Workforce Education and Development, A.S.

Program Description

This is a 60 credit program, with many of the courses offered in multiple delivery formats to address the needs of the adult learner, such as a blend of face-to-face and online, delivery via video conference technologies such as Polycom or Adobe Connect, or totally online. It will provide a solid foundation of curriculum pertinent to gaining knowledge and skills required for success in the field of workforce education and development. It will allow the participant to develop the skills and competencies essential to analyzing community and/or organizational needs, recommend and deliver effective education and training programs for process and employee improvement, supervise and lead others, and manage workforce development projects and initiatives. It will also provide the opportunity to network with individuals who share many of the same interests and will enhance the participant’s ability to address community and organization needs.

What is Workforce Education and Development?

Workforce Education and Development (WFED) at Penn State is a unique college program, which provides you with a foundation required for success in the field of workforce education and development. There are two areas of emphasis within the Associate Degree Program including: Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Workplace Learning and Performance. The mission of Penn State’s Workforce Education and Development Program is to promote excellence, opportunity, and leadership among current and future professionals in the field of workforce education and development, including professionals employed in secondary and postsecondary education institutions, social services, employee organizations, and private sector businesses. The program will allow you to develop the skills and abilities essential to: analyze community and organizational challenges; prescribe and deliver effective education and training programs; and manage workforce development projects and initiatives.

You Might Like This Program If...

• You want to learn about training in business, industry and educational settings.
• You want to study education and how to manage workforce development projects and processes.
• You want to learn how to provide improvement strategies for communities and organizations.
• You want to pursue a career in Training and Development or Career and Technical Education (CTE).

Entrance to Major

Students must have a minimum 2.0 GPA to change to this Associate degree after admission to the University.

Degree Requirements

For an Associate in Science degree in Workforce Education and Development, a minimum of 60 credits is required:

Requirements for the Major

Optional requirements for the major: Of the 16 credits of electives, up to 12 credits of occupational experience can be earned. 

General Education

Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all associate degree students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.

The keystone symbol appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.

Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

• Quantification (GQ): 3 credits
• Writing and Speaking (GWS): 3 credits

Knowledge Domains

• Arts (GA): 3 credits
• Humanities (GH): 3 credits
• Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
• Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits

Note: Up to six credits of Inter-Domain courses may be used for any Knowledge Domain requirement, but when a course may be used to satisfy more than one requirement, the credits from the course can be counted only once.

Exploration

• Any General Education course (including GHW and Inter-Domain): 3 credits

University Degree Requirements

Cultures Requirement

3 credits of United States (US) or International (IL) cultures coursework are required and may satisfy other requirements

Writing Across the Curriculum

3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.

Total Minimum Credits

A minimum of 60 degree credits must be earned for a associates degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 60 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.

Quality of Work

Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.

Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition

Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

University Park

College of Education
Advising and Certification Center
228 Chambers Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-0488
ed@admissions.psu.edu

Career Paths

Workforce Education and Development (WFED) graduates pursue career opportunities as teachers, trainers and leaders in career-oriented education programs and professional organizations. In business and industry, WFED graduates keep organizations and employees up-to-date with rapid advancements in technology, equipment, and work-related processes. The program is structured to provide you with enhanced learning and skill building opportunities essential to: analyze community and organizational challenges; prescribe and deliver effective education and training programs; manage workforce development projects and initiatives; and provide interventions within communities and organizations to promote the advancement of business, industry and education.

Opportunities for Graduate Studies

Penn State's Workforce Education and Development program offers certificate programs as well as graduate degree programs leading to master's of education (M.Ed.) and master's of science (M.S.) degrees. Students interested in these programs leading to the master's degree in Workforce Education and Development should be employed, or wish to be employed, as faculty members, trainers, administrators, or researchers in settings emphasizing education for work in private sector firms, schools, occupational home economics, cooperative education, youth apprenticeship, or employment and training.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDIES

Accreditation

The College of Education educator preparation programs are fully accredited at the Initial and Advanced levels by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The next CAEP program review will be Fall 2026. CAEP advances excellence in educator preparation through evidence-based accreditation that assures quality and supports continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 student learning.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ACCREDITATION OF THE WORKFORCE EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Contact

University Park

DEPARTMENT OF LEARNING AND PERFORMANCE SYSTEMS
301 Keller Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-9768
caf17@psu.edu

https://ed.psu.edu/academics/departments/department-learning-and-performance-systems