Program Planning
Within the structure noted below, coursework is planned by agreement between the faculty advisor and the graduate student. Your program will be divided into three areas:
- Twelve credits from the foundations of practice (core program)
- Twelve credits from your personalized program (area of specialization)
- Six credits of education electives
A minimum of 30 credit hours (capstone project) or 33 credit hours (thesis) is required.
View the graduate course sequence.
Program examples
Please note that the examples shown below are not required choices; in collaboration with program advisors, students may select other class options that reflect their personal educational goals.
Sample: early childhood education; state ZS endorsement emphasis
Program planning sheet (to be completed with a faculty advisor)
For more information on this emphasis, contact Dr. Regena Fails Nelson, (269)387-3437.
Sample: K-12 curriculum and instruction emphasis
Program planning sheet (to be completed with a faculty advisor)
For more information on this emphasis, contact Dr. Lynn Nations-Johnson, (269) 387-3492.
Sample: other emphasis
Program planning sheet word (to be completed with a faculty advisor)
Self-designed specializations
Additional focus areas are available to help continue the professional growth and development of educators and provide opportunities to expand to new areas of knowledge and skill. Students at Western Michigan University may also select courses outside of the Department of Teaching, Learning and Educational Studies to create a variety of specialized programs. This flexibility allows students to focus their program toward an academic content area related to their own teaching position (such as science, mathematics, language arts, etc.), or to an area that addresses other personal, academic and professional interests (fine arts, leadership, foreign language, psychology, etc).