Obtaining an Environmental Science Teaching License through UW-Stevens Point

This information is applicable to secondary level teaching.

Why Environmental Science Licensure?

The number of environmental science courses being taught in Wisconsin high schools is increasing every year. Growing environmental concerns such as climate change and sustainability emphasize the need for educating the next generation of decision makers. Districts are becoming more aware of this need and responding by initiating new courses such as environmental science/studies, ecology, and environmental biology.

Having an environmental science teaching license ensures educators meet state requirements and have the necessary background to teach these courses. Holding environmental science licensure makes teachers more marketable and provides options for you and your district to expand existing curriculum. Teachers who have even a remote interest in teaching environmental science or think it may someday be offered in their school should seriously consider obtaining an environmental science teaching license.

Resources

The Wisconsin Environmental Science Teacher Network (WESTN) serves secondary level environmental science teachers by providing resources, networking, and professional development opportunities. The coordinator is available to provide guidance and answer questions for new and veteran environmental science teachers. For more information, visit the WESTN web site: http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/wcee/envsci/ or contact Sunshine Buchholz, WESTN Coordinator, at sbuchhol@uwsp.edu or 715-346-2014.

Licenses Offered

There are two types of environmental science licenses teachers can obtain: Environmental Science (615) and Life and Environmental Science (606). UW-Stevens Point offers Environmental Science 615.

Options for Obtaining

Options for obtaining an environmental science teaching license at UW-Stevens Point depend on a person’s current situation.

1. You are a UWSP undergraduate student

  • Follow the requirements listed in the UWSP Catalog under Natural Resources – Resource Management – Teacher Certification Emphasis.
  • From the 2007-2009 Catalog:
  • Teacher Certification Emphasis - If you seek certification to teach environmental studies at the secondary level, complete one of the above options1 and this emphasis2, or the resource management minor in conjunction with another approved major.
    • 1 Above options refers to: completing a Resource Management major (general NR courses, summer camp, area of emphasis e.g., general resource management, environmental education and interpretation, land use planning, youth programming and camp management, resource management policy, resource management law enforcement).
    • 2 This emphasis refers to: teacher certification in secondary education and professional education sequence requirements in addition to specified GPA.

2. You are a practicing teacher

  • The requirements for acquiring environmental science licensure once you are in the classroom will depend on your current license and educational degree.
  • a. Obtain a copy of your transcripts for all degrees from all schools
  • b. Contact Dr. Dan Sivek, Professor of Environmental Education in the College of Natural Resources (dsivek@uwsp.edu, 715-346-2028). Inform him you would like to obtain an environmental science teaching license through UWSP. Send him your transcripts for review. He will inform you of the necessary requirements to obtain the license. You will be evaluated on the following criteria:
Your Current License Requirements
Secondary grades 7-12 and 9-12

OR

Ages 10-21, Early Adolescence through Adolescence 		1. UWSP Resource Management minor for teachers or Equivalent course work in WCEE EE MS Graduate Program

2. Education 385/585 – Teaching the Early Adolescent (Offered summers)

3. Passing score of 154 on the Praxis II “General Science: Content Knowledge” test #0435 (if taken during pilot year, no score required)

4. Student teaching is required if your initial license is NOT in a science area

5. Portfolio – (see below)

(Note: Secondary license could also be changed to ages 10-21.)
Secondary grades 6-12 or 5-12 or Ages 10-21 or Ages 0-21 1. UWSP Resource Management minor for teachers or Equivalent course work in WCEE EE MS Graduate Program

2. Passing score of 154 on the Praxis II “General Science: Content Knowledge” test #0435 (if taken during pilot year, no score required)

3. Portfolio – (see below)

4. Student teaching is required if your initial license is NOT in a science area
Notes:
  • Student teaching may be completed “on-the-job.”
  • Praxis II Testing information - See ETS web-site for registration information - www.ets.org/praxis - this test is only given 6 times per year and it takes at least 6 weeks to get your scores back - UWSP does have study guides at the Reserve Desk of the library for a 3-day check out - please make sure to use code 1919 for “score recipient.”
  • Portfolio – At the time you apply for your add-on license, you will be required to submit either a CD or jump drive with all assignments for your classes for the new license included.
  • c. Once Dr. Sivek has approved your course work go to the DPI web-site (add DPI website to application here)and print off the “initial license” application, follow the directions completely, attach your payment and send it with a copy of your Praxis II scores to: Office of Field Experiences, College of Professional Studies, UW-Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI 54481

3. You are in the WCEE MS EE Graduate Program

  • The Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education offers an MS in Environmental Education for practicing teachers through the College of Natural Resources. Courses are taught online in spring and fall and face-to-face in the summer. Information about this program can be found at: http://www.uwsp.edu/natres/msnree/.
  • To add one of these licenses while going through the WCEE MS EE Graduate Program, you must inform your advisor of your intentions. Your advisor will work with you to design a program of study that meets the requirements for obtaining the environmental science license. You will also need to do the following based on your current license:
Your Current License Requirements
Secondary grades 7-12 and 9-12

OR

Ages 10-21, Early Adolescence through Adolescence 		1. Education 385/585 – Teaching the Early Adolescent (Offered summers)

2. Passing score of 154 on the Praxis II “General Science: Content Knowledge” test #0435 (if taken during pilot year, no score required)

3. Student teaching is required if your initial license is NOT in a science area

4. Portfolio – (see below)

(Note: Secondary license could also be changed to ages 10-21.)
Secondary grades 6-12 or 5-12 or Ages 10-21 or Ages 0-21 1. Passing score of 154 on the Praxis II “General Science: Content Knowledge” test #0435 (if taken during pilot year, no score required)

2. Portfolio – (see below)

3. Student teaching is required if your initial license is NOT in a science area
Notes:
  • Student teaching may be completed “on-the-job.”
  • Praxis II Testing information - See ETS web-site for registration information - www.ets.org/praxis - this test is only given 6 times per year and it takes at least 6 weeks to get your scores back - UWSP does have study guides at the Reserve Desk of the library for a 3-day check out - please make sure to use code 1919 for “score recipient.”
  • Portfolio – At the time you apply for your add-on license, you will be required to submit either a CD or jump drive with all assignments for your classes for the new license included.
  • Once you have completed all the requirements you will need to go to the DPI web-site (again place website here) and print off the “initial license” application, follow the directions completely, attach your payment and send it with a copy of your Praxis II scores to: Office of Field Experiences, College of Professional Studies, UW-Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI 54481