School of Education and Psychology

Shape a life. Shape the future.

Do you enjoy helping others grow and learn? Are you passionate about helping create a better future for others? Are you curious about why people make the decisions they do? Do you want to understand what motivates people? Our education and psychology programs may be your perfect fit.

Education and psychology students are passionate about people. The School of Education and Psychology offers bachelor’s degrees in elementary and secondary education, psychology, and forensic psychology, as well as several graduate programs. These programs will help you build a strong, practical foundation and equip you to launch a career.

Discover our programs Meet our faculty About Education at WWU About Psychology at WWU

Student in psychology class looks over shoulder at classmates and smiles

College Experience

What will your college experience look like as an education or psychology major?

Family atmosphere: Students in the School of Education and Psychology enjoy a family atmosphere created by small classes and close connections to faculty and staff. New students work directly with a dedicated departmental advisor for personalized support.

Practical experience: A strong program prepares students for successful careers with real, hands-on experience outside the classroom lecture setting. All WWU education students start observing and assisting teachers in the classroom from the first year, engage in a variety of field experience throughout their program, and complete a full year of student teaching before graduation. Psychology students engage in original research projects, practicums in mental health settings, and participate in mentoring programs.

Clubs and honor societies: Our education and psychology clubs, community service opportunities, and honor societies (Psi Chi for psychology and Pi Lambda Theta for education), make it easy to find a place to belong and make lasting connections.

Career Path

What can your career path as an education or psychology major look like?

WWU’s Adventist education program boasts a wide variety of endorsements, preparing students to teach in elementary education, special education, and several secondary education areas. Teaching licenses vary by state, but graduating from our program will meet requirements for state and Adventist denominational certification. Traditional careers include teaching in K-12 settings, but students have pursued a wide variety of joys, including work with museums and other education-related industries.

The psychology curriculum trains students for a wide range of careers and research opportunities in the behavioral sciences and professional programs such as law, occupational therapy, and medicine. Other examples include: investigating forensic scenes and cases, working in community health organizations, rehabilitating or training people to be successful in their careers, counseling and managing people in correctional programs, developing effective marketing and sales strategies, and advising in court. Many of these careers are open to bachelor holders, although pursuing a master’s degree is common for those working in psychology.