This program is offered in-person.
This program offers an Accelerated Graduate Degree Program for select concentrations.
Do you have technical knowledge that you would like to learn to share with others? Do you have interest in learning business fundamentals as well as the latest training techniques? Have you always wanted to teach, but not in a K-12 school environment? This major 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. The major includes a customized field experience and an internship that is intended to align with student interest and career goals.
Within workforce education and development there is also a non-teacher certification option that prepares professionals at the baccalaureate level to provide technical training, staff development and career guidance at postsecondary institutions.
Why workforce education at Western Michigan University?
Find success: 100% of workforce education and development graduates have been recruited for certified teaching positions.
Real-world experience: Students in this program complete a pre-internship and an internship in the field before graduating.
Variety of courses: Largest selection of career and technical educational course offerings in the state of Michigan.
Hitting the standard: Michigan school principals ranked 99% of new teachers prepared at WMU as "effective" or "highly effective" in 2020-21.
Accelerated option: The WFED program allows qualifying students to begin accumulating credits toward completion of a M.A. while enrolled as undergraduates.
International opportunities: The WFED system in Germany study abroad program discovers and explores Germany’s highly-developed apprenticeship system, which serves as a model for most European countries. Participants visit several vocational schools and their partner businesses, observing various teaching and learning styles.
Hear it from us
All of my professors and instructors are experts in their field, and there was not a single class that was not applicable to what I am doing today.
- Lauren Bonner, alumni
Teacher education pathways
Additional information
Study abroad
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