CEHD Programs
Choose your major to learn more about the program and view the classrooms and labs.
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.
About the College of Education and Human Development
As the cornerstone of Western Michigan University, the College of Education and Human Development continues to build upon its rich tradition of excellence by facilitating the preparation and growth of pre K-12 teachers, human service professionals, innovative designers, and health and wellness specialists.