WMU Grow Your Own Teacher Education
Program benefits
- Fully-funded bachelor's or master's degree from WMU
- Fast-track your bachelor's degree in 2-3 years
- Earn a master's degree in 1-2 years
- Receive salary, benefits and experience with a community of learners
- Eligibility for Michigan Teacher Certification upon program completion
Program information
About the program: The master's degree in adapted physical education is designed to prepare physical education and special education teachers to provide quality adapted physical education for school children with disabilities in the least restrictive, most appropriate, and most inclusive environments. The program is offered completely online.
- Coming soon!
Questions?
Contact WMU: Dr. Jiabei Zhang, Professor of Adapted Physical Education
About the program: The early childhood unified education bachelor's degree program prepares candidates to work with young children from birth through 3rd Grade. Graduates will qualify to take the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) for the PK-3 (ZO) and Birth - Kindergarten (ZN) endorsements. This expedited 3-year program is delivered in online and hybrid formats.
- Cassopolis Public Schools (Press Release)
- Gaylord Community Schools
- Harper Creek Community Schools
- Heritage Southwest ISD
- Ionia Public Schools
- Parchment School District
- Van Buren Intermediate District (Press Release)
Questions?
Contact WMU: Dr. Susan Piazza, Chair of the Department of Teaching, Learning and Educational Studies
About the program: The B.S. in Early Learning and Intervention: Birth through Kindergarten (ELI: BK) integrates 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 will qualify to take the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) for initial teacher certification in Early Childhood General and Special Education: Birth - Kindergarten (ZN).
- Coming soon!
Questions?
Contact WMU: Dr. Emily Curiel, Assistant Professor
About the program: The elementary education program prepares candidates to teach in Pre-Kindergarten through sixth grade. Graduates will qualify to take the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) for the PK-3 (ZO) and/or 3-6 (ZP) endorsements. This expedited 3-year program is delivered in online and hybrid formats.
- Cassopolis Public Schools (Press Release)
- Gaylord Community Schools
- Harper Creek Community Schools
- Heritage Southwest ISD
- Ionia Public Schools
- Parchment School District
- Van Buren Intermediate District (Press Release)
Elementary Education (B.S.) – Sample Schedule
122 Credit Hours across 3 years
Schedules are dependent on start and dates and transfer credits.
Year One
| Fall | Child Development/Teaching/SEL (7 cr.) | Math Classes (6 cr.) | College Composition (3 cr.) | No Formal Field Experience |
| Spring | WES Classes (6 cr.) | Science Classes (6 cr.) | Children's Literature (6 cr.) | No Formal Field Experience |
| Summer | Special Education and Literacy (6 cr.) | Teaching Lab | Formal Field Experience (3 half days total) | – |
Year Two
| Fall | Math Classes (6 cr.) | Social Studies (6 cr.) | Creative Arts | PK Classroom (1/2 day per week) |
| Spring | Science Classes (6 cr.) | Creative Arts/Social Studies (6 cr.) | Teaching Lab | PK-3 Classroom (1 day per week) |
| Summer | Writing/English (3 cr.) | Teaching Lab | 3-6 Classroom (2 days per week) | – |
Year Three
| Fall | Literacy Classes (6 cr.) | Science Classes (3 cr.) | Math Classes (3 cr.) | Full-Time Student Teaching PK-6 |
| Spring | ESL + Literacy Classes (6 cr.) | Internship Seminar (2 cr.) | School + Society (3 cr.) | Full-Time Student Teaching PK-6 |
Questions?
Contact WMU: Dr. Susan Piazza, Chair of the Department of Teaching, Learning and Educational Studies
About the program: The elementary education master's degree program meets state requirements for initial elementary education certification in grades K-5 all subjects (K-8 all subjects in a self- contained classroom) (ZG) at the graduate level and is designed for non-certified elementary educators K-5.
- Coloma Community School District
- Harper Creek Community Schools
- Ionia Public Schools
- Parchment School District
- Van Buren Intermediate District (Press Release)
Elementary Education (M.A.T.) – Sample Schedule
16 month program
Schedules are dependent on start and dates and transfer credits.
Year One
| Spring | Childhood Learning and Development (3 cr.) | Learning in Social Contexts (3 cr.) | Literacy Acquisition and Reading – second half (3 cr.) | |
| Summer I | Introduction to Special Education (3 cr.) | Science Education (3 cr.) | ||
| Summer II | Introduction to Research in Educational Settings (3 cr.) |
Year Two
| Fall | Classroom Management (3 cr.) | Studies in Teaching Elementary School Mathematics (3 cr.) | Reading in the Content Areas (3 cr.) | |
| Spring | Capstone Project (3 cr.) | Reading in the Content Areas ( | Practicum Assessment (3 cr.) | Curriculum Workshop (3 cr.) |
Questions?
About the program: The literacy studies master's degree program enhances the knowledge and skills of reflective practitioners as they become leaders as reading specialists, literacy coaches, innovative classroom teachers, researchers and advocates.
Questions?
Contact WMU: Dr. Laura Teichert, Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Literacy Studies
About the program: The school counseling concentration of the counselor education master's program meets the educational requirements for the school counselor license (K-12) and the limited license as a professional counselor (LLPC) in Michigan.
Questions?
Contact WMU: Dr. Glinda Rawls, Associate Professor and Director of the Counselor Education Unit
About the program: Students in the special education master's degree program focus their studies on obtaining a special education teaching endorsement, in depth study of special education content for personal growth, or preparation for advanced graduate training. Available endorsement areas include Autism Spectrum Disorder, Emotional Impairments, and Learning Disabilities.
- Ann Arbor Public Schools
- Gaylord Community Schools
- Harper Creek Community Schools
- Heritage Southwest Intermediate Schools
- Ionia Public Schools
- Parchment School District
- Talent Together
- West Ottawa Public Schools (Press Release)
- Van Buren Intermediate District (Press Release)
Questions?
Contact WMU: Dr. Kate LaLonde, Associate Professor of Special Education or Dr. Sarah Summy, Professor of Special Education.
About the program: The M.A. in TESOL program is designed to prepare educators to meet the unique needs of English as a Second Language (ESL) learners. Graduates are well prepared for Michigan's ESL endorsement.
- Ann Arbor Public Schools
- Clawson Public Schools
- Climax-Scotts Community Schools
- Coloma Community School District
- Harper Creek Community Schools
- Kellogsville Public Schools
- Parchment School District
- Van Buren Intermediate District (Press Release)
- West Ottawa Public Schools (Press Release)
Questions?
Contact WMU: Dr. Virginia David, Faculty Specialist and Coordinator of TESOL programs
About the program: The bachelor's degree in occupational education studies prepares students to work in a technical training setting. The major is cross-disciplinary and allows students to acquire technical training skills while focusing on areas of personal interest and experience.
- Buchanan Community Schools (Funded by CTE 61i Grant)
- Calhoun Intermediate School District (Funded by CTE 61i Grant)
- Genesee Intermediate School District
- Harper Creek Community Schools
- Hastings Area School District
- Kalamazoo RESA (Funded by CTE 61i Grant)
- Ottawa Area Intermediate School District (Funded by CTE 61i Grant)
- Utica Community Schools
- Van Buren Intermediate District (Press Release)
Questions?
Contact WMU: Dr. Suzan Smith-Ayers, Chair of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences or Associate Professor Dr. Adam Manley.
About the program: The masters degree in Workforce Education and Development prepares candidates for general education and/or Career and Technical Education (CTE) endorsements in Business, Family and Consumer Sciences, or Industrial and Technology Education.
- Buchanan Community Schools (Funded by CTE 61i Grant)
- Calhoun Intermediate School District (Funded by CTE 61i Grant)
- Harper Creek Community Schools
- Hastings Area School District
- Kalamazoo RESA (Funded by CTE 61i Grant)
- Ottawa Area Intermediate School District (Funded by CTE 61i Grant)
- Utica Community Schools
- Van Buren Intermediate District (Press Release)
Questions?
Contact WMU: Dr. Suzan Smith-Ayers, Chair of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences or Associate Professor Dr. Adam Manley.
Student experience
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How to apply
Applicants must first indicate interest with their school district to gain sponsorship. Once sponsored and approved by the school district, applicants should apply to Western Michigan University using the links below.
GYO staff
