SHEBOYGAN, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin Colleges announced today that four campuses will collaborate with the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh to offer a bachelor’s degree in special education beginning in fall, 2012, at UW-Sheboygan, UW-Manitowoc, UW-Fond du Lac and UW-Washington County, located in West Bend.

The new special education degree will offer licensure for teaching special education in grades K-12. As students complete their Associate of Arts and Science degrees at the four campuses, they will transition into the UW Oshkosh program for their junior and senior level courses. Those courses will be taught at Riverview Middle School in Plymouth by UW Oshkosh instructors. UW Oshkosh will award the degrees.

Al Hardersen, campus executive officer and dean at UW-Sheboygan, said the partnership will help area school districts meet the demand for special education teachers and help local students get a bachelor’s degree close to home. Riverview Middle School is 11 miles from Sheboygan, approximately 25 miles from Fond du Lac and West Bend and 30 miles from Manitowoc.

Students enrolled in the program will have access to UW Oshkosh’s library, technology and other academic support systems. For information on the new UW Oshkosh special education degree program, contact UW-Sheboygan Student Services at (920) 459-6633 or e-mail uwshb@uwc.edu.

UW Colleges is comprised of 13 freshman-sophomore campuses and UW Colleges Online that offer an associate degree in arts and science and prepare students of all ages and backgrounds for baccalaureate and professional programs.

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