Master’s in Teaching
The Master in Teaching (MIT) allows students to concurrently pursue a master’s degree and an elementary or secondary teaching certificate. WSU provides certification (endorsements) for individuals to teach either at the elementary level (K-8) or in certain subject areas at the secondary level.
The MIT program is cohort-based, forming a supportive network. The program consists of a wide range of pedagogy course work. Depending on the student’s focus (elementary or secondary education), these courses may include literacy, social studies, science, math, reading, health, fitness, or fine arts methods. Students also study diversity in schools and society, educational technology, the social context of education, and research-based effective practices. When successfully completed, the MIT program results in a master’s degree and teacher certification. Therefore all MIT students complete both certification and graduate research courses.
About our program
Here’s a basic overview of our program, admission requirements, and application process.
Elementary Education (grades K-8)
Admission requirements
+ Completion of a Bachelor degree at an accredited institution
+ Transcript evaluation* demonstrating completion of prerequisite classes. Each course must have a grade of “C” or higher with a combined minimum 2.5 GPA in all content area courses. Applications to the program will not be distributed prior to satisfactory completion of a transcript evaluation and required content coursework. Students are allowed to have two (2) content courses outstanding at the beginning of the program
+ 3.0 GPA or higher as calculated by the Graduate School
+ Passage of state required exams: WEST-B and WEST-E for your content area
+ Beginning September 1, 2017, WAC 181-78A-300 requires candidates to pass all portions of the WEST-B (reading, writing, math) prior to program entry. All applicants to the MIT program must have passing WEST-B scores prior to applying to the MIT program (deadline January 31 of year of application).
* For a transcript evaluation, submit a Transcript Evaluation Request Form to Dr. Sara Petersen, along with all official transcripts that have courses that may fulfill the prerequisites. Include your mailing address, phone number, and email address. Evaluations may take four to six weeks so it is critical to plan accordingly.
NOTE: The goal of the Master in Teaching Elementary Certification (MIT-E) program is to prepare the best teachers possible. Therefore, we reserve the right to admit only the most highly qualified candidates. Meeting the following admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.
Application process
The application deadline is January 31. The MIT Elementary Certification program begins once a year in early May.
The MIT-E application process is:
+ Submit a Transcript Evaluation Request Form to Dr. Sara Petersen, along with official transcripts from all institutions attended.
+ Complete the online Graduate School Application.
+ Submit a completed Master in Teaching Elementary Application Portfolio* to Helen Berry at WSU Tri-Cities, 2710 University Dr, Richland, WA 99354.
+ Submit WEST-B and WEST-E scores** to Helen Berry.
* Application Portfolio will not be complete until a satisfactory transcript evaluation of prior content area course work has been concluded.
** The West-B (reading, math, writing) content area exam must be completed prior to application to the MIT program. The WEST-E/NES content-area exams must be completed prior to the start of the MIT program.
Program requirements
A minimum of 32 semester credits of course work, 14 semester credits of field experience, and a two-credit Masters Project is required to complete the Master in Teaching Elementary (MIT-E) program.
Full-time students will complete the certification portion of the program in 20 months. One additional seminar to support students in completing the Master Project is necessary for completion of the Master degree. This seminar may be taken according to the student’s own timeline but may not be taken until successful completion of the student teaching experience. Students may request consideration for a part-time program but time to certification may be extended. Courses are offered in the late afternoon and evening with field experiences/internships occurring during the day only.
Goals & learning outcomes
The MIT-E program has articulated learning goals and learning outcomes for its graduates. The following list the program goals, followed by the student learning outcomes.
GOAL 1: To prepare outstanding entry-level P-12 teachers with a focus on teacher research as a paradigm for practice. Successful graduates:
+ Use deep content and pedagogical knowledge to inform their teaching
+ Develop relevant, rigorous, and developmentally appropriate curricula
+ Modify curriculum and instruction based on the individual needs of their students
+ Use assessment of their students’ learning and their own teaching to inform future planning and teaching
+ Attend to the social and civic development of their students
+ Work respectfully and collaboratively with colleagues and community to ensure quality instructional programs and stewardship of public schools
GOAL 2: To guide students in their development as practitioner-researchers in P-12 school settings. Successful graduates:
+ Locate, analyze, and synthesize research literature, and apply that synthesis to problems of practice
+ Effectively communicate scholarly work through written, oral, and/or alternate formats
+ Skillfully inquire into areas of program-related interest
+ Develop scholarly habits of curiosity, inquiry, skepticism, and data-based decision making
GOAL 3: To establish itself as a highly successful program that is recognized for the quality of its graduates and its national visibility. The Program:
+ Attracts, secures, and retains high quality students
+ Graduates students who are satisfied with the professional preparation they have received
+ Graduates students who attain teaching licenses and other appropriate credentialing
+ Maintains an excellent on-time graduation record
+ Is delivered by a high quality graduate faculty that actively contributes to the program and that participates in scholarship that adds to the knowledge base of teacher and educator preparation
Secondary Education (grades 5-12)
Admission requirements
+ Completion of a Bachelor degree at an accredited institution
+ Transcript evaluation* demonstrating completion of prerequisite classes in your content area (Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, English/Language Arts, History, Mathematics, or Physics). Each course must have a grade of “C” or higher with a combined minimum 2.5 GPA in all content area courses. Applications to the program will not be distributed prior to satisfactory completion of a transcript evaluation and required content coursework. Students are allowed to have two (2) content courses outstanding at the beginning of the program.
+ 3.0 GPA or higher as calculated by the Graduate School
+ Passage of state required exams: WEST-B and WEST-E for your content area
+ Beginning September 1, 2017, WAC 181-78A-300 requires candidates to pass all portions of the WEST-B (reading, writing, math) prior to program entry. All applicants to the MIT program must have passing WEST-B scores prior to applying to the MIT program (deadline January 31 of year of application).
* For a transcript evaluation, submit a Transcript Evaluation Request Form to Kristy Gilmartin along with all official transcripts that have courses that may fulfill the prerequisites. Include your mailing address, phone number, and email address. Evaluations may take four to six weeks so it is critical to plan accordingly.
Endorsements available at WSU Tri-Cities are:
NOTE: The goal of the Master in Teaching Secondary Certification (MIT-S) program is to prepare the best teachers possible. Therefore, we reserve the right to admit only the most highly qualified candidates. Meeting the following admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.
Application process
The application deadline has been extended from January 31 to February 15, 2017. The MIT Secondary Certification program begins once a year in early May.
The MIT-S application process is:
+ Submit a Transcript Evaluation Request Form to Kristy Gilmartin, along with official transcripts from all institutions attended.
+ Complete the online Graduate School Application.
+ Submit a completed Master in Teaching Secondary Application Portfolio* to Helen Berry at WSU Tri-Cities, 2710 University Dr, Richland, WA 99354.
+ Submit WEST-B and WEST-E scores** to Helen Berry.
* Application Portfolio will not be complete until a satisfactory transcript evaluation of prior content area course work has been concluded.
** The West-B (reading, math, writing) content area exam must be completed prior to application to the MIT program. The WEST-E/NES content-area exams must be completed prior to the start of the MIT program.
Program requirements
A minimum of 32 semester credits of course work, 13 semester credits of field experience, and a two-credit Masters Project is required to complete the Master in Teaching Secondary (MIT-S) program.
Full-time students will complete the certification portion of the program in 20 months. One additional seminar to support students in completing the Master Project is necessary for completion of the Master degree. This seminar may be taken according to the student’s own timeline but may not be taken until successful completion of the student teaching experience. Students may request consideration for a part-time program but time to certification may be extended. Courses are offered in the late afternoon and evening with field experiences/internships occurring during the day only.
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