Professional Studies in Education

The Add-on Director of Instruction License (5010) is a two-course, one-academic term cohort program.  Students graduating from IPSE’s Educational Leadership programs, any current Principal in WI, Reading Specialist (5017), or any other Administrative license may choose the Add-on license program, making them eligible for licensure as Director of Instruction.

The Online Add-on Director of Instruction License (5010) includes two new courses that address the additional competencies needed to meet the Director of Instruction standards, for a total of 6-credits beyond those needed for licensed Principals, those eligible for the PK-12 (5051) license, or those with a Reading Specialist (5017). The philosophy of the program is a learning-in-community, constructivist model with culturally relevant teaching. Students join the program in a cohort. In a learning community that is constructivist, learners come together as a group to share common emotions, values or beliefs in education and are actively engaged in learning together. This model is considered advanced pedagogy. The program meets the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders standards, the Wisconsin Administrator Standards for Director of Instruction, and professional educational requirements for Director of Instruction licensure in Wisconsin and most other states.

Update: The 2020 Fall for Education Conference has been cancelled.       
The Fall for Education Conference is the first full weekend in November annually.  The conference is part of learning outcomes for each IPSE program including Educational Leadership, Director of Instruction, MSED Learning Communities, and Reading.  A Special Course Fee of $60.00 is incorporated into fall tuition for the conference to help compensate for meals and breaks. Attendance at the conference is a program requirement for fall term.

Non-Wisconsin Teaching Licensure/Certification
UW-La Crosse programs offering a licensure or certification in Wisconsin will need to be reviewed by the State Board of Education of any other state in which the student plans on teaching.  The individual state education boards determine what courses transfer in to meet license or certification requirements of each state.

EDU 774        Curriculum and Leadership                                            

The history of the field of curriculum, as well as curriculum theory will be explored. A study of curricular paradigms that give form and shape to school practice will be included. 

An over-all purpose of this course is to study the historical development of the curriculum field, as well as the diversity of theoretical positions that stem from these historical underpinnings. This study will form a basis for our analyzing/studying the foundational ideas that provide the underlying rationale(s) for school practice with a heightened focus on the role of administrators in district curriculum decisions. 

EDU 775        Practicum for Director of Instruction & Seminar                  

The purpose of this course is to provide the student with practical experience for Director of Instruction. Per PI 34.32 all candidates seeking administrative licenses in the area of the Director of Instruction must participate in a supervised practicum before graduation from their program. This practicum shall be developmental in nature and provide opportunities that afford the Director of Instruction candidate to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the Wisconsin Content Guidelines for Director of Instruction Licensure Programs. Performance in the Director of Instruction practicum will be measured via two successful observations by a school-based supervisor (i.e., cooperating director) as well as by the supervisor assigned from UWL. In addition to successful observations, Director of Instruction candidates are required to engage in online seminar discussions anchored to the practicum seminar. These discussions are grounded in the day-to-day lives of Directors of Instruction and will support Director of Instruction candidates in gaining a deeper, authentic understanding of the Director of Instruction position. 

Further, during the practicum experience, Director of Instruction candidates will also have the opportunity to engage in professional discussions with an experienced administrator/cooperating director and their practicum supervisor. The practicum affords Director of Instruction candidates experience engaging in authentic activities to include the opportunity to take risks under the mindful guidance of their cooperating Director of Instruction and university supervisor. Practicums lead to numerous networking opportunities that can translate into informal support systems post practicum. 

The focus of your work during this course will be completing practicum requirements at your site as well as recapping your work through the totality of your participation in the Director of Instruction program at UWL.  Your seminar will serve as means to debrief your practicum experiences and share and learn from your fellow Director of Instruction comrades.

Program Completion

Eligibility for the Director of Instruction (5010) certification is contingent upon:

• Cumulative graduate grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0
• Satisfactory completion of Director of Instruction Program coursework, associated experiences, and artifacts