CATALOG

DEGREES AND PROGRAMS OFFERED

Bachelor of Arts in Education (B.A. in Ed.) degree
Major: Elementary Education (Levels K-8)

Concentration/(Endorsement) options:    
Bilingual Education/(Levels Pre-K-12)
English as a Second Language/(ESL) (Levels Pre-K-12)*
Early Childhood Education/(Birth-3rd grade)
Special Education/(Levels Pre-K-12)
Middle-Level Math/(Levels 4-9)                                                                                        
Middle-Level Science/(4-9)

Bachelor of Arts in Education (B.A. in Ed.) degree
Major:   Middle-Level Education (Levels 4-9)

Concentration /Endorsement options:
Middle-Level Humanities
Middle-Level Math
Middle-Level Science

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree. (Secondary Levels 5-12)
1. Major: Visual Arts
2. Major: English/Language Arts
3. Major: Mathematics
4. Major: Science: Concentration/(Endorsement) options:
Biology (Levels 5-12)
Chemistry (Levels 5-12)

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Early Childhood Studies (ECS)**
Major: Early Childhood Studies (ECS)     

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree
Major:   Psychology
Major:   Interdisciplinary Studies
Primary concentration choices: Education, psychology
Secondary concentration choices: Education, psychology, or another department

Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree
Content Concentration

* The endorsement for English as a Second Language is called English Language Learner (ELL) by the State of Washington’s certification office.
** At the time of this catalog printing, the B.A. in Early Childhood Studies is in the process of degree approval.

Outcomes for Residency Teacher Preparation Program (B.A. and M.I.T.)

The baccalaureate and graduate degrees and the Residency Teacher Certification programs are designed to provide broad preparation for students planning to teach at the elementary (K-8) grade level. Candidates are expected to provide teacher-based and student-based evidence-related to the following knowledge and skill outcomes:

• Demonstrate skill in designing/adapting developmentally appropriate instruction based on relevant subject matter and curriculum standards.
• Demonstrate positive impact on student learning through the use of differentiated instruction and assessment methods to develop the critical thinking, problem solving, technology, and application skills of students.
• Demonstrate reflective planning, instruction, and communication that reflect the application of learning theory/child development of diverse learners.
• Demonstrate professional dispositions that enhance student learning and professional development.
• Demonstrate professional accountability for student growth through submission of a portfolio of capstone performance tasks.

TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAM OPTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

The Teacher Preparation Program at Heritage University is a performance-based program that prepares students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels for teaching positions. Prior to receiving recommendation for licensure, a candidate must demonstrate competence on a number of professional standards, including subject matter content, pedagogical practices, collection of data that reflect the rate of student progress, and other elements of professionalism. Candidates may also need to complete one or more pedagogical assessment portfolios and submit them for review prior to being recommended for certification. (The start date for this requirement is determined by the Professional Education Standards Board.)

Prior to admission to the Teacher Preparation Program, candidates interested in pursuing a residency teaching certificate must take the WEST-B, which comprises three entry-level tests. The COEP encourages students interested in education to take the WEST-B as early as possible and recommends the following:
Reading and writing subtests — at the completion of ENG 102
Math subtest — at the completion of MATH 101 or equivalent

Residency Teaching Certificate Requirements

Completion of either the B.A. in Education (K-8 or 4-9) or the B.A. degree (5-12), completion of all state requirements for certification, and successful passage of a pedagogical exam qualify students to teach in the State of Washington in areas approved for Heritage University by the PESB. Students who already hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college/university may also qualify by completing the state-approved teacher preparation program and successfully passing a pedagogical exam.

Candidates completing the elementary education endorsement are required by Heritage University to complete an area of concentration.

All Residency Teacher Certification candidates must also complete an additional subject knowledge assessment (WEST-E) as a state requirement for a desired endorsement. Prior to a candidate being issued a 180-day permit or recommendation to OSPI for certification, the WEST-E exam in their major area must be passed. For information on test registration/administration, see your advisor or the certification officer at Heritage University. The WEST-E exam should be taken as soon as possible in one’s program but not later than three semesters prior to the semester in which one hopes to complete student teaching and the pedagogical assessment.

Students of education are required to develop and maintain a professional e-portfolio throughout their time of study. This portfolio is intended to show evidence of the candidate’s ability to positively impact student growth.

Candidates should be aware that they must meet all current State of Washington certification requirements that are in place at the time of their final application for certification. (These requirements may change from the time a candidate starts the program to the time they apply for certification.)

Teacher Certification Programs Admission Guidelines

The guidelines below apply to all residency teaching certificates for undergraduate education post-baccalaureate certification only.

• Candidate applies for admission to teacher certification programs in his or her first semester of education course work, coinciding with ED 305.
• Interviews for admission are conducted during the first semester of education course work.

At the time of the interview, candidates must have on file:

• Completed copy of their application for admission to the 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 education instructors
• Initial portfolio of designated work samples, including a writing sample completed in class (ED 305)

• 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 the program, a candidate must have:

• Completed application for admission to the Teacher Preparation Program
• Completed the character and fitness supplement with all “no” answers, not including section 1, numbers 1 and 2
• Completed the General University Course Requirements (GUCRs)
• 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 305
• Approval recommended by interview team

For conditional admission to the program, a candidate may have:

• Completed application for admission to the Teacher Preparation Program not received
• Any “yes” answers on the character and fitness supplement, not including section 1, numbers 1 and 2
• Unsatisfactory completion of General University Course Requirements (GUCRs)
• Indicators of concern noted on the assessment of professional dispositions
• Unsatisfactory rating on writing sample or recommendation to complete additional courses in writing
• Conditional approval recommended by the interview team

Other conditions may be identified at the discretion of the program chair according to his or 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 the to program if they have:

• Answered “yes” to any question on the character and fitness supplement, not including section 1, numbers 1 and 2
• Deficient in completion of General University Course Requirements (GUCRs)
• Failed to attempt all three subtests of the WEST-B exam
• Concerns expressed on the assessment of professional disposition
• Inadequate writing skills, as judged by faculty in the Education and/or English departments
• Earned less than a B (3.0) in ED 305
• Earned less than an accumulative GPA of 2.60 for the most recent 30 semester or 45 quarter credits
• 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, bilingual education, or special 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 applied to 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. You can continue to take courses until the end of the current academic year, ending in August. 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 GPA. Courses in the professional core endorsement areas, or supporting course work, 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 transfer students, must also be admitted to the Teacher Preparation Program and complete at least one-half the required professional core courses, 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 and in several courses, to identify dispositional patterns.

All candidates for certification will be assessed, using the rating scale, at various points in their course of study on each of the adopted dispositions and will be provided feedback about their dispositional strengths and weaknesses.

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 opinion 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. Any potential student concerned about such issues should immediately contact the certification office at (509) 865-8592 for assistance.

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 are made one to two semesters prior to program completion, depending on program. Graduation applications are completed two semesters prior to graduation date. Completion of the institutional application for a teacher’s certificate, character and fitness supplement, and fingerprint processing by OSPI are required at program-specific times determined by COEP. Certification candidates must attempt the WEST-E exams in all endorsement areas prior to applying for student teaching.

Education Placement Services

Placement services are offered to students seeking employment by assisting them in compiling their teacher placement files. These services are available through Admissions.