The education program at Lakeland is committed to providing aspiring teachers with the skills and practical experiences they need to thrive in the classroom. Beyond skills and knowledge, though, the program helps Lakeland students to develop into teachers who are caring and reflective, teachers who address the needs of all children.
Upon completion of an undergraduate Education program, it will lead to an endorsement for a teaching license from the state of Wisconsin. For more information about each program, please click the link(s) below.
You're inspired to benefit society and positively impact the future of humanity. You strive to make a difference in the lives of children for years to come. By becoming a teacher, you will accomplish these things, while contributing to one of the world's oldest – and most important – professions.
The education program at Lakeland is committed to providing aspiring teachers with the skills and practical experiences they need to thrive in the classroom. Beyond skills and knowledge, though, the program helps Lakeland students to develop into teachers who are caring and reflective, teachers who address the needs of all children.
Lakeland’s education program strives to meet the professional, practical, and personal needs of future teachers. First, our students receive all the coursework, knowledge, and assistance they will need to exceed Wisconsin’s requirements for teaching certification. Second, they receive the pedagogical tools and practical experiences that starting teachers need in order to succeed in their own classrooms. Finally, and most importantly, our education majors are encouraged to develop their own voice and teaching style through continual hands-on engagement with the teaching process.
If you have already completed the Foundations of Teacher Education Program or the Early Childhood Education Program through one of the technical colleges in the Wisconsin Technical College System, our K-9 program — offered via our evening and online program — is ideal for you, and you may be eligible for one tuition-free course and a 20% tuition discount. Other students interested in the K-9 Education Program are encouraged to reach out to one of our admissions advisors to discuss whether their experiences and academic backgrounds would be suitable to the completion of the K-9 Education Program.
Lakeland's DPI approved education program will usher you into the classroom, fully prepared for a rewarding career.
In order to receive an educator license in Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction requires applicants to demonstrate competency in the basic skills of Reading, Writing, and Mathematics, as well as in the content knowledge of their specific license area. Tests and passing scores are approved by the State Superintendent.
Basic Skills Test
Wisconsin Administrative Cod3 PI 34 requires that all students applying for admission to an educator preparation program in a Wisconsin college/university or alternative program must pass/demonstrate basic skills in reading, writing, and math.
For Lakeland’s K-9 Program, students can demonstrate basic skills in reading, writing, and math in the following ways:
Praxis CORE Tests
Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics are the state's approved basic skills tests. Qualifying scores are
| Test | Passing Score |
|---|---|
| Reading (5712) | 156 |
| Writing (5722) | 162 |
| Mathematics (5732) | 150 |
Subject Area Tests
All candidates who complete their educator preparation programs in a Wisconsin college/university or alternative program after August 31, 2004, are required to complete and pass subject area tests for their licensure area to qualify for a Wisconsin educator license. There is no waiver for the subject area test requirement for each candidate’s licensure area. The subject area test requirements also apply to educators returning to complete a new licensure area (e.g., subject) after August 31, 2004.
edTPA
All student teacher candidates must complete the edTPA to be endorsed for licensure. The edTPA is a multiple measure assessment system aligned to state and national standards, including the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).
Beginning in Fall 2016, ALL student teacher candidates will complete the edTPA during student teaching and must post a passing score on the edTPA to complete a program and be endorsed for Wisconsin licensure.
For more information regarding these testing requirements, please contact a member of the Education Division.
Lakeland University and Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA 7) have partnered together to address the shortage of special education teachers by creating a new pathway for Lakeland education majors to earn a special education teaching license.
The partnership allows Lakeland students pursuing a K-9 teaching license to add a K-12 Cross-Categorical Special Education license by completing four special education elective courses through CESA 7 and a student teaching experience through Lakeland.
Students who graduate with both licenses have more options when applying for teaching jobs, especially in areas of high need for most school districts.
Graduates will be licensed to teach in a regular education setting in grades kindergarten through 9, and in school districts that provides services to pupils in kindergarten through grade 12 with intellectual, emotional-behavioral, specific learning or other disabilities.
There’s more than one way to get a college education and Lakeland offers them all. Lakeland University students have access to a variety of pathways, and each one can be customized to meet your needs. Since our founding in 1862, Lakeland University has been a leader in finding ways to help students make their dreams come true.
Per Act 166, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is required to produce an annual report of the State’s educator preparation programs (EPP). The report includes information on program completers, their first-time pass rates on the required performance assessments, and employment data. The following link provides a copy of the annual report.
Our K-9 Program, offered via one of our evening and online program, is ideal for students who have completed the Foundations of Teacher Education Program or the Early Childhood Education Program through one of the technical colleges in the Wisconsin Technical College System. Students who have completed this program are eligible for one tuition-free course and a 20% tuition discount.
Other students interested in the K-9 Education Program are encouraged to reach out to one of our admissions advisors to discuss whether their experiences and academic backgrounds would be suitable to the completion of the K-9 Education Program.
You may apply at any time as Lakeland University operates on a rolling admission basis with 6 start dates throughout the year. Applications will be reviewed until about two weeks before the start of each term.
Once your application is received, your Lakeland University admissions counselor will be in touch.
*Exceptions to the above admission criteria may be granted for students with a cumulative GPA range from 1.75 to 1.99 if the academic experience that resulted in the less than 2.0 GPA was more than two years ago. Furthermore, typically students with a cumulative GPA range from 1.50 to 1.75 will only be considered if the poor academic performance experience that resulted in the less than 2.0 GPA was more than five years ago. Students receiving an exception will be admitted conditionally.
Professor of Education, Director of Center for Teacher Excellence
Our curriculum is designed to prepare teachers for the diverse K-12 learning environment. Coursework is developed to help students make data-based decisions, help with specialized instruction and interventions, provide behavioral support, promote project-based learning ... and more!
K-12 Cross-Categorical Special Education
Through a contractual partnership with Cooperative Educational Service Agency 7 (CESA 7) and in consultation with the program director, students completing all the requirements for the K-9 license can add on the K-12 Cross-Categorical Special Education license by successfully completing the following four elective courses through CESA 7 and an appropriate student teaching experience through Lakeland:
