CATALOG

36 credits
The Master in Teaching (M.I.T.) program is designed to provide a master's degree and Residency Teaching Certification to individuals who already possess a bachelor’s degree. The degree consists of thirty-six semester hours of course work to be completed in five semesters. The M.I. T. Teacher Preparation Program at Heritage University is a performance-based program that prepares students at the graduate level for teaching positions.

Residency Teaching Certificate Requirements
Completion of the Master in Teaching degree qualifies students to teach in the State of Washington in areas approved for Heritage University by the Professional Educator Standards Board.   

Candidates for Elementary Education endorsement must also complete an additional subject knowledge assessment (WEST-E) as a requirement for that endorsement.   Certification candidates must attempt the WEST-E exams for all required endorsement areas prior to applying for student teaching.  For information on test registration or administration, see your advisor or the certification officer at Heritage University.

Teacher Certification Program Admission Guidelines

The guidelines below apply to all Residency Teaching Certificates for Graduate Education, post-baccalaureate certification only candidates.

1. Candidate applies for admission to teacher certification program in his/her first semester of education course work, coinciding with Ed 505.
2. Interviews for admission are conducted during the first semester of education course work.  At the time of the interview, candidate must have on file:

a.   Completed copy of the “Application for Admission to Teacher Preparation Program”

• Completed “Character and Fitness Supplement FORM SPI/CERT4020B” **
• Official scores from National Evaluation Systems, Inc. for all three subtests of the WEST-B exam
• “Assessment of Professional Disposition” form from two Heritage University education instructors
• Initial portfolio of designated work samples, including a writing sample completed in class (Ed 505)

3.   Following the admission interview, the Program Chair will review the documentations listed above along with the official recommendation of the interview team to determine the candidate’s status in the program. 
The following criteria will be used to determine admission status of the candidate.

For unconditional admission to program, a candidate must have:

• Completed the Application for Admission to the Teacher Preparation Program
• Completed the Character and Fitness Supplement with all “no” answers, not including section one numbers 1 and 2
• Completed General University Requirements
• Passed all three subtests of the WEST-B exam
• Satisfactory ratings on the Assessment of Professional Dispositions
• Satisfactory ratings on the writing sample completed in Ed 505, and
• Approval recommended by interview team

For conditional admission to program, a candidate may have:

• The completed Application for Admission to Teacher Preparation Program not received by Heritage University
• Any “yes” answers on the Character and Fitness Supplement, not including section one numbers 1 and 2
• Unsatisfactory completion of the General University Requirements
• Indicators of concern noted on the Assessment of Professional Disposition
• Unsatisfactory rating on writing sample or recommendation to complete additional courses in writing, and/or
• Conditional approval recommended by the interview team

Other conditions may be identified at the discretion of the program chair according to his/her professional judgment. All conditions must be met before the candidate interviews for approval to student teach.

All candidates receiving conditional admission will receive a letter specifying the conditions.

A candidate may be deferred admission to program if they have:

• Answered “yes” to any question on the Character and Fitness Supplement, not including Section One numbers 1 and 2
• Deficient in completion of the General University Requirements
• Failed to attempt all three subtests of the WEST-B exam
• Expressed concerns on an Assessment of Professional Disposition
• Inadequate writing skills as judged by faculty in the Education and/or English departments
• Earned less than a 3.00 in Ed 505
• Earned less than an accumulative GPA of 2.60 for the most recent 30 semester or 45 quarter credits, and/or
• Non-approval of admission by the interview team

 
Any candidate deferred admission to the Teacher Certification Program, according to the guidelines listed above, may not enroll in education classes.  All candidates being deferred admission will have a right to appeal the decision to the Dean of the College of Education and Psychology.

A candidate may be granted provisional status* if they have attempted all three subtests of the WEST-B but have not passed one or two subtests.

*Provisional status is defined as students who pass one or two of the three subtests on the WEST-B exam; students have until the end of the current academic year to pass all three subtests before being placed on deferred status. Deferred status will not allow you to register for any additional education courses (Education (ED), Bilingual Education (BLE) or Special Education (SPED) courses).  

Residency Teaching Certificate
Students officially accepted into the Teacher Preparation Program must maintain a 2.80 cumulative G.P.A.  Courses in the professional core endorsement areas, or supporting coursework, may not be taken 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 complete at least one-half the required professional core, and methodology courses, plus 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 themselves in 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, 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 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:

• Bridge Builder for Diverse People and Communities
• Communicator
• Builder of Learning Communities
• Planner of Learning Experiences
• Reflective Professional
• Collegial Leader/Advocate
• Nurturer of Psycho Social 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:

• Submission of a letter explaining experiences relevant to teaching or working with youth and why the candidate wants to become a teacher.
• Successful completion of the Washington Educator Skills Test- Basic (WEST-B)
• Maintenance of a 3.0 grade point average throughout the program.

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. If you have anything from your past that you think may compromise your certification, please contact the Certification Officer.

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 Certificate, Elementary Education (K-8)

• Successful completion of the Washington Educator Skills Test- Endorsement (WEST-E) in appropriate certification and endorsement competencies.  Candidates must take the WEST-E for all required endorsements sought before applying for student teaching.  Candidates must pass appropriate WEST-E examinations before any endorsement will be listed on the temporary permit.
• Upon satisfactory completion of all requirements for M.I.T. degree and all certification requirements, Heritage University recommends the student to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for approval of all endorsements earned and the Washington State Residency Teacher Certificate. 

Program Requirements                   Credits