Major & Minor Requirements

Carthage prepares students for teaching middle childhood/early adolescent (elementary/middle school), cross-categorical special education, and early adolescence/adolescence (middle/high school). Please click on one of the categories below for a list of requirements for that major or minor.

All education students should purchase the Carthage publication Steps to Becoming a Teacher from the Carthage Bookstore. Please note: It is extremely important for students to work closely with advisors in the Education Department to make sure all requirements are met.

Middle Childhood/Early Adolescent

Students who want to teach in grades 1-9 must complete a major in education and a minor in their subject area.

Cross-Categorical Special Education

The cross-categorical special education major requires a middle childhood/early adolescent licensure or an early adolescent/adolescent licensure along with the CCSE program.

Early Adolescence/Adolescence

Students who want to teach at the high school level must complete a major in their subject area and a minor in education. Those majors include: biology, broad field social science, chemistry, economics, English, French, German, geography, history, mathematics, music, physical education, physics, political science, psychology, sociology, Spanish, theatre and communication.

Early Childhood Education

Carthage also offers a dual program with the University of Wisconsin-Parkside for students interested in early childhood education (birth to age 8). A consortial program with the University of Wisconsin-Parkside allows Carthage College students to concurrently enroll in specific UW-Parkside courses which lead to an Early Childhood Education license (birth to 8 years of age). According to the agreement between the two institutions, students enrolled full-time at Carthage College during the fall or spring term may take a UW-Parkside course that same term without paying additional tuition. Please check with your teacher education advisor.

Important Steps: Planning a Program

In each of the licensure programs, there are specific course sequences students must follow to achieve licensure. Students are expected to plan and confirm their programs with an education department faculty member and/or appointed advisor.

Education students usually declare their major/minor during freshman year. They spend the year completing education foundation courses (EDUC 101, 105, and 201), core Carthage courses (Western Heritage I and II with a C or better), and the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST).

Students apply to the Teacher Education Program, or TEP, during sophomore year, after completing foundations courses in education and general education. (See Steps for Becoming a Teacher.)

During junior year, students typically take the Praxis II test. Students complete student teaching during their senior year.

NOTE: Completion of the Carthage Education Program does not guarantee licensure. State requirements (such as student teaching, content tests, criminal background checks, etc.) in addition to program completion must also be met for teacher certification.

Academic Resources

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Prospective Students

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Student Voices

What is it like to study education at Carthage? "It's very comforting knowing my professors are familiar with my career path and they will be there to back me up in the future," says Katie Larson, '10. Read more.

Inspiration & Ideas

The Children's Literature Center at Carthage, co-directed by education professor Marilyn Ward, offers future teachers valuable resources, lectures, workshops and seminars. Read more.