Bachelor of Arts in Education (B.A. in Ed.) degree
Major: Elementary Education (Levels K-8)
Concentration/Endorsement options: Bilingual Education (Levels
P-12)
ESL (Levels P-12)
Early Childhood Education (Birth “ 3rd grade)
Special Education (Levels P-12)
Middle Level Math (Levels 4-9)
Middle Level Science (Levels
4-9)
Bachelor of Arts in Education (B.A. in Ed.) degree
Major: Middle Level Education (Levels 4-9)
Concentration/Endorsement options: Humanities
Math
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.) degree
Major: Psychology
Major: Interdisciplinary Studies Primary Concentration choices: Education,
Psychology Secondary Concentration choices: Education, Psychology or selection(s)
from other departments
Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree
Content Concentration
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.
Recommendation for completion of the Washington Educator Skills Test “ Basic
(WEST-B) is as follows:
Reading and Writing subtests “ at the completion of English 102
Math subtest “ at the completion of Math 101 or Math 116 Foundational
Mathematics for Teachers I and Math 117 Foundational Mathematics for Teachers
II
Residency Teaching Certificate Requirements
Completion of either the B.A. in Ed. (Levels K-8 or 4-9) or the B.A. degree
(Levels 5-12) qualifies students to teach in the State of Washington in areas
approved for Heritage University by the PESB. Students who already hold a
bachelor degree from a regionally accredited college/university may also qualify
by completing the state approved teacher preparation program.
Candidates completing the elementary education endorsement are required by
Heritage University to complete an area of concentration. Elementary Education
majors must also complete an additional subject knowledge assessment (WEST-E)
as a requirement for that 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.
Teacher Certification Programs
Admission Guidelines
The guidelines below apply to all Residency Teaching Certificates for Undergraduate
Education, Post-Baccalaureate certification only candidates.
- Candidate applies for admission to teacher certification programs in his/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, candidate must have on file:
- 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 education instructors
- Initial Portfolio of designated work samples, including a writing sample
completed in class (ED 305)
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 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 305
- Approval recommended by interview team
For conditional admission to program, a candidate
may have:
- Completed Application for Admission to Teacher Preparation Program not
received
- Any yes answers on the Character and Fitness Supplement, not including
Section One numbers 1 and 2
- Unsatisfactory completion of General University Requirements
- Indicators of concern noted on Assessment of Professional Disposition
- 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/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 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 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 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 not passing 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. 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 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 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, in several courses
to identify dispositional patterns.
All candidates for certification will be assessed at various points in their
course of study on each of the adopted dispositions using the rating scale.
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 at
(509) 865-8592.
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. 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.