Family and Consumer Sciences

WFED Graduate Programs

Program and course details

This program is offered online.

The Western Michigan University Workforce Education and Development (WFED) Master of Arts program has options for those seeking to become career and technical education instructors, technical trainers in business and industry, and career development specialists.

M.A. in Workforce Education, Development and Leadership (30 credits)

This degree option is for ideal for candidates that are already a certified teacher OR working professional looking to expand their knowledge of workforce education and training. This program can be taken fully online. However, many of the same courses are offered in face-to-face or hybrid format.

This is a highly flexible master’s degree. While one can take all of their courses within the workforce education program, one can also take courses from other disciplines (i.e. educational technology, educational leadership, literacy studies, etc). The minimum requirements for graduation are that the candidate has taken at least 15 of their 30 credits at the 6000 level and 15 credits within the WFED program.

WFED graduate courses offered:

WFED 5010: Topics in International Workforce Education and Development, three credit hours
WFED 5100: Special Populations in WFED, three credit hours
WFED 5120: Principles of WFED, three credit hours
WFED 5130: Teaching Methods in WFED, three credit hours
WFED 5150: Grant Writing in WFED, three credit hours
WFED 5420: Curriculum Development in WFED, three credit hours
WFED 5430: Work-site Based Education Programs, three credit hours
WFED 6170: Global Education in WFED, three credit hours
WFED 6270: Marketing Strategies in WFED, three credit hours
WFED 6430: Measurement and Evaluation in WFED, three credit hours
WFED 6160: Occupational Selection and Training, three credit hours
WFED 6450: Organization of Employment/Training Systems, three credit hours
WFED 6480: Adult Education in WFED, three credit hours
WFED 6500: Business/Industry/Education Work-based Learning, three credit hours

M.A. in Workforce Education, Development and Leadership Post-baccalaureate (36 credits)

This degree option is for those seeking to become a certified Michigan middle or high school CTE teacher.

The WFED program certifies teachers in the following three areas:

Business, marketing, management and technology (BMMT)
Family and consumer sciences (FCS)
Industrial technology

To qualify for this program, a candidate must have at least 30 credit hours of coursework related to their chosen certification area (listed above). Additionally, they must have at least 3,000 hours of related work experience within the past 10 years.

Candidates that enter the program must pass their teacher certification content area test and document their work experience before they can complete their student internship.

Every situation is unique. If you think you qualify for this teacher certification option, please contact the graduate advisor for the WFED program.

Typical program of study for the 36 credit master’s option (courses with asterisks are the courses needed for teacher certification):

Human growth and development (3 hours)

*FCS 5250: Adolescent in Development, three credit hours

Teaching of reading (3 hours)

*LS 6870: Strategic Learning through Texts for High School Teachers, three credit hours

Workforce education courses (18 hours)

*WFED 5100: Special Populations in WFED, three credit hours
*WFED 5120: Principles of WFED, three credit hours
*WFED 5130: Teaching Methods in WFED, three credit hours
*WFED 5420: Curriculum Development in WFED, three credit hours
WFED 5430: Work-site Based Education Programs, three credit hours
WFED 6430: Measurement and Evaluation in WFED, three credit hours

Directed field experience (9 hours)

*FCS 6220: Practicum (intern teaching), six credit hours
*WFED 6170: Seminar in WFED, three credit hours

Electives (3 hours)

Any WFED course

Program goals

The overall program goal for the graduate WFED teacher education program at WMU is to develop master practitioners in WFED subject matter areas, who can create productive learning environments, advance student learning, assist students in the transition from school to work and adult roles and practice professional development and outreach responsibilities.

Program objectives

The program objectives for the graduate WFED teacher education program are aligned with the Career and Technical Education Standards for National Board Certification (NBPTS, 3rd Printing, 2001). Upon completion of the graduate WFED teacher education program at WMU, the student should be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding and knowledge of students (including, but not limited to an appreciation of education for all students, using a systematic assessment process for understanding student needs, understanding the particular needs of individual students and the changing nature of the labor market and workplace).
Demonstrate an understanding and knowledge of the subject matter (including, but not limited to an understanding of workplace basic skills, general industry knowledge, integrating technical content with English, social studies, math and science).
Manage classrooms or laboratories and create an environment for learning (including, but not limited to contextualizing learning environments, managing classrooms efficiently, maintaining safety, creating a democratic environment, and encouraging the love of learning, invention and risk taking).
Create a learning environment involving equal treatment, fairness and respect for diversity (including, but not limited to creating environments where equity, fairness and diversity are modeled, taught and practiced, preparing students for the diversity of the workplace, and ensuring access to quality career and technical learning).
Foster experiential, conceptual and performance-based student learning of the subject matter (including, but not limited to creating engaging learning activities that enhance student mastery of the knowledge, guiding students in the acquisition of subject matter knowledge, and utilizing a variety of materials and resources).
Utilize a variety of assessment methods (including, but not limited to using assessment for a variety of purposes, utilizing a variety of assessment methods, helping students understand their progress and using assessment as an opportunity for feedback).
Develop student career decision-making and employable skills (including, but not limited to helping student with career decision-making, developing employable skills and understanding workplace culture and expectations).
Guide students in managing and balancing multiple life roles (including, but not limited to, balancing life roles, understanding personal economics and managing daily life, preparing for community involvement),
Develop in students self-awareness and confidence (including, but not limited to fostering development of students' self-awareness, confidence and character; developing student initiative and teamwork skills; and encouraging the development of sound social, personal, and civic ethics).
Analyze, evaluate and strengthen teaching practice through life-long learning (including, but not limited to evaluating results and seeking input for a variety of sources, reflecting on one's own point of view and continually refining practice through study and self examination).
Strengthen professional development and outreach (including, but not limited to building partnerships with business, industry, labor, and the community; collaborating with related subject matter professionals and colleagues from other disciplines; and collaborating with post-secondary colleagues).
Contribute to the education profession to improve schools and advance knowledge and practice in their field (including, but not limited to contributing to the school, collaborating with colleagues, advancing knowledge in their respective WFED discipline).
Work with families and community partnerships to advance education for all students (including, but not limited to gaining insight into students through partnerships with families and cultivating families' interests in supporting their students' education).