Department of Secondary Education, Woodring College of Education
58 credits
Introduction
The Secondary Education program is designed for those who want to become a teacher at the middle or high school level. The program leads to a recommendation to the state of Washington for a teaching certificate endorsed in at least one subject area. This program requires completion of the Secondary professional education course sequence, a baccalaureate degree with academic preparation for an endorsement, and a student teaching internship.
See the Department of Secondary Education catalog page for additional program and teacher certification information. In particular, review the following headings: Certification, Endorsements, Requirements upon Program Admission, Character and Fitness, General Retention Requirements, Program Completion, and Internships.
Why Consider a Secondary Education Undergraduate and Post-Baccalaureate Professional Program?
Teaching today is more and more focused on ensuring student learning. The benchmark of great teaching is student learning. However, this is a challenge. Teaching and learning are collaborative and reciprocal; it is an on-going process, requiring openness to new ideas. No other profession allows you to engage with a subject matter that you enjoy every day, and work with youth to help them think and learn with you. Teachers have opportunities to go beyond content, and create a classroom environment that fosters students to learn and share diverse viewpoints and perspectives about the content and skills they are learning. Plus, you are able to see firsthand when students understand for the first time a new idea or phenomenon. We hope to prepare teachers who are able to foster creativity, transform the status quo, and develop a classroom community of learners. Teaching will transform you and serve the next generation of citizens in our democracy.
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Secondary level (middle or high school) teacher
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How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):
All applicants to the Woodring College of Education undergraduate and post-baccalaureate teacher education programs must be formally admitted to and currently enrolled at Western Washington University or must apply to Western for the same quarter they apply to teacher education. Woodring College teacher education program application materials are available in Miller Hall 150 and are also printable from wce.wwu.edu/admission.
The requirements listed below are minimum application criteria. Enrollment restrictions apply to Woodring programs. Meeting the following requirements makes the applicant eligible for admission consideration but does not guarantee admission. Students who meet all criteria are further evaluated to determine the most qualified applicants. Students will be evaluated on all information provided with the application, including required copies of transcripts from all prior colleges. Consideration will be given to those applicants with endorsements in academic areas of current critical need.
Pre-application Requirement
A signed endorsement evaluation is required with your application for all endorsements you may be earning. No more than 10 endorsement credits may be outstanding once you begin the SEC program. The evaluation should indicate any courses that are in progress or planned at the time of application. To obtain a signed evaluation, undergraduates should take transcripts (and a transfer equivalency report) plus the endorsement form (found at wce.wwu.edu/cert/endorsements) to their academic endorsement advisor between October and May. WWU post-baccalaureate applicants should email unofficial transcripts to program manager. Non-WWU post-baccalaureate applicants must also send course descriptions and/or syllabi for all courses relevant to their endorsement.
Application Criteria
- Signed endorsement evaluation.
- Post-baccalaureate applicants must also apply to Western Admissions by the application deadline
- Cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher overall college-level work or over the last 45 credits for undergraduate and post-bac applicants.
- Meet the basic skills requirement. This may be met by: a) Taking the West-B exam, b) SAT scores, c) ACT scores. There is no minimum score requirement for admission. See the Woodring admissions website: wce.wwu.edu/admissions/west-b-requirement and the West-B website: www.west.nesinc.com.
- Completion of an English composition course with a grade of B- (2.7) or higher
- Experience working with youth in a school or educational setting.
- Experience with diverse communities.
Important Application Dates:
- Applications and supporting materials must be received by the following deadlines:
- Fall quarter: February 15, for Undergraduate/Post-Bac. program
- Winter quarter: September 1 for Undergraduate/Post-Bac. program
Grade Requirements
Students must earn a grade of C or better in the Secondary Education professional program and in all courses required for the endorsement.
