Language, Literacy, and Cultural Studies, BAE

Department of Early Childhood, Elementary, and Multilingual Education, Woodring College of Education

49 credits (minimum)

Introduction

The Bachelor of Arts in Education: Language, Literacy, and Cultural Studies major responds to the growing diversity in the state’s schools and supports the Woodring College of Education’s efforts to embrace diversity and promote social justice. The major focuses on research-based and experience-validated knowledge to help elementary school teachers reach all students. This includes increasing teacher candidates’ cultural competency and capacity to teach multilingual language learners. Graduates receive WWU’s recommendation for a Residency Teaching Certificate with endorsements in Elementary Education, Reading, and English Language Learners or Bilingual Endorsement.

Why Consider a Language, Literacy and Culture Major?

The LLC major was designed in response to requests from schools for elementary teachers to have the dispositions, knowledge, and skills to work with an increasingly diverse elementary student population and their families. Prior to entering the program, undergraduates will complete most or all of their general university requirements (GURs). After completion of the GURs, it will usually take eight or nine quarters to graduation, given a course load of 15-17 credits.

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):

Admission to Western Washington University and admission to Elementary Education are required before a student may begin taking courses in the Professional Sequence and most courses in the Language, Literacy and Cultural Studies major. Please receive advisement for information about courses that may be taken before admission. See the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Multilingual Education  section of this catalog for program admission, completion, and teacher certification requirements. Requirements for consideration of an application include:

• completion of a minimum of 75 credits.
• 2.75 GPA (cumulative or last 45-plus graded credits).
• Meet the basic skills requirement. This may be met by: a) Taking the West-B exam, b) SAT scores, c) ACT scores. There is no minimum score requirement for admission. See the Woodring admissions website: wce.wwu.edu/admissions/west-b-requirement and the West-B website: www.west.nesinc.com.
• completion of an English composition course with grade of B- or higher
• completed application (see web site for dates)

Enrollment restrictions apply in all teacher education programs. Meeting the above criteria makes the applicant eligible for admission, but does not guarantee admission. For further information, visit Teacher Education Admissions, 360-650-6161 or visit the web site at wce.wwu.edu/admissions/contact.

Retention in the program requires continuous demonstration of competence in standard oral and written English in all coursework. Retention also requires maintenance of a 2.75 quarterly GPA for each quarter upon admission to Elementary Education. Courses required for a state teaching endorsement and for the professional education sequence must be completed with a grading of C (2.0) or better.

Student Advisement

Prospective elementary education students are invited to meet with an advisor for more information about the program. The main office is in Miller Hall 300 and the phone number is (360) 650-3336. Once admitted to the program, students are assigned a faculty advisor with whom they will stay in contact throughout their program.

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.