Degrees - Western Michigan University (2024)

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The Board of Trustees, on recommendation of the Faculty and President of Western Michigan University, confers the following degrees:

Baccalaureate Degrees

Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Business Administration
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science in Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Bachelor of Social Work

Graduate Degrees

Master of Arts
Master of Business Administration
Master of International Development Administration
Master of Fine Arts
Master of Music
Master of Public Administration
Master of Science
Master of Science in Accountancy
Master of Science in Engineering
Master of Science in Medicine
Master of Science in Nursing
Master of Social Work
Specialist in Education
Doctor of Audiology
Doctor of Education
Doctor of Philosophy

Majors by College

College of Arts and Sciences:

Students selecting a communication or psychology program will be placed in the “Pre-Communication” (CMUP) or “Pre-Psychology” (PRPP) program respectively until requirements have been met. See the Department of Communication or Department of Psychology section for complete information on admission requirements.

College of Aviation:

Students selecting the Flight Science major in the College of Aviation will be placed in the “Pre-Flight Science program (PRFL)” until requirements have been met. See the College of Aviation section for complete information on admission requirements.

Haworth College of Business:

Students selecting the Business Administration program will be placed in the “Pre-Business Administration” (PRBP) program until requirements have been met. See the Haworth College of Business section for complete information on admission requirements.

College of Education:

Students selecting teacher certification programs/majors will be placed in one of the “Pre-Education” programs until requirements have been met. See the College of Education section for complete information on admission and program requirements.

College of Engineering and Applied Sciences:

Students selecting engineering programs will be placed in a “Pre-Engineering” (PREG) program until requirements have been met. See the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences section for complete information on admission and program requirements.

College of Fine Arts :

Students selecting Graphic Design will be placed in the Art major until requirements have been met. See the Art section for complete information on admission requirements. Students selecting the Theatre major will be placed in a “Pre-Theatre” (PRTR) program until requirements have been met. See the Theatre section for complete information on admission requirements.

College of Health and Human Services:

Students selecting any Health and Human Services program will be placed in a “Pre-Program” until all requirements have been met [i.e., Pre-Interdisciplinary Health Services (PRIH), Pre-Nursing (PRNG or PRPR), Pre-Occupational Therapy (PROT), Pre-Social Work (PRSW), and Pre-Speech Pathology and Audiology (PRSA)]. See the College of Health and Human Services sections for complete information on admission requirements.

Extended University Programs:

Students selecting Occupational Educational Studies will be placed in the “Pre-Occupational Studies” (PROE) major until requirements have been met. Specific information about the programs listed below may be found in the Extended University Programs section of this catalog.

Other Curricula:

Students not selecting a curriculum will be placed in the Undecided, University Curriculum (UNV) program until a selection can be made. Students are encouraged whenever possible to select a specific curriculum.

Dr. Toni Woolfork-Barnes, Director
Seibert Administration Building
(269) 387-8370

The First-Year Experience (FYE) program is a student-centered program and is designed to reinforce and foster a learning environment that fully engages students academically and socially in ways that will encourage student persistence and retention through graduation from this institution. The FYE Seminar, described below, is the credit portion of the FYE program for new, full-time, first-year students. The FYE Seminar may be linked to a second course, which may be a college writing course or an elective that can be applied to a student’s program requirements.

The purpose of the FYE Seminar is to develop an intellectually engaged and socially integrated first-year student. This will greatly enrich academic and campus life and help to positively impact university retention. The FYE Seminar is restricted to first-year, first-time students only, and has no prerequisites. The FYE Seminar will be offered fall semester of the academic year.

First-Year Experience Course (FYE)

FYE 2100 First-Year Seminar
2 hrs.
The First-Year Experience Seminar is designed to help students develop a sense of responsibility for their own education and learning. This seminar will introduce students to University resources and will provide support during the first semester of transition to the University. Taught in a small group setting, students will interact with a faculty member and a student leader two times a week. The FYE 2100 seminar will include weekly class meetings, sharing a common reading and research experience, project-based assignments, written assignments, and attendance at selected University events. The importance of writing skills, critical thinking skills, communication skills, and study skills will be emphasized, as well as exploration of major and career opportunities. FYE 2100 will be offered during Fall semester and is restricted to freshmen. The course may not be repeated and students will receive a letter grade for this course.

Donna Mearing, Director
2041 Moore Hall
(269) 387-4410

University Curriculum provides first-year students who wish to explore academic and career options with advising, assessment, and referral services designed to help them select a curriculum. The program is designed with sensitivity to students’ developmental as well as academic needs.

Students in the University Curriculum are assigned advisors who are specialists in academic planning, human development, and career planning. Help is provided for course selection, academic program planning, interpreting skills and interest assessments, exploring academic and career alternatives, and establishing goals.

In addition to academic advising and career counseling, opportunities available for University Curriculum students include:

• Participating in the First Year experience Program (orientation, Fall Welcome, FYE 2100)
• Career Exploration and Media Center
• Skills and Interest Assessments
• Specially-designed freshman curriculum options suited to skills and interests.

Every professional school has prescribed the nature and amount of academic work to be completed as a prerequisite to the professional training for a particular vocation. Four years of higher education are generally required by most professional schools for entrance. Western Michigan University is able to offer its students courses of study that meet the requirements for this pre-professional training. It should be noted, however, that the courses outlined are only suggested plans to illustrate in general the kinds of programs that pre-professional students should follow.

In every case, students should plan their course of study according to the requirements of the school to which they plan to transfer for professional training.

It cannot be emphasized too strongly that the student should exercise care to make certain that the specific requirements of a particular school will have been met.

Medical Sciences

Maria H. McGurn
Jacquelyn Bizzell,
Medical Sciences Advisors
2318 Friedmann Hall
(269) 387-4366

Predentistry and Premedicine

Most premedical and predental students at Western Michigan University major in biomedical sciences or chemistry, but any major may be pursued, provided that the basic science and other admission requirements are met. Regardless of the major chosen, the premedical or predental student should take the minimal required courses listed below. All science courses require laboratory work. Some medical and dental schools require one course in psychology and one in sociology or anthropology. Some medical schools also require course(s) in calculus and biochemistry.

Detailed guides for Premedicine and Predentistry are available at the College of Arts and Sciences Web site: www.wmich.edu/cas.

Students should meet with a premedical or predental advisor on a regular basis for guidance on making a plan to complete admission requirements, be ready to take required admission tests, and apply for admission by the end of their junior year. They also must follow the official manuals listed below, available at Waldo Library’s Science Reference Desk, with special attention to official information on admission requirements, selection factors, and deadlines:

ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools, published by the American Dental Education Association. Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR), published by the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Required Core

1. General Chemistry (CHEM 1100/1110 and 1120/1130).
2. Organic Chemistry (CHEM 3750/3760 and 3770/3780).
3. General Biology (BIOS 1500/1510).
4. Two advanced Biology courses (BIOS 2500 and 3500 are recommended).
5. General Physics (PHYS 1130/1140 and 1150/1160 or 2050/2060 and 2070/2080).
6. Two semesters of English (ENGL 1050 and ENGL 1100 or 3050).

Other Health Professions (Optometry, Pharmacy, Podiatry, Veterinary, Chiropractic, Physical Therapy, and Physician Assistant)

The requirements for admission to other doctoral level health profession schools and many master’s degree programs are similar to those of medical and dental schools. However, unlike medical and dental schools, these programs can be quite varied in their requirements. The student should work with his/her medical sciences advisor in tailoring as many required courses as possible to fit their curriculum or degree requirements.

Pre-Law

Jan Tiderington, Prelaw Advisor
College of Arts and Sciences Academic Advising Office
2318 Friedmann Hall
(269) 387-4366
http://www.wmich.edu/cas/advising/pre_law.htm

Though law schools do not require a specific major or degree program, they do recommend completion of a solid four-year bachelor’s degree program. Courses in critical analysis, logical reasoning, and written and oral communications can be found in a number of majors. Some typical majors are English, business, political science, and history, but other disciplines can also be suitable majors. Prelaw students should discuss possible majors and major/minor combinations with their advisor to determine which one best suits them. It is very important that prelaw students see their advisor on a regular basis for curriculum guidance.

Courses with a strong writing or oral communication component are ideal preparation, as are courses that require legal reasoning, like business law and constitutional law. Courses that allow the student a broader understanding of the structure and processes of government (such as national government, the legal environment, and judicial processes) are also valuable, as are those that focus on the American historical experience.

Students interested in pursuing the further study of law should see a prelaw advisor as early as possible to select a curriculum.

University Accreditation

Program Accreditation and Certification

The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the State of Michigan Department of Education have accredited and approved the College of Education, which includes the following programs:

• bachelor’s programs for preparation in early childhood; elementary, middle and junior high school; secondary education; health, physical education, and recreation; and special education.
• master’s programs in reading; the practice of teaching; social-cultural foundations of education; and health, physical education, and recreation.
• master’s and doctoral programs in counselor education and special education
• master’s, educational specialist, and doctoral programs in educational leadership.

Programs in the School of Art are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

Programs in rehabilitation teaching and orientation and mobility in the Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies are accredited by the Association for Education and the Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired. The program in rehabilitation counseling is accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education, Inc.

Programs in the Haworth College of Business are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International. The master’s program in accountancy is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International- Accounting Accreditation.

The undergraduate programs in the Chemistry Department include a Bachelor’s degree approved by the American Chemical Society.

The computer science theory and analysis major in the Department of Computer Science is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc., 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012; telephone (410) 347-7700.

The programs in aeronautical, chemical, computer, construction, electrical, industrial, mechanical, and paper engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc., 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012; telephone (410) 347-7700. The programs in engineering graphics and design technology, engineering management technology, and manufacturing engineering technology are accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc., 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012; telephone (410) 347-7700. The industrial design program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

The baccalaureate programs in flight training organization are certified by the Federal Aviation Administration, and the flight school is licensed by the Michigan Department of Transportation. The aviation flight science program and the aviation maintenance technology program are certified by the Federal Aviation Administration and accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International. The aviation science and administration program is also accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International.

The dietetics programs in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences are approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Association of the American Dietetics Association. The bachelor’s and master’s programs in family studies in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences are certified by the national Council on Family Relations.

In the Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology, the master’s and doctoral programs in counselor education are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs; the doctoral program in counseling psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association.

Programs in the Department of Dance are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance.

The bachelor’s athletic training professional program in the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs; and the master’s athletic training programs by the National Athletic Trainer’s Association.

The interior design program in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation and by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design..

Programs in the School of Music are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.

Programs in the Bronson School of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing.

Programs in the Department of Occupational Therapy are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education.

The physician assistant program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc.

In the Department of Psychology, the master’s and doctoral programs in behavioral analysis are accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International; the doctoral program in Clinical Psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association;

The master’s program in public administration is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration. Students enrolled in non-profit leadership programs are eligible for certification through American Humanics (AH).

Programs in the School of Social Work are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Graduate programs in the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology are accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology.

Programs in the Department of Theatre are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre.

Copies of accreditation documents are available for review upon request in the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.