The University Of Wisconsin System and Independent Colleges and Universities Wisconsin Technical College System

Programs: The University of Wisconsin System institutions, as well as independent colleges and universities, offer degree programs to those contemplating careers working with young children and their families. Universities and colleges offer a variety of career options, including Bachelor and Master’s degree programs in teacher education, health care, social work, and other related programs. The teacher training programs are developed in accordance with state teacher standards and requirements for individual teaching areas ((see Licensing Section for more information on the PI 34 Quality Educator Initiative). Wisconsin’s early childhood teacher training programs include the following:

Degrees in Early Childhood Education: These programs are designed to facilitate teacher proficiency. Each college and university develops course offerings and curriculum based on a set of state program guidelines (http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/tepdl/pdf/all-cs.pdf )

The following table shows the colleges and universities that offer bachelor and master degrees in early childhood and early childhood special education (birth to age 8) and for early child­hood – middle childhood (birth through age 11):

PI 34 Licensing of WI School Personnel

University Faculty: University faculty are typically described by the following classifications: academic staff, tenure track, and tenure faculty. Faculty is generally contracted for nine-month teaching positions, with options to extend their contracts to teach summer courses and/or conduct research. All faculty are involved in course instruction. Many also provide supervision for university students in community field placements and practicum experiences, and work with community programs to develop field sites and conduct research. Tenure track and tenure faculty members are required to conduct specific amounts of research and publications.

Academic staff generally has a Master’s or Doctoral degree in the areas of instruction. Tenure track and tenure faculty generally hold doctoral degrees.

Programs: The Wisconsin Technical College System, through its sixteen technical colleges throughout the state, offers a variety of training opportunities for potential careers in early childhood education. Follow this link for information about each campus http://www.wtcsystem.edu/colleges.htm The website for each campus lists the degrees and certificate programs available. They vary by campus but include health, human services careers, and early childhood education careers. The Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education is offered at all 16 campuses and is built upon system wide courses with common titles, numbers, credits and competencies. It includes technical studies courses in early care and education, general studies courses, and electives for a degree total of 68 credits. More information about the early childhood associate degree, including course syllabi, is available in the Review of WTCS Early Childhood Education Courses by Baccalaureate Institutions (http://systemattic.wtcsystem.edu/instruction/transfer/early_childhood_education_transfer/default.htm)

Personnel

Wisconsin Technical College System Instructor: College instructors may work full-time or part-time within the technical college system, and the requirements may differ depending on whether the individual will be full-time or part-time. All instructors within the Wisconsin Technical College System must be certifiable for the WTCS System (have the appropriate educational and occupational experience.)

Technical college instructors must have a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with education or training in the occupational area being taught. The instruc­tor in an occupational subject must have worked a minimum of 24 months (4000 hours) as a fully qualified worker in each occupational area. There is also a series of courses that must be completed successfully for a five-year teaching certification.

Wisconsin Technical College Instructional Administrator:Technical college instructional administrators must meet the same require­ments as instructors and must have a Master’s degree or equivalent, coupled with at least two years of teaching experience.