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Feb. 5, 2019

KALAMAZOO, Mich—In fall 2018, Western Michigan University's Department of Family and Consumer Sciences’ Workforce and Education Development (WFED) program began offering a major and minor in workforce education and development. The demand for career and technical education teachers, technical trainers in business and industry, and career development specialists is on the rise and the College of Education and Human Development at 51¸£ÀûÉç prepares its graduates to easily step into these roles through a variety of degree options in the WFED program.

The program offers personalized attention and evaluates each student on a case by case basis to tailor a program to their unique background and personal goals. Students interested in any of the WFED programs, contact Adam Manley, associate professor and graduate advisor, to see what option might be best.

Workforce Education and Development Program Options

B.A. in workforce education and development
The major is cross-disciplinary and allows students to acquire technical training skills while focusing on areas of personal interest. It includes a customized field experience and an internship that is intended to align with student interest and career goals. Graduates from these programs would be suitable for technical training and education positions that are outside of the certified teacher K-12 school environment. This program does not lead to K-12 teacher certification.

Minor in workforce education and development
The 18-credit minor focuses exclusively on technical training and curriculum design, which pairs well with a variety of majors. For example, a student with specialized skills/major related to business, the arts, engineering or a technical field could learn how to train others in a technical setting.

B.S. in family and consumer sciences teacher education
This major prepares students to teach family and consumer sciences curriculum at the middle or high school level. Family and consumer sciences teachers are in high demand across the country. Most of the recent graduates in this major have secured teaching positions in the state of Michigan before graduating or immediately upon graduation.

B.S. in industrial technology education
This major prepares students to teach industrial technology courses at the middle or high school level. Industrial technology teachers are in high demand across the country. As Michigan’s skill trades shortage continues to grow, industrial technology instructors play a critical role in motivating youth to pursue the careers of tomorrow. Most of the recent graduates in this major have secured teaching positions in the state of Michigan before graduating or immediately upon graduation.

B.S. in business education
This major prepares students to teach business, marketing, management and technology secondary education courses at the middle or high school level. Business and marketing teachers are in high demand across the country. Most of the recent graduates in this major have secured teaching positions in the state of Michigan before graduating or immediately upon graduation.

M.A. in workforce education, development and leadership is a 30-credit hour degree that is ideal for candidates already certified to teach or working as a professional looking to expand their knowledge of workforce education and training. All of the classes can be taken fully online (although many are also offered face-to-face or hybrid too) and the degree is highly flexible to suit the candidate’s needs.

M.A. in workforce education, development and leadership post-baccalaureate is a 36-credit hour degree that prepares the candidate to become a certified Michigan middle or high school CTE teacher in the areas of business, marketing, management and technology, family and consumer sciences, or industrial technology.

The WFED program also offers the courses need to complete , which allows qualifying candidates to become certified to teach in the field of career and technical education.