Make a Difference Teaching Early Learners.
Children are the foundation for a bright future. It’s never too early to start giving them the tools they need to be successful. If you've always enjoyed working with children, our Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Early Childhood Education will give you the skills to make a career from your dreams.
100% of Graduates Are Employed or Continuing Education.
Career-Defining Curriculum
As a UW-Stout Early Childhood Education major, you'll graduate qualified for licensure to teach birth through third grade in Wisconsin's general and special education classrooms. Throughout your program of study, you'll have the support of our experienced tenured faculty and a caring community of peer learners. And you'll have additional opportunities to network with future colleagues through student organizations related to the teaching field.
Program Highlights
- Eligible for licensure in Early Childhood Education (birth through grade three) and Early Childhood Special Education (Birth through grade three)
- 250 hours of hands-on work with children before you even start student teaching
- Small class sizes
- Real-world experience in child care facilities on and off campus
- Strong advisement from faculty
- Graduate in four years
"Stout has provided so many opportunities for me that I did not know were possible. All within a short two years, and before the start of student teaching, my confidence has grown as well as my passion for teaching."
~ Ana Jane SchuerstedtB.S. Early Childhood Education
Use the Request Information form to receive a program summary and learn more about the Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education.
Request Information
Do More in Our Labs & Centers.
Infant & Toddler Education Lab
UW-Stout's Infant & Toddler Education Lab is a certified childcare center for the university staff, students and the Menomonie community. Students in the School of Education's Early Childhood Education program provide childcare for children ages 0-3.
"We really focus on teaching the children self-help skills and social and emotional skills, like learning to share toys, take turns, and asking friends if they are hurt," said Aaron Wisecup, an early childhood education graduate who worked in the lab.
Working alongside other student staff and experienced faculty and watching children develop gives students the necessary experience to benefit in their future teaching careers.
Child & Family Study Center
UW-Stout’s Child and Family Study Center will provide many opportunities to observe child behaviors. Our five early childhood classrooms are the perfect setting to learn teaching techniques.
You can add the Early Childhood Special Education certification with only five more classes and a fourth student teaching placement for licensure outside of WI.
This program is designed to meet educational requirements for licensure/certification in the state of Wisconsin. Professional licensure/certification prerequisites vary from state to state, and we are not able to determine whether our program meets prerequisites in other states. If you intend to work in another state, contact that state's regulatory authority to determine if our program will meet the licensure/certification requirements, and contact the UW-Stout Program Director for assistance. Please see the following website for additional information.
New First-Year Students
- There are no additional requirements for new first-year students.
Transfer Students
- Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher from the last institution attended.
Students who meet this requirement will be admitted to the university in their chosen Education major. Subsequent acceptance into a teacher education major and enrollment in professional education coursework will require successful completion of Benchmark I requirements. Additional information can be found at the School of Education website.
Students whose cumulative GPA is lower than the 2.75 will be reviewed and considered on a case-by-case basis for admission consideration.
Careers
- Public and Private School Teachers (Pre-school-third grade)
- Head Start Director
- Assistant Director
- Infant/Toddler Teacher
- Pre-K Teacher
- Kindergarten Teacher
- First Grade Teacher
- Second Grade Teacher
- Third Grade Teacher
Stout Graduates at Work
- Starting preschool program » Lime Springs and Ridgeway, Iowa
- Starting 4K program » Ellsworth, Wisconsin
- First Grade Teacher » Almond-Bancroft, Wisconsin
- Kindergarten Teacher » St. Paul, Minnesota
- Elementary Teacher » Denver, Colorado
- Kindergarten Teacher » Frederick, Wisconsin
- First Grade Teacher » Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin
- Kindergarten Teacher » Bloomer, Wisconsin
- Third Grade Teacher » Almena, Wisconsin
- 4K Teacher » Mosinee, Wisconsin
- Kindergarten Teacher » Eau Claire, Wisconsin
- Third Grade Teacher » Stanley-Boyd, Wisconsin
- Kindergarten Teacher » Eleva-Strum, Wisconsin
- First Grade Teacher » Cokato, Minnesota
- Pre-K Teacher » Shell Lake, Wisconsin
- Elementary Teacher » Alaska
- Kindergarten Teacher » Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
- 4K Teacher » Baraboo, Wisconsin
- Pre-K Teacher » Plum City, Wisconsin
- Kindergarten Teacher » Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
- Teacher for Teach For America » South Dakota
- First Grade Teacher » East Central Schools, Minnesota
- Kindergarten Teacher » Arizona
- First Grade Teacher » Spooner, Wisconsin
- 4K Teacher » Madison, Wisconsin
- Second Grade Teacher » Colby, Wisconsin
- Second Grade Teacher » Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
- Kindergarten Teacher » Coolidge, Arizona
Advisory Committee Members
James | Arenz | UW-Stout Advisement Center | |
Lindsay | Barnhart | Program Director, ECE | UW-Stout |
Nikki | Bresina | Director | KIDSusa |
Amber | Carlsrud | Barron Public Schools | |
Beth | Comstock | First Grade Teacher | Barron Public Schools |
Tracy | DeRusha | Office of Field Experiences | UW-Stout |
Allison | Feller | Director CFSC | UW-Stout |
Angela | Gilbertson | Instructional Specialist | UW-Stout |
Lisa | Jasper Myer | Third Grade Teacher | Wakanda Elementary, Menomonie School District |
Carol | Johnson | Associate Dean (SOE) | UW-Stout |
Maggie | Keenan | Instructional Specialist | UW-Stout |
Jill | Klefstad | ECE faculty | UW-Stout |
Theresa | Kohlmier | ECE faculty | UW-Stout |
Ruth | Nyland | CEHHHS/SCOPE | UW-Stout |
Chris | Peterson | Department Chair (SCOPE) | UW-Stout |
Kathy | Preusse | Teacher | Chippewa Valley Technical College |
Robert | Salt | Dean (CEHHHS) | UW-Stout |
Lori | Smith | Principal | Oak Lawn Elementary, Menomonie School District |
Sapna | Thapa | ECE faculty | UW-Stout |
Linda | Young | Admissions - Transfers and Articulation | UW-Stout |
Joseph | Zawicky | Kindergradten Teacher | Augusts Schools |
Student Organizations
Stout Association for the Education of Young Children
Assists professionals working with young children - and others interested in the lives of young children — to better understand children's needs.
Aspiring Educators of Wisconsin (AEW)
Develops understanding and appreciation for the education profession