Woodring College of Education
Graduate Faculty
Burgess, Donal, PhD.
Harwood, Angela, PhD, graduate advisor.
Kasprisin, Lorraine, PhD.
Keiper, Timothy, PhD.
Larson, Bruce, PhD.
Lawrence, Molly, PhD.
McClanahan, Lauren, PhD., graduate advisor.
Nolet, Victor, PhD.
Romano, Rosalie, Ph.D.
Sheppard, Shelby L., PhD., graduate advisor
Wolpow, Ray, PhD.
Program Description
This degree program is designed for candidates who wish to complete a master’s degree while gaining state of Washington residency certification. Candidates must have completed a baccalaureate degree and academic preparation for a qualifying endorsement. This degree program combines the endorsement preparation with a graduate-level program of certification course work to produce a Master in Teaching program. This degree is firmly backed by current research of effective teaching and reflects a conceptual framework which embraces three basic strands in education: artistic, scientific and professional. Completion of the MIT sequence usually takes two years.
The MIT program is available on the Bellingham campus or the University Center of North Puget Sound at Everett Community College.
Goals
The program prepares candidates to teach at the secondary school level (middle and high school).
Prerequisites/Qualification Examination
Candidates must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate School (see Graduate School Admissions section in this catalog) as well as the following department requirements:
- Graduate Record Exam, General Test, for exams taken before August 2011, a combined minimum score of 1,000 on the Verbal and Quantitative, and a minimum of 4.5 on the Analytic Writing. For the “Revised” General Test (beginning August 2011), the combined minimum Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning score of 297 on the new scale and 4.5 Analytic Writing. Miller Analogies Test, with a score of 403. Test scores are not required if an applicant holds an advanced degree
- Minimum passing scores on all three subtests (reading, math, writing) of The Washington Educator Skills Test - Basic (WEST-B). For schedule and registration information, refer to the WEST-B website, www.west.nesinc.com. Out-of-state applicants may meet this requirement through alternative tests and should contact the secondary education department for further information
- English composition course with a grade of B or better
- Interview by secondary education faculty. Details will be provided once applications are received
Candidates for the Master in Teaching Degree must have completed a baccalaureate degree and academic preparation for a qualifying endorsement, including a minimum80% of required endorsement coursework (see listing of WWU academic majors in the Secondary Education section of the current catalog). The MIT leads to a recommendation to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction for State of Washington residency teacher certification. Teacher certification candidates must sign the “Student Conduct Requirements and Agreement” form, complete Character and Fitness requirements, the sexual harassment prevention education workshop, and the blood-borne pathogen workshop. It is possible to be awarded certification prior to completion of master’s degree requirements; the MIT will be awarded only to those who successfully complete all requirements for Washington state certification, including a successful student internship. Therefore, the MIT cannot be awarded without certification.
Program Application/Admission Requirements
Applications and supporting materials must be received by the Graduate School for the corresponding quarter of admission by the following deadlines for priority consideration:
- Fall quarter: April 1
- Winter quarter: October 1
- Everett location (summer quarter only):* February 1
*This off-campus, summer-start program admits students only for summer; Late applications accepted only on a space available basis.
Required supporting materials include:
- Résumé
- A personal statement that describes your experience(s) with adolescents and background as it applies to the teaching profession. The secondary education faculty believe experience with diverse, multicultural populations benefit prospective teachers. Make sure to include any and all background or experience(s) you have had with diverse populations
- Three letters of recommendation that address 1) your educational potential to do graduate-level course work; 2) your successful experience with adolescents and your experience with diverse populations; and 3) character and maturity
- English competency:
Completion of an approved English composition course, with a grade of B or higher. ENG 101, 201, 202 and 301 at Western or equivalent courses fulfill this requirement.
- An interview with Secondary Education faculty
- Student Conduct:
The Student Conduct Requirements and Agreement portion of the supplemental Woodring College application must be completed
Students’ applications are first reviewed by the Graduate School before consideration for admission to a specific program.
No graduate Record Exams (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) is required if an applicant holds an advanced degree.
Advising and Orientation
Upon acceptance, each student is assigned an education graduate faculty advisor. All newly accepted secondary students must attend a required orientation and advising session before beginning first quarter classes. Students may be dropped from Secondary Education for failing to attend the required orientation.
Program Length
All requirements for the degree must be completed within five years of the initial quarter of registration. Normally, full-time graduate students complete the program in two years. This time frame could be extended if additional course work is needed to meet department or state endorsement requirements.
Program Continuation
Students 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.
Requirements Upon Program Admission
- Completion of an Institutional Application for a Teacher’s Certificate and Character and Fitness Supplement, and background checks as described below under Character and Fitness
- Completion of the Woodring College of Education Prevention of Sexual Harassment Training
- Completion of the Woodring College of Education Blood-Borne Pathogens Training
Character and Fitness
The Washington Administrative Code requires applicants for teacher certification to give evidence of “good moral character and personal fitness.” Students provide evidence of character and fitness through two separate but related processes:
- Institutional Application for a Teacher’s Certificate and Character and Fitness Supplement, provided to students upon acceptance into the program. The application for certification requires candidates to answer questions regarding professional fitness, criminal history and personal conduct. Students with “yes” responses must report to the certification officer in Miller Hall 250 before registering for classes.
- Washington State Patrol and FBI background checks through a fingerprinting process. Procedures and fee information are provided to students upon acceptance into the program.
No student in a teacher education program may participate in a University-sponsored activity in the public schools until cleared by the Washington State Patrol, or in some cases, investigated and then cleared by the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Clearances are validated for specified time frames. Students must maintain character and fitness clearance until they have been recommended for a residency teacher certificate following completion of the teacher education program.
In addition to the Washington state character and fitness requirements noted above, students must abide by the Woodring College of Education conduct policies acknowledged in the Student Conduct and Requirements Agreement, which is submitted with program application materials.
General Retention Requirements
- Students must maintain at least a 2.75 GPA (graduate students 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. Students who fail to meet this standard will receive a letter advising them that they have been dropped from the program.
- Students must earn a grade of C (2.0) or better in both the professional education sequence and in all courses required for the endorsement
- Students must successfully complete a minimum of one certification course each calendar year
- Students must demonstrate a high level of competence in the English language. Those who have a difficulty in their verbal and/or written communications should expect to seek remediation before beginning the internship
- Students are responsible for compiling a portfolio illustrating the quality of their work in each professional education class.
- Students must complete all certification and endorsement course work
- Students 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, students 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 Washington Performance-based Pedagogy Assessment
- Successful completion of the student teaching internship as shown by performance on the WWU Intern Development and Evaluation System (IDES)
- Students 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
