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Business education is a major that falls under our workforce education and development umbrella (formerly known as career and technical education). This major prepares students to teach business, marketing, management, and technology courses at the middle school or high school level.

Child and family development is a non-teaching major that falls under our family science program umbrella. This major focuses on preparing individuals to work with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, school-age children and their families in a variety of settings outside of the traditional classroom environment. Students interested in being a child life specialist should choose this major. Potential career paths include day care provider, child life specialist in a hospital setting, parent educators, early start and head start programs (non-teaching), and child development centers. Students can complete this major face to face, completely online, or in a hybrid format.

Early childhood elementary education leads to eligibility for teacher certification in K-5 all subjects as well as birth through age eight (early childhood ZS endorsement). All general education requirements are built into the program, which includes courses in content/subject area as well as teaching methods. Students complete pre-internships while completing other classes and finish the program with a full semester student teaching internship. Sangren Hall, the education building, contains specialty classrooms with similar setup and resources to typical elementary classrooms. The building also houses a reading clinic, which provide opportunities to work with children on campus as well.

Elementary education leads to eligibility for teacher certification in PK-6 all subjects (language arts, math, science, and social studies). All general education requirements are built into the program, which includes courses in content/subject area as well as teaching methods. Students complete a pre-internship while completing other classes and finish the program with a full semester student teaching internship. Sangren Hall, the education building, contains specialty classrooms with similar setup and resources to typical elementary classrooms. The building also houses a reading clinic, which provide opportunities to work with children on campus as well.

Exercise science is a broad-based health and wellness program that provides students with a variety of careers and specialization opportunities through eight different elective tracks. Students take courses in biology, anatomy, chemistry physiology, etc. and then can choose from elective tracks in pre-athletic training, pre-physical therapy, pre-occupational therapy, prephysician’s assistant, pre-med, chiropractic, exercise physiology, fitness, and cardiac rehabilitation. Electives in the pre-professional tracks prepare students to pursue the required advanced degrees in those fields. All students complete an internship or field experience to get real-world experience, as well as hands-on experience in our exercise physiology labs in the WMU Student Recreation Center.

Family and consumer sciences teacher education is a major that falls under our workforce education and development umbrella (formerly known as career and technical education). This major prepares students to teach at the middle school or high school level in family and consumer sciences courses such as health, life skills, nutrition, sewing, personal finance and childcare.

Family studies is a non-teaching major that falls under our family science program umbrella. This major is an interdisciplinary program for students who desire positions in public or private human service organizations or programs related to children, families, and individuals outside of the traditional classroom environment. An internship or field experience is required for graduation to provide real-world experience. Potential career paths include positions with Healthy Families, Planned Parenthood, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Senior Services, in state government, as family court workers, substance abuse assessment specialists, preschool staff, and volunteer and activity directors. Students can complete this major face to face, completely online, or in a hybrid format.

The fashion design and development major focuses on developing design, production, and professional skills needed for careers in the fashion design and product development sector of the apparel industry. Students electing this concentration study fashion design, history of fashion, product development, computer-aided design and entrepreneurship. Our state-of-theart sewing lab in Kohrman Hall contains industrial Juki sewing machines, mannequins, fabric cutting stations, and other resources found in the real world. The fashion student organization puts on two student-run fashion shows per year, which many fashion students are involved with as a way to build their portfolio and experience during school. Our fashion program also has study abroad opportunities to Regents University in London, England and the Florence Institute of the Arts in Florence, Italy, as well as a partner program with the New York Fashion Institute of Technology.

The fashion merchandising and design major prepares students for careers in fashion marketing, management and buying. Majors take courses in retail buying, visual merchandising, retail management, promotion, and entrepreneurship. The major also includes 18 hours in the Haworth College of Business, which is almost a full business minor, so many students take just a few additional classes to add this credential. Our state-of-the-art sewing lab in Kohrman Hall contains industrial Juki sewing machines, mannequins, fabric cutting stations, and other resources found in the real world. The fashion student organization puts on two student-run fashion shows per year, which many fashion students are involved with as a way to build their portfolio and experience during school. Our fashion program also has study abroad opportunities to Regents University in London, England and the Florence Institute of the Arts in Florence, Italy, as well as a partner program with the New York Fashion Institute of Technology.

Industrial technology education is a major that falls under our workforce education and development umbrella (formerly known as career and technical education). This major prepares students to teach at the middle school or high school level in industrial technology courses such as auto tech, welding, construction trades, drafting and electronics. The program contains both a vocational and non-vocational option.

Interior design happens between architecture and interior decorating, in which students are prepared to creatively design spaces that are functional and attractive while meeting public health, safety, and welfare requirements. The program is highly sequenced and is four years from the student’s first semester in the major. Strongly encouraged to start at WMU to not delay graduation. In this special admission program, students apply to the professional level during their sophomore year after completing required pre-professional coursework and passing a portfolio review. The program contains an internship or field experience requirement to provide real-world experience.

Nutrition and dietetics is a heavily science-based program that focuses on how the nutrients and chemistry of food interacts with the biology of the body. The program meets requirements for students to complete the national examination and internship required to become a registered dietitian. Nutrition and dietetics is a special admission program, where students apply to the professional level during their sophomore year after completing required preprofessional coursework.

Occupational education studies is an articulated degree completed in partnership between WMU and 14 Michigan community colleges. This degree program is designed specifically for those individuals who wish to become certified teachers in a technical subject major and have taken the appropriate pre-requisite courses at a Michigan community college. Note: This is NOT occupational therapy. Students often select this major by mistake. See exercise science for pre-occupational therapy track.

WMU’s PHETE program prepares pre-service teacher candidate to be certified in both physical education and health education, offered in a 4-year or 5-year degree plan. WMU was the first school in the state of Michigan to offer this unique, combined program. Graduates are eligible for certification for K-12 physical education and/or health education and complete internship semesters in both physical education and health education settings.

The recreation management major prepares students for leadership or administrative roles in public, non-profit, commercial and recreational sport organizations. The electives in this program allow for student flexibility in preparing for employment in any of the different areas in the fields of recreation and sport. Students complete a supervised practicum and internship experience.

The secondary education program prepares students for teacher certification in grades 7-12 in one of the following majors: biology, chemistry, Chinese, earth science, English, French, geography, German, history, integrated science, Latin, social studies, Spanish, or teaching and learning mathematics. Students complete their bachelor’s degree in their content area from the College of Arts and Sciences and then apply to the competitive admission one-year master’s degree through the College of Education and Human Development. The master’s degree provides students with methods and pedagogy coursework, as well as a yearlong internship based on the public-school calendar.

The special education major is a dual-certification program that prepares students for eligibility for both special education K-12 in learning disabilities and for elementary education teaching credentials. The program is a special admission program. Students complete a practicum experience every semester, as well as a semester student teaching internship in both special education and elementary education. Therefore, the program is 4.5 years by design. Sangren Hall, the education building, contains specialty classrooms with similar setup and resources to typical elementary classrooms. The building also houses a reading clinic, which provide opportunities to work with children on campus as well.

Sport management is the business side of the sport world. WMU prepares students for careers in professional sports, college athletics, amateur sports, youth sports, or corporate sportrelated positions. Job functions in the sport industry include facility management, sport promotion and marketing, sport media, customer or community relations, sport sponsorship, licensing, sport information, sport law, and more. Sport management majors are required to have a minor in one of five areas: general business, communication, coaching, journalism, or event management. The program includes an internship and practicum to allow students to customize their experience and gain real-world skills.

The workforce education and development major is a non-teacher certification option to provide technical training, staff development, and career guidance for professionals at the baccalaureate level. Graduates will also be qualified to teach at postsecondary institutions such as community colleges, technical institutes, military, correctional facilities, and other organizations where a bachelor's degree and technical experience are required. The program includes a required internship to provide real-world experience.

Youth and community development is a non-teaching major that falls under our family science program umbrella. This major prepares youth development professionals to take roles in diverse youth-serving, family and community settings, such as afterschool/out-of-school time programs and informal learning environments. An internship or field experience is required for graduation to provide real-world experience. Students can complete this major face to face or in a hybrid format.