Introduction
The Multilingual Elementary Education major responds to the growing diversity in the state’s schools and the state’s growing focus on dual language education. Currently the major is only offered through Western’s sites in Renton and Everett. The major supports the Woodring College of Education’s efforts to embrace diversity and promote social justice through its community routes to certification. 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, capacity to teach multilingual learners, and knowledge to teach effectively in dual language settings. Graduates receive WWU’s recommendation for a Residency Teaching Certificate with endorsements in Elementary Education, and English Language Learners and/or Bilingual.
Why Consider a Multilingual Elementary Education Major?
The Multilingual Elementary Education major was designed in response to requests from schools for elementary teachers prepared for dual language and bilingual settings with the dispositions, knowledge, and skills to work with an increasingly diverse elementary student population and their families.
Student Resources
Department Website: Early Childhood, Elementary, and Multilingual Education
Contact information: Program Director - Renton, Beth Dillard, 360-650-3314, dillare@wwu.edu; Program Director - Everett, Maria Timmons Flores, 360-650-3828, timmonm@wwu.edu
Department advising: See the Multilingual Education webpage for more information.
Degree Works: Current students should also log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.
Career Services Center: Connect major to a career
Sample Careers: Elementary Education Teacher, Multilingual Specialist
How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):
Before students may begin taking courses in education, they must be admitted to both Western Washington University as well as Woodring College of Education. Admission to our programs occurs once a year; Cohorts begin each summer. Program admission requirements include:
- Transferable A.A. degree from a Washington state community college, or satisfaction of Western’s General Education Requirements.
- Minimum grade point average of 2.75 overall or for the most recent 45 quarter credit hours.
- 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.
- English composition course, completed with a B- or better.
- Supported by a partner school district
Enrollment restrictions apply in all teacher education programs. Meeting the above criteria makes the applicant eligible for admission, but does not guarantee admission. Students who meet all criteria are further evaluated by the department to determine the most qualified applicants. Retention also requires maintenance of a 2.75 quarterly GPA for each quarter after admission.
Please send transcripts early for review to see if you qualify.
Grade Requirements
Students must earn a grade of C (2.0) or better in the Multilingual Elementary Education program and in all courses required for the endorsement.
Return to: