Majors

An Individualized Approach

Students at Wheelock combine their study of the arts and sciences with professional majors and field experience. Our mix of majors, minors, and focus areas can be combined into a learning approach that is exactly right for you. This inclusive approach will help you to explore your interests and meet your professional goals—as well as give you a competitive advantage in today's job market.

Professional Majors

CHILD LIFE: develop expertise in helping children and families cope with acute and chronic illness, medical procedures, and grief and loss. You'll learn how the use of play, emotional support, and teaching can help reduce the stress of hospitalization, illness, and health care procedures in your patients. This is a five-year, dual-degree program.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: prepare to teach young children (Pre-K through Grade 2). You will learn how children develop and learn; how to address racism, sexism, and bias of all types with young children and their families; and how to address the different needs of every child.

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION: prepare to teach children in Grades 1-6. By combining educational philosophy and theory with hands-on experience and practical skills, you will learn curriculum and child development within the context of how racial, cultural, ethnic, linguistic, and class differences affect children's maturity and advancement.

JUVENILE JUSTICE & YOUTH ADVOCACY: gain an understanding of the juvenile justice system and adolescent development from and broad-based perspective. You will learn how to work with youth and families inside and outside of the legal system.

SOCIAL WORK: prepare to work collaboratively with clients, help identify and secure needed resources, and communicate effectively with people of diverse backgrounds. You will study social theory and research methods, and learn how to apply this knowledge through hands-on experience.

SPECIAL EDUCATION: prepare to teach students Pre-K through Grade 8 with moderate disabilities in inclusive, resource, or substantially separate classrooms. You will learn to design an inclusive curriculum, create a supportive classroom, and utilize teaching strategies that meet the needs of different types of learners.

Arts & Sciences Majors

AMERICAN STUDIES: explore topics such as race, ethnicity, and gender. You will learn how the concept of America was born and how this ideal continues to evolve today. By exposing you to an in-depth understanding of American culture, this major lays the groundwork for becoming a well-educated person and professional.

THE ARTS: develop your own form of personal expression and creative vision. This program blends scholarship and creativity, and it teaches you to think critically about music, plays, and works of art. Connect your creative work to professional practice.

COMMUNICATIONS: learn about the power of media, become media literate, and learn how to create compelling communications to educate, inform, and motivate and mobilize people to promote positive change for children, families, and society.

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT: explore fundamental questions by learning about human development from multiple perspectives. Human Development offers a broad array of courses with an emphasis on children and families in relation to culture.

HUMANITIES: deepen your knowledge and enhance your understanding of the world. You will engage in critical reflection, learn to analyze books and other materials, and develop excellent verbal and writing skills.

MATH/SCIENCE: improve your capacity to solve problems, to justify your reasoning, and to communicate that reasoning to others. Gain a deep appreciation for some of humanity's greatest achievements and to participate more fully in the world around you.