 276 | Introduction to American Indian Literature: (topic: History, Literature & Sovereignty of Wisconsin Tribes (GER-CD, GER-HU) | 3 |
| ACT 31: History, Culture and Sovereignty Rights of Wisconsin Indians Workshop | ||
| Or an approved equivalent | ||
Benchmarks
Student Teaching
Students must complete an application to request/be assigned a student teaching placement. Deadlines for submission are posted by the Office of Clinical Experiences.
To be approved, students must ALSO meet the following criteria:
- Be advanced to the professional sequence.
- Complete all required coursework. An exception to allow a student to take a course concurrently with student teaching requires approval by the student's faculty advisor.
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on all undergraduate coursework, including transfer courses.
- Have a minimum 2.75 GPA in all content area and professional education courses.
- Content Knowledge; Passing scores reflected on your transcript for the Praxis II exam: English to Speakers of Other Languages: Content Knowledge; or minimum 3.0 GPA on content area courses.
- Removal of all F and/or I (incomplete) grades.
- TB test results submitted to the Office of Clinical Experiences (may take up to 6 weeks).
- Criminal Background Check submitted to the Office of Clinical Experiences.
Undergraduate Advising
Our purpose is to provide collaborative, mentoring relationships which promote educational, career, and professional development. We value a student-centered, holistic, and ethical approach to advising based on strong partnerships with students, faculty and staff, and the larger campus community. We are committed to creating a respectful and supportive environment. We encourage students to be self-reliant through informed decisions and choices based upon dissemination of accurate information. We value our own continuous professional development to enhance the quality of the advising experience.
How to Prepare for an Advising Meeting
- Review your Advisement Report in PAWS.
- Come prepared with questions or topics for discussion.
- Make a list of courses you think you should take.
- Investigate opportunities to prepare for the job you want.
- Keep a record of your academic progress.
- Understand you are ultimately responsible for creating your educational, life, and career plans.
- Maintain honest and open communication with your advisor.
- Take responsibility for choices you make as a student and member of the UW-Milwaukee community.
Scheduling an Appointment
Office of Student Services
Enderis Hall, Room 209
(414) 229-4721
soeinfo@uwm.edu
Graduate Advising
If you are a School of Education graduate student, you may schedule an appointment with your faculty advisor by contacting your faculty advisor directly. Faculty contact information can be found in the Directory. Your faculty advisor will be listed in your PAWS account.