Students officially accepted into the Teacher Preparation Program must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Courses in the professional core endorsement areas, or supporting course work, may not be taken as pass/no pass or fall below a C (2.0) grade. Accepted applicants for the residency certificate who have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution other than Heritage University, or are transfer students, must also be admitted to the Teacher Preparation Program, and must complete at least one-half of the required professional core courses, methodology courses, and student teaching at Heritage University.

Assessment of certification candidates’ dispositions is an important element of the College of Education and Psychology unit assessment system. Dispositions are the attributes of professionals, including attitudes and principles, that ultimately manifest as tendencies to act in a particular way.

Assessments of professional dispositions are not based on a single class performance. Rather, assessments are conducted periodically, over time and in several courses, to identify dispositional patterns.

Using the rating scale, all candidates for certification will be assessed at various points in their course of study on each of the adopted dispositions.

Program Goals

The primary mission of the M.I.T. Program is to prepare and support effective, intellectual, and ethical teachers who can have a positive impact on student learning. A Heritage University graduate with teacher certification will have the ability to positively impact learning for all students. The program is based on developing the seven essential roles of a teacher:

1. Bridge Builder for Diverse People and Communities
2. Communicator
3. Builder of Learning Communities
4. Planner of Learning Experiences
5. Reflective Professional
6. Collegial Leader/Advocate
7. Nurturer of Psychosocial Development

Additional Admission Requirements for Certification

In addition to the general requirements for admission to the Graduate School, requirements for admission to the Master in Teaching Program include:

1. Submission of a letter describing personal or professional experiences relevant to teaching or working with youth and why the candidate wants to become a teacher
2. Successful completion of the Washington Educator Skills Test-Basic (WEST-B)
3. Accumulative GPA of 2.60 for the most recent 30 semester credits or 45 quarter credits

In addition, because of the responsibility of members of the teaching profession to the total development of young people, and notwithstanding a student’s enrollment in or graduation from the College of Education and Psychology, the dean and the faculty of the college reserve the right to refuse to admit to a teaching program or recommend a student for a teaching certificate or endorsement if, in the discretion of the dean and the faculty, such a recommendation or assignment would be contrary to or in violation of WAC 181-79A-155 — Good Moral Character and Personal Fitness. Students who have concerns regarding the latter issue should contact the Certification Office.

Departmental requirements are subject to change according to state certification requirements. Completion of requirements for a degree does not guarantee that all requirements for certification have been met.

Applications for student teaching and graduation are made two semesters before completion of the program. Completion of the institutional application for a teacher’s certificate, character and fitness supplement, and fingerprint processing by OSPI are required before applying for student teaching.

Exit Requirements for Residency Teacher Certificate

1. Successful completion of the Washington Educator Skills Test-Endorsement (WEST-E) in elementary education and endorsement competencies. Candidates must take the WEST-E at least three semesters prior to student teaching. Students are encouraged to take the WEST-E exams as soon as possible following passage of the WEST-B exams. Candidates must pass the WEST-E in elementary education before a temporary residency teacher permit will be issued.
2. Upon satisfactory completion of all requirements for the M.I.T. degree and any appropriate pedagogical assessments, Heritage University recommends the student to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction for approval of all endorsements earned and the issuance of a Washington State Residency Teacher Certificate.

Program Requirements                                                                                                             Credits
ED         500           M.I.T. Orientation............................................................................................ 0
ED         505           Essential Education Concepts......................................................................... 2
ED         525           Facilitating Learning in Social Studies and Literature for Children....................... 3
ED         556           Differentiated Instruction: Multicultural Education............................................. 2
ED         517           Facilitating Learning in Science........................................................................ 3
ED         516A         Facilitating Learning in Mathematics: K-4 Grade Emphasis................................ 2
ED         516B         Facilitating Learning in Mathematics: 5-8 Grade Emphasis................................ 2
ED         518           Facilitating Learning in the Arts........................................................................ 1
ED         519           Facilitating Learning in Health and Fitness........................................................ 1
ED         549           Child Safety Issues and Internship Seminar...................................................... 1
ED         548A         Language Arts: K-2 Grade Emphasis............................................................... 2
ED         548B         Language Arts: 3-5 Grade Emphasis................................................................ 2
ED         548C         Language Arts: 6-8 Grade Emphasis................................................................ 2
ED         557A         Curriculum, Instruction, Management, and Assessment I................................... 3
ED         557B         Curriculum, Instruction, Management, and Assessment II.................................. 2
ED         597E         Elementary Internship or
ED         597M         Middle-Level Internship................................................................................... 4
BLE       522           ESL in the Content Areas................................................................................ 2
SPED    515           Special Education Fundamentals for K-8 Educators......................................... 2
TOTAL CREDITS           .................................................................................................................... 36