Master’s in Teaching

Program Guide

Learn more about the criteria for the Master’s in Teaching- Elementary Education Certification program.

Admission requirements

+ Completion of a Bachelor degree at an accredited institution

+ Transcript evaluation* demonstrating completion of prerequisite classes in your content area (Biology, Chemistry, English/Language Arts, History, Social Studies, 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

+ Demonstration of Basic Skills in reading, writing, and math.  All applicants to the MIT Secondary program must have passing NES or WEST-E scores for your content area prior to applying to the MIT program (deadline December 15 of year of application).

All MIT candidates must attempt the WEST-B exams (reading, writing, and math) or an equivalent test (SAT or ACT) and report an official score prior to admission to the program. If they do not achieve the passing score in any (or all) sections, they may opt to take the test again or request an alternative means of demonstrating of basic skills.

Ways to meet the basic skills requirements:

• Pass the WEST-B/SAT/ACT or equivalent approved test (reading, writing, and math).
• Have earned an approved AA degree from a regionally accredited community college.
• Have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited college/university.

If the basic skills requirements are not met, the following may be used as evidence of basic skills:

• If candidates have attempted the reading test but not passed, a minimum grade of C in two humanities or social science courses may be used to demonstrate evidence of basic reading skills.
• If candidates have attempted the writing test but not passed, a minimum grade of C in two college-level composition courses may be used to demonstrate evidence of basic writing skills.
• If candidates have attempted the math test but not passed, a minimum grade of C in a credit earning college level math course or a UCORE [QUAN] designated course may be used to demonstrate evidence of basic mathematical skills.

* For a transcript evaluation, submit a Transcript Evaluation Request Form to Helen Berry 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:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• English Language Arts
• History
• Physics
• Social Studies

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 priority deadline is December, 15. 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 Helen Berry, along with official transcripts from all institutions attended.

+ Complete the online Graduate School Application.

+ Submit a completed Master in Teaching Secondary Online Application.

+ Submit proof of Basic Skills and passing NES or 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 Basic Skills requirement  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.

All MIT candidates must attempt the WEST-B exams (reading, writing, and math) or an equivalent test (SAT or ACT) and report an official score prior to admission to the program. If they do not achieve the passing score in any (or all) sections, they may opt to take the test again or request an alternative means of demonstrating of basic skills.

Ways to meet the basic skills requirements:

• Pass the WEST-B/SAT/ACT or equivalent approved test (reading, writing, and math).
• Have earned an approved AA degree from a regionally accredited community college.
• Have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited college/university.

If the basic skills requirements are not met, the following may be used as evidence of basic skills:

• If candidates have attempted the reading test but not passed, a minimum grade of C in two humanities or social science courses may be used to demonstrate evidence of basic reading skills.
• If candidates have attempted the writing test but not passed, a minimum grade of C in two college-level composition courses may be used to demonstrate evidence of basic writing skills.
• If candidates have attempted the math test but not passed, a minimum grade of C in a credit earning college level math course or a UCORE [QUAN] designated course may be used to demonstrate evidence of basic mathematical skills.

Program requirements

A minimum of 33 semester credits of course work, 14 semester credits of field experience, and a two-credit Master’s 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 semester-long seminar to support students in completing the Master’s 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.

Program Guide

Learn more about the criteria for the Master’s in Teaching Secondary Certification program.