University of Wisconsin-River Falls Early Childhood Program Description

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls offers an early childhood program as a minor for Elementary Education majors that enables them to earn certification for dual licensure. The early childhood program at UW-River Falls offers a constructivist theoretical base with a strong emphasis on practical application of developmental, constructivist theory and experience in the curriculum courses. Courses also emphasize parent education and communication skills, supporting young children in inclusive environments, supporting diversity and administration, licensing and classroom management.

River Falls students have classroom experience in all early childhood curriculum classes as well as a semester of student teaching in a prekindergarten and kindergarten classroom in addition to their elementary education student teaching for a semester. Commencing in Spring, 2004, we began a collaborative program with UW Eau Claire by which their Early Childhood Special Ed students could take courses in Early Childhood (see a detailed list) towards certification. This dual licensure program is possible by using a variety of distant education mediums including on-line, ITV, Video IP.