Studies in Early Childhood Education, Intervention and Services at Western Michigan University feature:
- Interdisciplinary content, including: early childhood education, family science and human development, literacy studies, special education
- Academic pedagogy
- Professional preparation
- Best practices of early childhood education
Our dynamic pathway model encourages students to select the preparatory pathway best aligned with their academic interests and career goals. Program offerings prepare students for work in a variety of care, teaching, and service settings with young children. Pathways include options that align with State of Michigan requirements for childcare center directors; the early childhood general and special education (birth through kindergarten) teaching endorsement; and the lower elementary (pre-kindergarten through third grade) teaching endorsement.
Undergraduate options
Child development and services
Centers on the development of children, birth through school age, and the cultivation of skills, environments, and programs that promote healthy child development and outcomes. This program offers two tracks: Child Programming and Administration (fulfills State of MI requirements for childcare center directors) and Child Life foundations.
—Non-teaching certification track.
Early Childhood General and Special Education and Lower Elementary Education: Birth through Grade 3
Prepares students for work in a variety of early care and classroom settings. Integrates courses focused on child development, diverse family and community relationships, early childhood and special education, content area knowledge and pedagogy.
—Graduates are eligible for MI certification B-K and PK-3 all subjects.
Early Childhood General and Special Education: Birth through Kindergarten
Prepares students for work in a variety of early care and classroom settings serving infants through kindergarten-age children, including those with disabilities. Students receive focused coursework in preparation for work with young children, their families, and the direct and ancillary services dedicated to them.
—Graduates are eligible for MI certification B-K.
Graduate options
Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood General and Special Education
This online (asynchronous and partially synchronous) program prepares educators (with elementary teaching endorsements, specifically ZA [Birth to age 8], ZG [K-5 all subjects and K-8 all subjects self-contained], or ZO [PK-3]) for work in a variety of early care and classroom settings serving infants through kindergarten-age children with and without disabilities.
—Following completion of the curriculum, graduates can be eligible for an additional Michigan teaching endorsement in Early Childhood General and Special Education: Birth through Kindergarten (ZN).
M.A. in Early Childhood General and Special Education: Birth through Kindergarten
Program curriculum integrates graduate courses focused on child development, diverse family and community relationships, early childhood education, special education, and content area knowledge and pedagogy. It prepares educators to teach and work with young learners and their families, to meet the socio- emotional needs of the whole child, and to implement developmentally appropriate practices and intensive interventions in response to both typical and atypical development.
—Graduates are eligible for initial MI certification with an endorsement in early childhood general and special education: BK (ZN) or for an additional ZN endorsement.
Get involved
Registered student organizations (RSOs) are a great way for Broncos to pursue their unique personal interests and find a community of like-minded peers at WMU. Created by students, for students, and led by students, the College of Education and Human Development has four RSO's that are major specific to our early childhood options.
Approved programs by the Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Michigan Scholarship Program.