Bachelor of Arts in Elementary EducationHenry Predolin School of Nursing, Business, Education, and Health Sciences
Where an educational journey begins
Children have an incredible ability to brighten your life. As an aspiring elementary education major, you are preparing yourself to thrive in kindergarten through 9th grade settings. Your critical role involves not just teaching, but guiding, mentoring, and fostering the growth and learning of young minds. Being an elementary education teacher, you will enjoy the opportunity to teach a variety of subjects, work with enthusiastic young learners, and unleash your creativity within the classroom.
The Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education program at Edgewood College prioritizes equipping students to meet the professional demands of modern education. As a prospective teacher, you will begin your practical training, known as a practicum, starting in your sophomore year. These immersive experiences will take place in public and private schools, encompassing various grade levels within the K-9 spectrum, ranging from early elementary to middle school placements. Successful completion requires dedicating a minimum of 100 hours to pre-student teaching, with a specific focus of 50 hours dedicated to multicultural experiences.
The major is paired with a specialized track for K-12 English as a Second Language (ESL) licensure, expanding your employment options. Additionally, we offer a range of minors to increase your expertise and marketability. These options encompass licensure areas such as bilingual education and special education, as well as programs in ethnic studies and various major content areas.
Madison, WI
On-campus
120
January 21, 2025
Careers within Elementary Education
$61,620
A bachelor’s degree in elementary education prepares you for a variety of career paths. Careers with an asterisk (*) may require additional education.
- Development Specialist
- Education Consultant
- Elementary Teacher
- Human Resources Coordinator
- Kindergarten Teacher
- Special Education Teacher*
- Training and Development Specialist
Elementary Education by the Numbers
15:1
100%
(students who complete the six-semester sequence)
40+
Elementary Education Student Spotlight
“Attending Edgewood College and being part of the elementary education program prepared me to support students from different backgrounds. I especially appreciate the opportunity to obtain my ESL and bilingual licenses, which helps me support many students as a teacher! Attending Edgewood gave me the opportunity to connect with professors who are highly experienced in the education field.”
Student Organizations
Aspiring Teachers Club
The Aspiring Teachers Club welcomes all students enrolled in, or preparing to study, in the Division of Education at Edgewood College. Their mission is to prepare students for careers in education by providing members with opportunities to enhance their understanding of the profession. They accomplish this by engaging members with opportunities to participate in professional development and community service activities, both on- and off-campus. Their commitment extends to fostering a warm, inclusive, and fun environment, creating a vibrant student community within the Division of Education.
Accreditation
The Teacher Education licensing programs are approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (WDPI). Edgewood College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Elementary Education Experiences
Madison and its neighboring communities offer a diverse array of practicum and student teaching placements, including private, parochial, and public schools in both urban and suburban areas. Having diverse options provides you with a broader range of experiences, which facilitates exploration to help you discover the best fit, enhancing both your skills and marketability.
Faculty Spotlights
Julie C. Luecke, Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Education, received her BS in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, her M.Ed. in Curriculum from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She was an elementary classroom teacher for nine years before moving into higher education. During her graduate studies, she took a year off to volunteer at Ongwediva College of Education in Namibia. Julie joined the Edgewood faculty in 2006, teaching undergraduate courses in educational foundations, courses in children’s literature for the undergraduate and graduate programs, and a course for the Edgewood College COR program, The Conception of Gender. This class emerged from Julie’s research interests in building support structures for gender expansive students and their peers, both through educational policy and practice and through children’s and young adult literature.
JLuecke@edgewood.edu
Gerardo Mancilla is an Associate Professor of Education for both the undergraduate and graduate programs. He holds a B.S. in Elementary Education, M.S. in Curriculum & Instruction, M.S. in Counseling Psychology, and Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction, all from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prior to working at Edgewood College, Gerardo was working for the Madison Metropolitan School District where he was a Dual Language Immersion teacher. Gerardo teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses at Edgewood College. Gerardo’s research interests include Critical Race Theory, LatCrit, the school-to-prison pipeline, bilingual education, and immigration. Gerardo has also been active in the Madison community for many years.
Heather O’Neil is an assistant program coordinator of Language and Literacy as well as an assistant professor. Heather has a BA in History and Secondary Education from St. Norbert College and an MA in Language and Literacy Development from Cardinal Stritch University. She is completing her Ph.D. in Language and Literacy at Concordia University-Chicago. Prior to Edgewood College, Heather was an assistant professor of undergraduate elementary education at Concordia University-Wisconsin for six years. She also worked as a district reading specialist, reading teacher, and literacy coach in various school districts in southeastern Wisconsin. Heather’s research interests include the identity formation of pre-service teachers, writing instruction, and culturally responsive instruction.
HONeil@edgewood.edu
JPetersen@edgewood.edu
Donna Vukelich-Selva received her Ph.D. in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2011. She also holds a Master of Arts in Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies from UW-Madison. Before coming to Edgewood College in 2008, she taught at a K-12 bilingual school in Managua, Nicaragua, where she also founded and ran a study abroad program for US college students. Vukelich-Selva teaches both undergraduate courses in the Division of Education, as well as bilingual and ESL education graduate courses in the Language and Literacy program. She also teaches in Edgewood’s COR program for first year students and piloted a course on the history of immigration in the United States that is cross-listed with Ethnic Studies. Among her college responsibilities, Donna serves on the advisory board for Edgewood’s Center for Multicultural Education. Donna’s research interests include critical race theory, education and immigration, bilingual education and restorative justice. She has been active in the Madison community for many years.
(608) 663-3235
DVukelich-Selva@edgewood.edu
Dr. Emily Zoeller is an associate professor and coordinator of Language and Literacy Program at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin. She holds a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and an M.A. from the University of San Diego. She earned an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Edgewood College, where she researched teacher leadership in two-way dual language education. Dr. Zoeller’s scholarship examines equitable instruction for multilinguals and literacy learners in K-12 education; her recent work has been published in the Bilingual Research Journal, Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, The Reading Teacher, and Teacher Education Quarterly. Prior to her role at Edgewood College, she worked as a bilingual teacher, a reading specialist, and an instructional coach. She is passionate about lifting teacher voices for promoting equity in language and literacy education.
EZoeller@edgewood.edu
Grounded and Cultivated in Values
The Division of Education mission is to cultivate future educators dedicated to anti-racist work that embraces and empowers every student. We do this by grounding our work in the core values of Edgewood College and providing teaching that is culturally and linguistically sustaining. This pursuit of equity extends inward, fostering a culture of inclusivity within us, our division, our students, and the communities we influence.
We envision candidates seeking licensure and education degrees as practitioners who are both reflective and effective. Our commitment is to nurture professionals devoted to continuous growth through ongoing professional development, cultivating the knowledge, skills, and dispositions essential for promoting equity in every classroom and school.
