Students who wish to major or minor in education at Carthage, and complete the Teacher Education Program, must complete a series of steps during their four years at Carthage.

The Education Department also requires its students in the Teacher Education Program (TEP) to take and pass the Praxis II test as a requirement for student teaching. 

Praxis II Test

Students may not achieve admittance into their professional semester of student teaching without achieving the minimum score required for their specific Praxis II test. Students majoring in Elementary Education take and pass the Middle School Content Area test; students minoring in Secondary Education take and pass content tests in their academic subject majors. The most recent data for students taking the Praxis II during the 2013-14 academic year indicates that 86% of all students in the education program passed their Praxis II test on the first attempt. 

FORT exam

As of January 30, 2014, all teacher candidates with a major in either Elementary Education or Cross-Categorical Special Education must pass the Foundations of Reading Test (FORT) in order to obtain their Wisconsin Teaching License.  For the 2014-15 academic year, 73% of all candidates who have completed all non-clinical courses have passed this test (compared to 79% statewide); and 76% of “other enrolled” candidates have passed (compared to 73% statewide). Graduate students who have completed the Reading 316 or 17 licensure program have a 100% passing rate.

edTPA Portfolio

As of 2015, all teacher candidates must pass an edTPA portfolio to obtain their Wisconsin Teaching License in their major field: Elementary Education majors must pass the edTPA Literacy portfolio and Secondary Education minors must pass the edTPA portfolio for their major subject areas.

Course 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.

Current students: You should follow the official College Catalog from the year you entered Carthage and work with your advisors and the department chair to ensure all requirements are met.

Middle Childhood/Early Adolescent

Students who want to teach in grades 1-8 must complete a major in education and a minor in their subject area.

Broad Field Social Science Secondary Education

The Broad Field Social Science Education Major emphasizes breadth over depth in the social sciences and is solely for students who are also pursuing teacher certification in Secondary Education (Early Adolescence to Adolescence, grades 5-12).

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.

Art Education K-12

Carthage College offers licensure in Wisconsin to teach art, grades K-12.

Music Education K-12

Carthage College offers licensure in Wisconsin to teach music, grades K-12, in the following three areas: General Music, Instrumental Music, and Choral Music. 

Physical Education K-12

Carthage College offers licensure in Wisconsin to teach physical education and health, grades K-12. Students may also pursue licensure in adaptive physical education and athletic coaching.

Urban Education Minor

For teacher candidates seeking grades 1-8 (Middle Childhood through Early Adolescence) certification or grades 5-12 (Early Adolescence through Adolescence) certification.

Natural Science/Stem Minor for Educators

Now available to students, the new Natural Science/STEM minor for educators emerged from an overhaul of the College’s previous minor for prospective elementary and middle school science teachers. Students can choose one of two tracks: Physical Science/Project Lead The Way or Environmental, Earth, and Life Science.

Secondary Education Minor

For teacher candidates seeking grades 5-12 (Early Adolescence through Adolescence) certification.

Broadfield Science Minor

Recent trends in education show that teachers are being asked to teach broad, general science classes that often stretch beyond their major field. The broadfield science minor, as a supplement to the science major and EA-A education certification, will prepare students to teach science in middle schools and high schools.

Educational Studies Minor

The educational studies minor provides the background information on basic educational theories, child and adolescent psychology, and foundational knowledge about how their majors are connect with the ability to teach, manage, and lead groups of people.

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.

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.