Programs
Get in Touch!
Rachel George
509-963-2660
Rachel.George@cwu.edu
Interested in becoming a teacher? Good news...science teachers are in high demand in Washington State and across the country. Our graduates enjoy fulfilling careers, with many employment options. Science teachers get to share their love of science and make a difference in their community.
In Washington K-12 schools, about one teacher in five is a CWU graduate. CWU’s reputation as the top choice for educator preparation comes from a history of producing the state’s best educators, leading education change, and providing diverse opportunities for certification and field experience.
When quality and affordability are both taken into account, CWU’s School of Education offers a best value to its students. That’s the assessment of the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), which recently released its ‘Best Value’ ratings of colleges of education across the United States. It is the first time that a national education policy organization has conducted a comprehensive review of quality paired with affordability.
Jodi Musser
509-963-2773
Jodi.Musser@cwu.edu
Career and Technical Education (CTE) is a relevant hands-on exploration of career options incorporating basic academic and life skills, leadership preparation, and advanced and continuing education offered in grades 7 to 12. CWU offers CTE teaching courses for current teachers and business and industry professionals.
Combining your career, industry, or teaching knowledge with a CTE certificate opens doors to teaching CTE programs in middle and high schools, as well as skill centers. Apply now and begin to build a teaching foundation that will propel you to unparalleled success in the classroom.
Central’s CTE Teacher Preparation program is uniquely designed for busy, working professionals and is approved by the Washington Professional Education Standards Board. Course requirements can be satisfied in as little as five weeks, for certificated teachers; two years for industry professionals.
Anthony Diaz
509-963-2818
diaza@cwu.edu
Is chemistry your passion? You might be an ideal candidate to become a chemistry teacher. CWU’s chemistry teaching major prepares students to teach chemistry at the secondary school level.
As an undergraduate, you will work closely with award winning professors on advanced research projects. You’ll get to present results at national conferences, and sometimes even help author publications for scientific journals.
CWU’s chemistry department is equipped with state-of-the-art technology such as the 400MHz nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscope, atomic absorption spectroscope, fluorimeter, gas chromatograph, and much more.
Dia Gary
509-963-1471
dia.gary@cwu.edu
Do you want to touch lives and make a difference in educating the future? Or experience that moment when your student’s struggle to learn a concept turns into mastery? CWU provides future and seasoned teachers the specialized skills necessary to teach diverse learners. CWU's Early Childhood Education major prepares students to become teaching specialists for birth through third grade children.
It's highly advised that students simultaneously complete the early childhood and elementary education major. Completion of this program as a double major and other teacher certification requirements will lead graduates to a Washington State teaching certificate with Early Childhood (birth–grade 3) and Elementary Education (K–grade 8) endorsements.
CWU's teacher education program is the 12th largest in the country. Students in CWU's program hone their skills by participating in career exploration internships and study abroad programs.
Vi Alvord
509-963-2049
arviso.alvord@cwu.edu
Do you want to touch lives and make a difference in educating the future? Or experience that moment when your student’s struggle to learn a concept turns into mastery? CWU provides future and seasoned teachers the specialized skills necessary to teach diverse learners. CWU's Elementary Education major prepares students to become teaching specialists for kindergarten through eighth grade students.
It's highly advised that students simultaneously complete the early childhood and elementary education major. Completion of this program as a double major and other teacher certification requirements will lead graduates to a Washington State teaching certificate with Early Childhood (birth–grade 3) and Elementary Education (K–grade 8) endorsements.
CWU's teacher education program is the 12th largest in the country. Students in CWU's program are prepared to be outstanding educational leaders and facilitators of learning. Graduates of the program are prepared to work with diverse school populations.
English Department
509-963-1546
english.department@cwu.edu
The English/Language Arts Teaching Major, in combination with the Professional Education Program, prepares you for a teaching career in middle, junior, and high schools. Our program blends knowledge of English studies with methods of teaching language arts, including courses on teaching multicultural literature, young adult literature, and writing.
Clear and concise writing, analytical thinking, persuasiveness, and precision are all valuable skills for a wide range of fields including teaching.
Students involved in this program will find numerous opportunities to write and publish their work and to meet professionals in the field through activities and organizations such as Manastash (Student Literary Journal), Inklings Creative Writer's Club, Lion Rock Visiting Writers Series and Central Washington Writing Project.
Jodi Musser
509-963-2773
Jodi.Musser@cwu.edu
Students in Family and Consumer Sciences can touch lives, focusing on areas such as child development, family relations, consumer economics, personal finance, fashion design, and business and marketing teacher preparation. They learn about issues that affect individuals, families and communities.
At CWU, students who wish to teach family and consumer sciences will learn about developing interpersonal communication, oral presentation skills, leadership, problem solving, and conflict resolution. Graduates can go on to teaching careers that help educate the next generation of students on issues that affect their lives and their communities.
CWU is definitley the school of choice if your dream is to become a teacher. CWU alumni have won five Washington State Teacher of the Year awards since 2005 and CWU is ranked eighth regionally (Washington, Oregon, and California) as a top teacher preparation institution, according to the National Council on Teacher Quality.
Roxanne Easley
Roxanne.Easley@cwu.edu
This major satisfies the Washington State endorsements for History and Social Studies. This major is designed for students in the secondary teacher training program. Students taking this major are required to complete the professional education program requirements offered through the Education Department.
A degree in history can be a doorway to a career as an archivist, curator, documentary editor, historian, lawyer, librarian, lobbyist, and researcher.
Being a history teacher rates 4 out of 5 (highly satisfied) in career satisfaction. History teachers make $71,000 a year at mid-career.
Ian Loverro
509-963-1252
Ian.Loverro@cwu.edu
This degree program is designed for students who wish to have a background in instructional pedagogy but who do not want to complete the requirements for a teaching certification.
Those who complete the program will be prepared to work in settings requiring expertise in the foundations of education, such as training programs in business and industry, serve programs at educational institutions, and private child care facilities.
Curriculum and instruction careers are in demand. Jobs in this field are expected to increase by more than 13 percent during the next decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Amy Jenkins
509-963-1218
worldlanguages@cwu.edu
Interested in becoming a Japanese teacher? CWU’s School of Education can help you get there. The Japanese Teaching degree is only open to students pursuing a teaching certificate in the language.
With this major you will:
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Learn to develop your language skills and fluency.
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Learn to communicate with a broader network—locally and internationally.
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Learn to improve your cultural knowledge.
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Learn to better understand the world and how we're all connected.
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Learn teaching techniques and philosophy that can help you in the classroom.
When quality and affordability are both taken into account, CWU’s School of Education offers a best value to its students. That’s the assessment of the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), which recently released its ‘Best Value’ ratings of colleges of education across the United States. It is the first time that a national education policy organization has conducted a comprehensive review of quality paired with affordability.
Tim Sorey
509-963-2929
scied@cwu.edu
The middle level science education major prepares students to teach science at the middle school and junior high school levels. The program meets the Washington State endorsement competencies and may be combined with a K-8 or Middle Level Math endorsement.
Students in the science teaching program gain valuable instruction in life science, chemistry, earth science, astronomy, physics, and other scientific concepts. Students will also learn pedagogy in courses that encompass student assessment, teaching in the classroom, and managing classrooms.
Central's Endorsement-Only Program is available to certified teachers who hold the Washington State initial, residency, continuing, or professional teaching certificate and who wish to add a teaching endorsement to their certificate.
Denise Shaw
509-963-2259
Denise.Shaw@cwu.edu
Do you want to touch lives and make a difference in educating the future? Or experience that moment when your student’s struggle to learn a concept turns into mastery? Becoming a teacher may be the perfect choice for you.
The Bachelor of Arts in Middle Level Humanities is for students seeking careers in teaching English language arts and social studies (economics, history, geography, social studies and civics) in middle school, which covers grades fifth through eighth.
CWU's teacher education program is the 12th largest in the country. Students in CWU's program are prepared to be outstanding educational leaders and facilitators of learning. CWU provides future and seasoned teachers the specialized skills necessary to teach diverse learners.
Dr. Kirsten Boldt-Neurohr
509-963-1265
kirsten.boldt-neurohr@cwu.edu
Want to teach music in the public schools? The bachelor of music in education offers specializations in broad area, instrumental, and choral music education, setting all majors up with a quality preparation for teaching, along with a k12 Washington State Certification. Auditions into the Department of Music are required for this degree.
In CWU’s music department, your professors will work closely with you to help you grow as a musician, both personally and professionally. At Central we develop strong musicians who are prepared to enter the schools as distinguished music teachers.
CWU holds the largest constituents of alumni in the music education world, with over forty percent of Washington state public school music teachers graduating from Central! The quality of music teacher preparation is second to none, and the mentorship our students receive is invaluable to the profession.
Deanna Marshall
509-963-3005
deanna.marshall@cwu.edu
Unlike some other universities—where physics teaching is heavy on listening but light on doing—CWU physics undergraduates work one-on-one with award-winning professors, performing research in state-of-the-art facilities, and presenting results at national and international conferences.
Physics is the study of everything in the universe both big and small. It’s the pathway to careers in chemistry, oceanography, seismology, astronomy as well as medicine and biology. It prepares you to work in the forefront in science and technology.
It’s pretty simple—we have great physics professors at Central who have gained national and regional recognition for their teaching and research.
Mark Oursland
509-963-2100
oursland@cwu.edu
Mathematics secondary teaching is for a person who enjoys mathematical inquiry and social engagement—and wants to share that enthusiasm with high school students. Our program is built off the expertise and experiences of our highly esteemed professors. CWU provides an excellent environment to prepare you for a rewarding and successful career in teaching secondary mathematics.
Academically talented students majoring in a STEM discipline (which includes math) have an opportunity to apply for a two-year SOLVER scholarship totaling $20,000. The scholarship is funded by a National Science Foundation grant and is meant to help promising students through the last, most difficult years of their degree programs.
Graduates of CWU’s mathematics secondary teaching program are highly sought after. According to the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, there is a serious shortage of mathematics and science teachers in the state.
Dr. Wendie Lappin Castillo
509-963-1104
wendie.castillo@cwu.edu
The demand for special education teachers is projected to grow more than 6 percent during the next decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Almost 1 in 10 children live with a disability. You can help these students learn despite their challenges. Utilize the tools and skills acquired from CWU’s Special Education program to tap into each child’s abilities and watch them excel.
Special education teachers use their knowledge to positively impact learning in children who have autism, dyslexia, developmental delays, and more. CWU's Special Education program prepares these teachers for meeting the diverse tasks required in teaching individuals with disabilities.
CWU’s talented faculty are passionate about the field of education and producing capable teachers to work in Washington State schools and beyond. An internship or practicum is required to ensure students receive hands-on real-world experience in the classroom. What’s more, employment for special education teachers is projected to grow through 2024.
Vacant
509-963-2661
soe@cwu.edu
At Central Washington University, teacher education preparation spreads across the entire campus. College deans and the School of Education work closely together to ensure faculty who teach content areas for future teachers actually have teaching experience.
CWU embeds real K-12 experience throughout students' academic careers. Central education students are required to complete student teaching before graduation and certification. While all teaching colleges measure students' knowledge of content and teaching methods, at CWU we also test compassion, caring, and conscientiousness using a unique evaluation process. CWU faculty teach these essential skills by modeling them; one-to-one attention, small classes, and individual connection produce the state's most effective teachers.
Central Washington University's School of Education is the largest in Washington state and the 12th largest in the nation. We offer a variety of masters, majors, minors, and certifications for those interested in teaching or working in education administration. Content areas include physical education and school health, family and consumer sciences, business and marketing, career and technical education, science, math, history, English, music, and library science to name a few. Students can also choose to specialize in bilingual education, early childhood education, elementary education, literacy, world languages, Teaching English as a Second Langauge, and special education.
Why choose CWU’s School of Education?
At CWU, teacher preparation is everyone’s business. Deans of the colleges of science, education, and arts and humanities work together to ensure faculty in their areas who lead teacher preparation courses have teaching experience.
CWU is the only institution in Washington that tests compassion, caring and conscientiousness.
CWU was selected to be among the first schools in the nation to test a new method of evaluating education majors for teacher performance.
CWU School of Education Career Opportunities
Academic Programs
Experience the School of Education at CWU
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Points of Pride
When quality and affordability are both taken into account, CWU’s School of Education offers a best value to its students. That’s the assessment of the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), which recently released its ‘Best Value’ ratings of colleges of education across the United States.
No better proof exists of the remarkable quality of teacher preparation at CWU than the quality of our graduates. They are state and national educators of the year.
CWU ranks first in the state and 12th in the nation for the number of teachers that a college produces every year.
In Washington K-12 schools, about one teacher in five is a CWU graduate. CWU’s reputation as the top choice for educator preparation comes from a history of producing the state’s best educators, leading education change, and providing diverse opportunities for certification and field experience.