Secondary Education, Woodring College of Education
68 Credits
Graduate Faculty
Burgess, Donald, PhD.
Harwood, Angela, PhD, graduate advisor.
Larson, Bruce, PhD.
McClanahan, Lauren, PhD, graduate advisor.
Nolet, Victor, PhD.
Romano, Rosalie, PhD.
Roxas, Kevin, PhD.
Sheppard, Shelby L., PhD, graduate advisor.
Ware, Molly, PhD.
Program Information
The Master in Teaching (MIT) program is designed for candidates who wish to complete a master’s degree while gaining state of Washington residency certification to teach at the secondary level (middle and high school). Our comprehensive MIT program is firmly backed by current research of effective teaching and promoting student learning.
The MIT program is available on the Bellingham campus and at our Everett site.
Bellingham program: http://wce.wwu.edu/sec/master-teaching-mit-bellingham
Everett program: http://wce.wwu.edu/teop/master-teaching
See the Department of Secondary Education catalog page for additional program and teacher certification information. In particular, review the following headings:
Certification
Endorsements
Character and Fitness
Internships
Program Length
Generally, the MIT program can be completed in one year, plus student teaching (internship). This time frame could be extended if additional coursework is needed to meet department or state endorsement requirements. All requirements for the degree must be completed within five years of the initial quarter of registration.
The MIT leads to a recommendation to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction for State of Washington residency teacher certification. While it is possible to earn the Residency teaching certificate without completing the final requirements for the MIT degree, it is not possible to earn the MIT without earning the Residency teaching certificate.
Program Application
Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate School (see links below in How to Apply) as well as the department requirements noted below:
Prerequisites:
- A baccalaureate degree.
- Academic preparation for a qualifying endorsement, including a minimum 80% of required endorsement coursework (see the list of qualifying endorsements at wce.wwu.edu/cert/endorsements).
- A 3.0 undergraduate grade point average.
- Completion of an approved English composition course, with a grade or B of higher.
- English language proficiency.
Test requirement:
- Meet the Washington Education Skills Test- Basic (WEST-B) requirement. This may be met by a) taking the WEST-B exam, b) SAT minimum scores, or c) ACT minimum scores. See the WEST-B Requirement website for more information, wce.wwu.edu/admissions/west-b-requirement. Passing scores must be on file by the application due date.
Essays and statement of purpose.
Letters of reference.
Interview by Secondary Education faculty. Details will be provided once application is received.
Important Application Dates:
Online applications are submitted to the Graduate School for review before consideration for admission to the MIT program. Applications and supporting materials must be received by the Graduate School corresponding quarter of admission by the following deadlines for priority consideration:
- Fall quarter: April 1
- Winter quarter: October 1
- Everett location, Summer quarter: March 1
This off-campus program admits candidates only summer quarter; late applications accepted only on a space available basis.
Requirements Upon Program Admission
Upon acceptance, each candidate is assigned an education graduate faculty advisor. All newly accepted teacher education candidates must attend the mandatory orientation and advising session before beginning first quarter classes. Candidates may be dropped from Secondary Education for failing to attend the required orientation. Candidates admitted to the Woodring College of Education must meet specified requirements throughout the course of their teacher education program in order to remain in the program.
- Completion of an Institutional Application for a Teacher’s Certificate and Character and Fitness Supplement, and background checks as described below in Character and Fitness (see catalog page for Secondary Education).
- Completion of the Woodring College of Education Prevention of Sexual Harassment Training.
- Completion of the Woodring College of Education Blood-Borne Pathogens Training.
- Completion of the Secondary Education Supplemental Application/Student Conduct Requirements and Agreement.
General Retention Requirements
- Candidates must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA, beginning with the quarter they are notified of admission to Secondary Education. This requirement applies even to quarters where no education courses are being taken. Candidates who fail to meet this standard will receive a letter advising them that they have been dropped from the program.
- Candidates must earn a grade of C (2.0) or better in the professional education sequence and in all courses required for the endorsement
- Candidates must successfully complete a minimum of one certification course each calendar year
- Candidates must complete all certification and endorsement course work
- Candidates are required to conduct themselves in a professional manner, in terms of moral code, use of written or verbal language, abstention from sexual harassment, gender, ethnic and racial bias
Program Completion
To qualify for program completion and recommendation for state of Washington residency certification, candidates must complete the following requirements and assessments:
- A baccalaureate or higher-level degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- A state-approved, performance-based teacher preparation program that includes preparation in an endorsable subject area, teaching methodology, and an internship.
- Evidence of good moral character and personal fitness.
- Minimum scores set by the state of Washington on the Washington Educator Skills Test (WEST-E) for the qualifying endorsement area(s) required by the teacher preparation program.
- Completion of the education Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA).
- Successful completion of the student teaching internship as shown by performance on the WWU Intern Development and Evaluation System (IDES).
- Candidates who interrupt enrollment in a teacher education program for more than two consecutive quarters (summer quarter not included) must meet all program admission, completion and certification requirements in place for the quarter in which they expect to return.
