Advising Resources

General advising

Review the resources below to learn more about entering Woodring programs.

New Student Advising

Welcome to Western Washington University! If you are planning on having a career as a teacher, then Woodring College of Education has many programs to prepare you for that. If you are looking for information, we recommend you Schedule a meeting with Jacob Brown, Woodring’s Pre-Admissions Advisor.

Complete GUR’s or DTA

To be eligible to start a teaching program you will need to have completed General University Required (GUR) courses or a Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) from a 2-year college. Some programs may have GUR’s you will take during the program that do not need to be taken in advance and a Woodring advisor can help with that info. (also see Recommended GURs section below)

Basic Skills Assessment

Washington State Law requires students to have completed a basic skills assessment and have scores on file with Woodring before they can start a teaching program. This can be accomplished by fully completing and submitting scores for one of the following tests:
- SAT
- ACT
- West-B
The law does not require specific “passing” scores, it simply requires completed scores.
It is important to have scores on file at the time applications are due. Transferring SAT and ACT scores take 1-3 weeks to process and West-B scores take 6-8 weeks to process.

Meet with Woodring Advisor

We recommend you Schedule a meeting with Jacob Brown, Woodring’s Pre-Admissions Advisor. Jacob is a Woodring graduate and former Middle School Language Arts and Social Studies teacher who can advise on how to get into a teaching program and strategies for completing the program and starting a career as a teacher.

Choosing a Program

Woodring offers a variety of programs for teaching at all school levels as well as offering programs in a variety of locations. (Bellingham, Bremerton, British Columbia, Burien, Everett, Renton)
One way to choose a program is to consider the age of the students you want to work with:
- Pre-K to 3rd grade: Early Childhood Education
- Elementary School: Elementary Education
- Middle School & High School: Secondary Education
- All Ages (Pre-K to 12^th grade): Art, Music, Physical Education and Health, Special Education, Theater, World Languages
Early Childhood Education: The Program for Pre-school Teachers
- This program will lead to teacher certification and a Pre-K to 3^rd grade endorsement
Elementary Education: for Elementary School Teachers
- This program will lead to teacher certification and a Kindergarten to 8^th grade endorsement
Inclusive Education: for General Education Classroom Teachers at any Grade Level
- This program will lead to teacher certification and dual endorsements
Secondary Education: for Middle School & High School Teachers
- This program will lead to teacher certification and either a 5^th to 12^th grade endorsement or a Pre-K to 12^th grade endorsement depending on your major.
Special Education: for a Special Education Teacher at any School Level
- This program will lead to teacher certification and a Pre-K to 12^th grade endorsement

To discuss prerequisites, we recommend you Schedule a meeting with Jacob Brown, Woodring’s Pre-Admissions Advisor. Jacob is a Woodring graduate and former Middle School Language Arts and Social Studies teacher who can advise on how to get into a teaching program and strategies for completing the program and starting a career as a teacher.

Future Transfer Students

Students should use the WWU Transfer Course Equivalency Guide as a tool to see which courses transfer to WWU.

If you have questions, talk to an advisor: Schedule a meeting with Jacob Brown

If you are planning to teach in an elementary school, you will need to meet certain prerequisites before starting the program:

Science requirement:

Students will need to take SCED 201 at WWU (which can be a difficult class to get into) or complete a Community College equivalent:
- Skagit Valley College PHYS 111,
- Whatcom CC PHYSC 104,
- Everett CC NATS 107, and
- Lower Columbia College PHSC 109

English Composition requirement:

English 101 (or your institution's equivalent) with a minimum grade of B-
AP English Literature or Language, minimum score of 4.
IB English, minimum score of 4

Math requirement:

Intermediate College Algebra course with a minimum grade of C
- e.g. MATH 99 at Whatcom CC or Skagit Valley College
ALEKS Math Placement Assessment with a minimum score of 45 required
Statistics-based Math courses are NOT equivalent
Courses more than 5 years old will not be honored

Recommended GURs

Below is a list of recommended General University Requirement (GUR) courses, not requirements. It is essential for students to check the WWU Catalog Program of Study for possible major courses and/or prerequisite courses that also fulfill GURs.

Complete Block A (ACOM) and one course from either Block B (BCOM) or Block C (CCOM)

A English composition course with B- or above is a requirement of Woodring Teacher Prep Programs

ACOM
- ENG 101 Writing Your Way Through WWU (5)
BCOM
- ENG 202 Writing about Literature (5)
- JOUR 207 Newswriting (4)
- PHIL 107 Logical Thinking (3)
- EDUC 309 Storytelling (4)
  - This is a ‘WWU Online’ course check with an advisor about additional costs.
CCOM
- ENG 201 Writing in Humanities (5)

Complete 3 courses from the approved WWU GUR list. At least 2 of the courses must include a Lab Science (LSCI)

LSCI
- SCED 201 Matter & Energy in Physical Systems (4)
  - Prerequisite for Elementary, Early Childhood and Special Education Programs
- SCED 202 Matter & Energy in Earth Systems (4)
- SCED 203 Matter & Energy in Life Systems (4)
- SCED 204 Matter & Energy in Life Systems (4)
SCI
- ENRG 101 Energy and Society (3)

12 credits minimum; 3 or more approved WWU GUR courses from at least 2 departments

HUM
- HIST 103 American History 1865 (5)
- HIST 104 American History since 1865 (5)
- COMM 220 Communication Theory (5)
- Modern and Classical Languages numbered 200 and above

12 credits minimum; 3 or more approved WWU GUR courses from at least 2 departments

SSC
- EDUC 109 Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (4)
- EDUC 115 Introduction to Education Professions (4)
- ENVS 202 Intro to Environmental Studies and Sustainability (3)
- LING 201 Introduction to Language and Linguistics (5)
  - Prerequisite* for the Elementary Education Program
    - *ELL 431 is an equivalent prerequisite and is preferred by the Elementary Education program. ELL 431 is not a GUR.
- LING 204 Sociolinguistics (4)
- PLSC 101 Government & Politics in the Modern World (5)
- PLSC 250 American Political System (5)
- FAIR 311B The United States Legal System (5)

Complete 2 courses, one from Block A (ACGM) and one from Block B (BCGM)

ACGM
- ASLC 101 Elementary ASL/Culture II (5 credits)
  - Prerequisite for Special Education Programs
- INTL 201 Intro to Global Studies (5 credits)
- MUS 205 Survey World Musical Cultures (3 credits)
- Modern and Classical Languages numbered 200 and above
BCGM
- Does not need to be completed in advance as all teacher certification programs have a 310 course that meets the BCGM GUR

Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning GUR

It is highly recommended to take the ALEKS math placement assessment before registering for courses at WWU

Science and Mathematics majors/endorsements
- Start early on the math requirements for your major/endorsement area
- Review the 5 QSR options to ensure the math requirements of your major/endorsement meet the requirements of the QSR GUR
Designated Arts, World Languages and Humanities majors/endorsements
- Check your major/endorsement carefully for math requirements
- For majors/endorsements with no math requirements take these recommended courses to complete the QSR GUR:
  - Math 107 Math Reasoning & Applications (4)
  - Math 108 Math Applications & Reasoning (4)

A score of 45+ on the ALEKS math placement assessment OR completion of Math 112 or Math 111 (C or above) fulfills the prerequisite for Math 381. Math 381 alone does not fulfill the QSR GUR.
Take the ALEKS math assessment
- For scores above 45, take:
  - Math required for endorsement area OR
  - Math 107 Math Reasoning & Applications (4 credits) AND Math 108 Math Applications & Reasoning (4 credits)
- For scores between 44-36, take:
  - Math 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods (5 credits)
  - Math required for endorsement area OR
  - Math 107 Math Reasoning & Applications (4 credits)
- For scores below 35, take:
  - Math 099 Introductory Algebra (5 credits)
  - Math 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods (5 credits)
  - Math required for endorsement area OR Math 107 Math Reasoning & Applications (4 credits)

A score of 45+ on the ALEKS math placement assessment OR completion of Math 112 or Math 111 (C or above) fulfills the prerequisite for Math 381. Math 381 and 382 together fulfill the QSR GUR. These Math sequences will be completed after admission to Woodring programs.
Check your program aligned major for any additional math requirements
Take the ALEKS math assessment
- For scores above 45, take:
  - Math 381 Teaching K-8 Mathematics I (4 credits)
  - Math 382 Teaching K-8 Mathematics II (4 credits)
- For scores between 44-30, take:
  - Math 111 Functions and Algebraic Methods for Teachers (5 credits)
  - Math 381 Teaching K-8 Mathematics I (4 credits)
  - Math 382 Teaching K-8 Mathematics II (4 credits)
- For scores between 44-36, take:
  - Math 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods (5 credits)
  - Math 381 Teaching K-8 Mathematics I (4 credits)
  - Math 382 Teaching K-8 Mathematics II (4 credits)
- For scores below 29, take:
  - Math 099 Introductory Algebra (5 credits)
  - Math 111 Functions and Algebraic Methods for Teachers (5) OR Math 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods (5 credits)
  - Math 381 Teaching K-8 Mathematics I (4 credits)
  - Math 382 Teaching K-8 Mathematics II (4 credits)

A score of 45+ on the ALEKS math placement assessment OR completion of Math 112 or Math 111 (C or above) fulfills the prerequisite for Math 381. Math 381 and 382 together fulfill the QSR GUR. These Math sequences will be completed after admission to Woodring programs.
Take the ALEKS math assessment
- For scores above 45, take:
  - Math 381 Teaching K-8 Mathematics I (4 credits)
  - Math 382 Teaching K-8 Mathematics II (4 credits)
- For scores between 44-30, take:
  - Math 111 Functions and Algebraic Methods for Teachers (5 credits)
  - Math 381 Teaching K-8 Mathematics I (4 credits)
  - Math 382 Teaching K-8 Mathematics II (4 credits)
- For scores between 44-36, take:
  - Math 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods (5 credits)
  - Math 381 Teaching K-8 Mathematics I (4 credits)
  - Math 382 Teaching K-8 Mathematics II (4 credits)
- For scores below 29, take:
  - Math 099 Introductory Algebra (5 credits)
  - Math 111 Functions and Algebraic Methods for Teachers (5) OR Math 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods (5 credits)
  - Math 381 Teaching K-8 Mathematics I (4 credits)
  - Math 382 Teaching K-8 Mathematics II (4 credits)

A score of 45+ on the ALEKS math placement assessment OR completion of Math 112 or Math 111 (C or above) fulfills the prerequisite for Math 371. Math 371 and 372 together fulfills the QSR GUR.
Take the ALEKS math assessment
- For scores above 45, take:
  - Math 371 Teaching P-3 Mathematics I (4 credits)
  - Math 372 Teaching P-3 Mathematics II (4 credits)
- For scores between 44-30, take:
  - Math 111 Functions and Algebraic Methods for Teachers (5 credits)
  - Math 371 Teaching P-3 Mathematics I (4 credits)
  - Math 372 Teaching P-3 Mathematics II (4 credits)
- For scores between 44-36, take:
  - Math 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods (5 credits)
  - Math 371 Teaching P-3 Mathematics I (4 credits)
  - Math 372 Teaching P-3 Mathematics II (4 credits)
- For scores below 29, take:
  - Math 099 Introductory Algebra (5 credits)
  - Math 111 Functions and Algebraic Methods for Teachers (5) OR Math 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods (5 credits)
  - Math 371 Teaching P-3 Mathematics I (4 credits)
  - Math 372 Teaching P-3 Mathematics II (4 credits)

A score of 45+ on the ALEKS math placement assessment OR completion of Math 112 or Math 111 (C or above) fulfills the prerequisite for Math 371. Math 371 and 372 together fulfills the QSR GUR.
Students may take Math 381 and 382 if they wish to pursue the Special Education P-12th grade endorsement as part of their program.
Take the ALEKS math assessment
- For scores above 45, take:
  - Math 371 Teaching P-3 Mathematics I (4 credits)
  - Math 372 Teaching P-3 Mathematics II (4 credits)
- For scores between 44-30, take:
  - Math 111 Functions and Algebraic Methods for Teachers (5 credits)
  - Math 371 Teaching P-3 Mathematics I (4 credits)
  - Math 372 Teaching P-3 Mathematics II (4 credits)
- For scores between 44-36, take:
  - Math 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods (5 credits)
  - Math 371 Teaching P-3 Mathematics I (4 credits)
  - Math 372 Teaching P-3 Mathematics II (4 credits)
- For scores below 29, take:
  - Math 099 Introductory Algebra (5 credits)
  - Math 111 Functions and Algebraic Methods for Teachers (5) OR Math 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods (5 credits)
  - Math 371 Teaching P-3 Mathematics I (4 credits)
  - Math 372 Teaching P-3 Mathematics II (4 credits)

Gain Experience and Prepare

It's highly recommended for prospective students to gain experience working with the community they are interested in serving. For example it’s recommended for a prospective high school science teacher to gain experience in a high school science classroom or in a science based after school program. Having experience in the field will help prepare students to be successful in Woodring programs and future careers. We also recommend students engage with education and social justice topics and participate in cross-cultural experiences in preparation for Woodring programs.

Compass 2 Campus is the mentoring program at Western Washington University. It is designed to increase opportunities toward higher education by providing mentoring for 5th-12th grade students from traditionally underrepresented and diverse backgrounds in Whatcom and Skagit counties.
Consider taking one of the following courses at WWU to participate in this program
- C2C 201 (3-credits)
- C2C 202 (3-credits)
- C2C 203 (5-credit BCGM, GUR)
Compass 2 Campus also has several volunteer and employment opportunities for WWU students.

The Education and Social Justice (ESJ) Minor integrates theory and practice (praxis) to equip students with the skills and knowledge for understanding the complex relations of culture, power, systems of oppression, and movements for social justice, particularly as it connects to children, youth, and schooling. As an interdisciplinary program, the ESJ Minor draws on a range of critical theories (both scholarly and grassroots-movement based) to frame and address economic inequality and poverty; corporate and state power; settler colonialism and imperialism; war and state violence; environmental harm; consumerism and commodification; and struggles over space, place, and territory.

Many of our local school districts are looking for classroom and program volunteers. Search for school district volunteer programs, often school districts will have a web page with information about how to volunteer. We also encourage students to contact past educators for volunteer opportunities.

The reading tutor program is a Work Study position. WWU students tutor elementary age students at local elementary schools. Look for openings at WWU Student Employment Center.

Gain experience through community programs. County volunteer centers are a great resource to become involved in community programs.
- Skagit County Volunteer Center
- The Volunteer Center of Whatcom County

School district paraeducator. Visit school district websites for job postings.
Compass 2 Campus
- Lead Mentor Positions

Woodring College of Education is committed to transformational change that supports increased understanding and respect for all people and cultures. One of the ways the College fulfills this commitment is through the work of its Equity and Diversity Committee. The Equity and Diversity Committee strives to promote equity among all people with attention to those who have experienced systemic social injustice based on their ethnicity, race, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, language, socioeconomic status, or religion.

Contact Woodring.advising@wwu.edu for a zoom link and meeting times.

At times community members reach out to Woodring with opportunities for education interested students. Check this page each quarter for updates.

Behavioral Intervention Specialist Assistant:
- About 30 hours a week, awesome direct experience in the classroom, flexible schedule, and a foot very firmly in the door for those hoping to teach. A nice opportunity for students with classes grouped early or late, or recently former students currently engaged in employment unrelated to their vocation. Experience not required, training provided.
- Contact: Adam Phillips, Adam.Phillips@ferndalesd.org

Financial resources

There are several financial resources available to students. We encourage students to review all options to support their success in Woodring programs.

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