The UW–Madison School of Education houses 10 diverse departments and a broad array of undergraduate and graduate programs — from elementary and secondary education to studio art, modern dance, and theatre to exercise science and occupational therapy.
Arts
Art
The Art Department is committed to teaching art in the context of a major research university and a vibrant intellectual community. The department's nationally and internationally recognized faculty members strive to provide both a fertile and challenging environment for aesthetic and critical engagement and teach the technical skills necessary for the practice of art in the changing landscape of the twenty-first century.
Dance
A long-established leader of dance in higher education, the Dance Department is founded on the belief that dance is an intellectual art that should be accessible to all. Dance courses focus on the study and/or practice of various dance techniques, dance repertory, improvisation, composition, movement analysis, anatomy, theory, history, and more. Our aim is to create dance that engages both its practitioners and its local and global communities, seeking to illuminate those aspects of ourselves and our cultures that are uniquely manifested in human movement.
Theatre and Drama
Through mainstage, open-stage, and student-produced works, the Department of Theatre and Drama provides students with excellent opportunities to apply skills and techniques learned in the classroom in fully staged productions. Our alumni are successful in theatre, film, television, gaming, production management, development, design, education, and all aspects of the entertainment industry. Our faculty are active theatre professionals who bring current and practical knowledge into the classrooms and productions. Our department is well known for the individual attention, mentorship, and commitment we give our students.
Education
Curriculum and Instruction
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction is one of the premier research and teaching departments devoted to understanding the complex world of teaching, learning, curriculum, and policy. Faculty pursue a diverse array of research combining experience in schools with expertise drawn from a range of disciplinary fields. This world-class research is the foundation of its work preparing future teachers and the next generation of educational researchers.
Educational Psychology
The Department of Educational Psychology develops and applies cutting-edge scientific knowledge concerning: the psychological and social processes that underlie learning, the design of effective instruction, the factors affecting the mental health of learners of all ages, and the methodological tools required to generate this knowledge.
Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
The mission of the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis is to create, integrate, exchange, and apply knowledge about leadership, learning, and organizational performance to advance educational quality and opportunity.
Educational Policy Studies
The Department of Educational Policy Studies is dedicated to the study of educational policy in its various manifestations and to the study of traditionally defined fields such as anthropology of education, comparative and international education, public policy and education, history of education, philosophy of education, and sociology of education. The department has strong ties with institutions and scholars in other countries.
Health
Counseling Psychology
The Department of Counseling Psychology is primarily a graduate department, offering an APA-accredited doctoral degree in counseling psychology and a master's degree specializing in community counseling. The department emphasizes the integration of multiculturalism and diversity into counseling psychology and is committed to multiculturalism broadly-defined in teaching, research, practice, and service.
Kinesiology
The study of movement, exercise, and occupation has the potential to dramatically impact health and quality of life. Kinesiology Department programs focus on the scientific study of exercise, movement, and human occupation, applying this study to health, physical education, and functional performance. The department's ultimate goal is to enhance human health, productivity, and quality of life.
Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education
The Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education prepares personnel, through professional education, research, and service, for the education and/or rehabilitation of people of all ages with disabilities. Instruction and research emphasize educational and behavioral assessment and treatment of children, as well as counseling, assessment, case management, advocacy, and job placement with adults to facilitate improved personal, social, and vocational adjustment.