Western Washington University · Bellingham, Washington
Psychology: Human Development—Elementary, BAEd
What Is the Psychology: Human Development-Elementary Major?
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 30 women and men, 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 program in Psychology: Human Development 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 offered through Woodring College of Education.
Why Should I Consider this Major?
Most of the major issues facing the people of the world today--hunger, overpopulation, the continuing threat of war, prejudice, pollution, drug addiction--are people problems; people have created them, and it will be people who must and will find solutions to them. Psychology, as the scientific study of mind and behavior, will help provide answers to these problems, as well as contribute to the scientific understanding of how children best think and learn.
How to Declare:
Pre-Major: To be eligible, students must have completed 15 credits in Psychology with a minimum of 5credits at Western.Admissions:Contact the department to declare the major once you have completed the following requirements:
- Completed a total of at least 75 credits.
- Successfully completed or be 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.
Applying to the Elementary Education Professional Program
Admission to the Elementary Education Professional Program is required before a student may begintaking courses in the Professional Sequence. Requirements for consideration of an application include:
- Completion of a minimum of 45 credits (most or all GURs complete)
- Cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher overall or for the last 45 credits
- Acceptable WEST-B scores. This test is offered 6 times a year at various sites in the state. Visit the WEST-B website at www.west.nesinc.com for more information.
- Completion of an English composition course with grade of B- or higher
- Completed application
Meeting the above criteria makes the applicant eligible for admission, but does not guarantee admission. For further information, visit Teacher Education Admissions, Miller Hall 214, 360-650-3313 or visit the web site at www.wce.wwu.edu/admiss. See also: Elementary Education Professional Program Guide
Coursework
- PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology
- One course from:
- PSY 210 Cognition
- PSY 220 Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience
- One course from:
- PSY 240 Social Psychology
- PSY 250 Introduction to Personality and Abnormal Psychology
- EDUC 301 Educational Psychology I: Development and Individual Differences (4)
- EDUC 302 Educational Psychology II: Motivation, Learning and Assessment (4)
- PSY 301 Overview of Research Methods
- Three courses from:
- PSY 302 Research Methods and Statistical Analysis: Correlational Approaches
- PSY 303 Research Methods and Statistical Analysis: Experimental Approaches
- PSY 305 Psychological Tests and Measurement
- PSY 310 Sensation and Perception
- PSY 311 Human Memory
- PSY 318 Psychology of Language
- PSY 319 Cognitive Neuroscience
- PSY 320 Topics in Behavioral Neuroscience
- PSY 322 Motivation
- PSY 323 Psychopharmacology
- PSY 324 Comparative Psychology
- PSY 331 Adult Development and Aging
- PSY 340 Environmental Psychology
- PSY 341 Psychology and Culture
- PSY 342 Social Cognition
- PSY 343 Social Processes
- PSY 344 Psychology and the Law
- PSY 345 Evolutionary Psychology
- PSY 351 Abnormal Psychology
- PSY 359 Introduction to School and Community Counseling (4)
- PSY 375 Health Psychology
- PSY 410 Seminar in Cognitive Neuroscience
- PSY 411 Seminar in Cognition
- PSY 420 Seminar in Behavioral Neuroscience
- PSY 421 Seminar in Learning
- PSY 422 Seminar in Motivation
- PSY 424 Seminar in Comparative Psychology
- PSY 430 Seminar in Developmental Psychology
- PSY 431 Seminar in Adult Development and Aging
- PSY 440 Seminar in Environmental Psychology
- PSY 441 Seminar in Cross-Cultural Psychology
- PSY 451 Seminar in Abnormal Psychology
- Two courses from:
- PSY 274 Psychology of Child Rearing
- PSY 330 Children Development
- PSY 332 Adolescent Development
- PSY 333 Infant Development
Professional Studies Core
- EDUC 301 - Educational Psychology I: Development and Individual Differences
- EDUC 302 - Educational Psychology II: Motivation, Learning and Assessment
- EDUC 310 - Education, Culture, and Equity
- ELED 370 - Introduction to Teaching
- I T 344 - Basic Instructional Technology Skills
- I T 442 - Classroom Use of Instructional Technology (Elementary)
- SPED 364 - Teaching Each Student
Elementary Program — Methods, Curriculum Content, and Field Experiences
- One course from:
- ART 398 - Integrated Arts for Elementary Educators
- DNC 398 - Integrated Arts for Elementary Educators
- MUS 398 - Integrated Arts for Elementary Educators
- THTR 398 - Integrated Arts for Elementary Educators
- One course from:
- ART 380 - Art Educating the Child
- DNC 433 - Creative Movement for Educators With Lab
- MUS 361 - Music for Elementary Teachers
- THTR 350 - Theatre for Youth
- THTR 351 - Creativity Across the Curriculum
- ELED 425 - Social Studies for the Elementary School
- ELED 470 - Developing Teaching
- ELED 471 - Documenting Teaching
- ELED 480 - Literacy: Beginning Communicators
- ELED 481 - Literacy: Fluent Communicators
- ELED 491 - September Experience
- ELED 492 - Practicum: Experience in Literacy Methods
- ELED 494 - Internship - Elementary
- HLED 455 - Health Education Grades K-8
- MATH 381 - Teaching K-8 Mathematics I
- MATH 382 - Teaching K-8 Mathematics II
- MATH 383 - Teaching K-8 Mathematics III
- MATH 491 - Internship Seminar - Teaching K-8 Mathematics
- PE 345 - Physical Education for Elementary School
- SCED 480 - Science Methods and Curriculum for the Elementary School
- SCED 490 - Laboratory/Field Experience in Elementary Science
GURs:
The courses below satisfy GUR requirements and may also be used to fulfill major requirements.
- QSR: MATH 381 and 382
- SSC: PSY 101, 341
Sample Careers
- Elementary Teacher
Department
Contact
Department Chair
Dr. Larry Symons
AI440, 360-650-3515
Larry.Symons@wwu.edu
Undergraduate Advisor
Rebecca Goodvin
AI 496, 360-650-3575
Rebecca.Goodvin@wwu.edu
Tina Du Rocher Schudlich
AI 476, 360-650-7636
Tina.DuRocherSchudlich@wwu.edu
Elementary Education Professional Program Information
Miller Hall 300(360) 650-3336http://www.wce.wwu.edu/Depts/ELED/
Teacher Education Admissions
MH 214360-650-3313www.wce.wwu.edu/admiss
Elementary Education Professional Program Advisor and Program
Manager
Ellen KreiderMH 301D360-650-7948Ellen.Kreider@wwu.edu