The Secondary Education Department offers a Master in Teaching Degree  program for students who wish to complete a master's degree while gaining State of Washington Residency certification.  Students must have completed a baccalaureate degree and must have a major in one of the State-approved academic majors.  This degree program combines the endorsable major with a graduate-level program of certification coursework to produce a Master in Teaching program which is firmly backed by current research on effective teaching and reflects a conceptual framework which embraces three basic strands in education: artistic, scientific and professional.

Time Limits:
All requirements for the degree must be completed within five years of the initial quarter of registration.  Normally, full time graduate students complete the MIT in approximately two years.  This timeline may be extended if additional academic major coursework is required beyond the degree to meet State or department requirements.  

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

• Credits
  • Completion of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with an endorsable major (see list below).
• Grade Point Average

  • A 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) determined on the basis of the student's most recent 90 quarter hour or 60 semester hour credits including post-baccalaureate credits if they are upper division.

• Entrance Tests

  • Minimum test scores on the GRE or the MAT. Scores are established by the department.  GRE General Test with average scores of 500 on the Verbal and Quantitative and 4.5 on the Analytical*, MAT score of 395. *GRE preferred.  Applicants who hold advanced degrees (JD, MA, PhD, etc.) are exempt.

  • Take and pass the Washington Educator Skills Test - Basic (WEST-B), all three sections (reading, mathematics, and writing).  This test is offered only six times per year, therefore applicants need to plan ahead to meet deadlines.  For information on test dates and location, registration, and fees, check the WEST-B website at www.west.nesinc.com.

Applicants to the Seattle MIT program (summer admit) and Bellingham campus program (fall admit), may take the March WEST-B.

Out-of-state applicants may substitute the Praxis I option or California C-BEST for the WEST-B.

No candidate will be matriculated until this requirement has been met.

• Resume
• Letters of Recommendation
  • Three letters of recommendation which address: 1) your educational potential to do graduate level coursework; 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. English 101, 201, 202 and 301 at Western or equivalent courses fulfill this requirement.
• A personal statement that describes your experience(s) with adolescents and your background as it applies to the teaching profession.  The Secondary Education faculty believe experience with diverse, multi-cultural populations benefit prospective teachers.  How have your previous experiences developed your potential as an educator?  What were the challenges you faced?  What did you learn?  Make sure to include any and all background or experience(s) you've had with diverse populations.
• An interview by Secondary Education faculty.  Details will be provided once applications are received.
• Student Conduct
  • The Student Conduct Requirements portion of the Supplemental WCE Application  must be completed and submitted.  This Application will be provided when students are notified of admission.

The application for certification requires candidates to answer questions regarding professional fitness, criminal history and personal conduct.  Applicants with "yes" responses must report to the WWU Certification Officer in Miller Hall 202 before registering for classes.  Applicants must also be fingerprinted by the Washington State Patrol and FBI.  There is a fee for this service.  The application and fingerprint results are used in the process of determining a candidate's character and fitness for serving in the role of a professional educator.  No certification student may participate in any university-sponsored activity in the public schools until cleared by the Washington State Patrol or, in some cases, investigated and then cleared by the Office of Superintendent  of Public Instruction.  Admission to the Woodring College of Education is provisional until the candidate has been cleared.  

ADMISSIONS PROCEDURES

Students who wish to pursue a Master in Teaching degree in Secondary Education and certification concurrently must apply first for admission to the Graduate School and upon admission to the Graduate Secondary program complete a supplemental application to the Woodring College of Education.

Applicants may obtain an application for admission on the  Graduate School website. The deadlines for each respective quarter are as follows:

• April 1 - for admission fall quarter
• February 1 - for admission to the Seattle program summer quarter only.  
• October 1 - for admission winter quarter.

• Sec 501 Introduction to Educational Inquiry for Secondary Teachers (4)
• Sec 512 Seminar in Educational Philosophy (4)
• Sec 513 Seminar in Socio-Cultural and Legal Issues in Education (4)

Secondary Program and Certification Core (38 credits)

• Sec 510 Dynamics of Teaching (2)
• Sec 435 Middle Level Practicum (2)
• Sec 436 Secondary School Practicum (1)
• Sec 433 Peer Teaching Laboratory (1)
• Sec 525 Content Reading, Writing and Communication Secondary Schools (4)
• Sec 531 Teaching Adolescents (4)
• Sec 532 Curriculum and Instruction in Secondary Schools (4)
• Sec 533 Assessment and Professional Development in Secondary Schools (4)
• Sec 534 Management, Motivation and Discipline in Secondary Schools (4)
• Sec 691 Research Seminar - Secondary (4)
• SpEd 510 Middle and Secondary Level Learning Problems (4) 
• IT 544 Instructional Technology in Education (4)

• Internship (24 credits)
  • Sec 595 Graduate Internship (24) (see Internship)

ACADEMIC MAJOR

Students must have a State-approved endorsable major in order to receive a recommendation to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) for certification.  While students in the MIT program have completed an academic major as part of their undergraduate degree, it is necessary to have transcripts evaluated to determine whether additional coursework is required to meet State or department requirements.  Applicants are encouraged to contact the academic major endorsement advisor at Western to arrange this evaluation prior to accepting admission to this program.  Listed below are the Western Washington University academic departments which offer approved endorsable majors. 

Secondary Level (5-12)

• Anthropology/Social Studies
• Biology (B.S.)
• Biology/Chemistry
• Chemistry
• Chemistry/Mathematics
• Chemistry/Physics
• Earth Science
• Earth Science/General Science
• Earth Science/Mathematics
• Economics/Social Studies
• English/Language Arts
• General Science
• Geography/Social Studies
• History/Social Studies
• Mathematics
• Physics/Mathematics
• Political Science/Social Studies
• Sociology/Social Studies

All Levels (P-12)

• Health Fitness (PE/Health)
• Music - designated arts (choral, instrumental or general)
• Special Education
• Theatre
• Visual Arts - designated arts
• World Languages

Preparing Thoughtful, Knowledgeable, Effective Educators for a Diverse Society