Mar 28, 2024  
2019-2020 Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Psychology: Human Development — Elementary, BAE


Department of Psychology, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

59-60 credits

Introduction

Psychology’s attempt to understand the human condition takes many approaches. Some psychologists study brain chemistry and its relation to behavior, while others study the behavior of individuals in groups. Still others are engaged in providing counseling or psychotherapy to people who are mentally ill or who are having difficulty in coping with the demands of life. With a faculty of over 34 individuals, all of whom hold a doctoral degree; the Department offers a program of study which provides a solid foundation in the general concepts and methods of Psychology, as well as courses and programs for students in many of the more specialized areas.

The human development program is designed to provide students in the elementary education program with an in-depth understanding of theory, research, and application in developmental psychology, and a sound background in general psychology. The program is designed to allow students flexibility in selecting psychology courses with the assistance of their advisor.

This major satisfies the academic major requirement for teacher certification with an endorsement in elementary education and must be accompanied by the professional preparation program in elementary education. See the Elementary Education  section of this catalog for program admission, completion, and teacher certification requirements.

Why Consider a Psychology: Human Development - Elementary Major?

Many of the major issues facing children and schools today – school readiness, achievement motivation, testing, classroom behavior, stereotyping, bullying, family and neighborhood stressors – are issues of human psychology. Psychology, as the scientific study of mind and behavior, helps provide answers to these problems, as well as contribute to the scientific understanding of how children best think and learn.

 Contact Information

Department Chair
James Graham
Academic Instruction Center 440
360-650-3177
Jim.Graham@wwu.edu

Undergraduate Advisor
Tina Du Rocher Schudlich
Academic Instruction Center 476
360-650-7636
Tina.DuRocherSchudlich@wwu.edu

Elementary Education Program Manager
Miller Hall 301D
360-650-7948

Elementary Education
Professional Program
Information

Miller Hall 300
360-650-3336
wce.wwu.edu/eled/
elementary-education

Teacher Education Admissions
Miller Hall 214
360-650-3313
wce.wwu.edu/admission
 

 

 Sample Careers

Elementary Teacher

 Major/Career Resources

www.wwu.edu/careers/students_choosingamajor.shtml

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):

Pre-Major: Students intending to take PSY 301 and declare a major in Psychology: Human Development must first declare a psychology pre-major. See the description of the BS in Psychology major for an explanation of this process.

Admissions: Contact the department to declare the major once you have completed:

  • Successfully completed or are currently enrolled in PSY 301
  • Achieved a Western Cumulative GPA (based on at least 12 credits) of 2.70 or higher
  • A GPA of 3.0 in all Psychology courses taken at Western, including PSY 301, may substitute for the cumulative GPA

Grade Requirements

A grade of C- (1.7) or better is required for all courses applying to the non-Elementary Education Professional Program requirements. A grade of C (2.0) or better is required for courses in the Elementary Education Professional Program.

Requirements


Additional Requirements


Elementary Education Professional Program Requirements (102-105 credits)


Department of Elementary Education, Woodring College of Education

Introduction

Students seeking a bachelor’s degree with teacher certification and an endorsement in elementary education must complete the GURs, an approved academic major, and the professional education course work listed below.

Admission and Declaration Process

See the Elementary Education  section of this catalog for program admission, completion, and teacher certification requirements.

Grade Requirements

Students must earn a grade of C (2.0) or better in the elementary education professional program and in all courses required for the endorsement.

Elementary Program — Methods, Curriculum Content, and Field Experiences (79-82 credits)