Graduate Studies in Education

SPECIAL EDUCATION ENDORSEMENT (0-12)
Completion of the prerequisite courses and the M.A.T. required special education courses and field experiences will prepare a candidate for an endorsement in Special Education (P-12). Please see the special education coordinator for advising.

EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION ENDORSEMENT (P-3)
Completion of the endorsement in special education, combined with two additional courses – EDS 534 Early Speech, Language and Literacy and EDS 538 Early Intervention Interdisciplinary Method  (or equivalent coursework) – and an advanced practicum in an early intervention or preschool special education setting will prepare a candidate for an endorsement in early childhood special education (P-3). Please see the special education coordinator for advising.

DEAF EDUCATION SPECIALTY ENDORSEMENT (P-12)
Completion of the endorsement in special education combined with a set of required courses from Spokane Falls Community College’s Interpreters Program (or equivalent coursework), EDS 534 Early Speech, Language and Literacy, and an advanced practicum in a deaf education setting will prepare a candidate for a specialty endorsement in deaf education (P-12). Please see the special education coordinator for a transcript evaluation and advising.

SPECIALTY ENDORSEMENT IN TEACHING THE GIFTED
The specialty endorsement in teaching the gifted can be obtained while earning the master of arts in teaching degree, emphasis in gifted and talented (M.A.T./GT). It can also be earned separately in an 11-credit program, including a field study and a culminating portfolio. Please contact the Whitworth Center for Gifted Education in the Graduate Studies in Education Department for advising.

Certification

• While every attempt is made to ensure that certification programs are compatible with degree study, certification requirements may go beyond degree requirements.
• Whitworth University programs lead to Washington certification. For certification in another state, the applicant will need to contact the office of the superintendent of public instruction in that state to secure the certification requirements.
• Whitworth University certification programs must meet requirements instituted by the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Professional Education Standards Board. Therefore, certification requirements are subject to change upon notification by the OSPI and PESB and must be incorporated into all appropriate certification plans.
• Certification study without the pursuit of a degree is possible where appropriate.
• Only candidates in good standing will be certified. Contact the Whitworth Office of Graduate Studies in Education at 509.777.3228 for further details.

The Whitworth Educational Certification and Career Services Office is located in Dixon Hall. For assistance with any of the following items, please call 509.777.4405 or 509.777.4406.

Services Provided by Educational Certification and Career Services

• Administrative certification: principal-endorsed
• Educational staff associate certification: school counselor-endorsed
• Continuing teacher certification
• Placement files: creating, updating, and mailing
• Career service information:
  • Career fairs
  • Résumés and cover letters
  • Current job listings
  • On-campus visits

Advising

Call the Whitworth Office of Graduate Studies in Education, 509.777.3228, for an appointment to discuss the various programs. An advisor will be assigned to assist you.

Admission Policies

1. No more than six semester credits should be taken prior to admission to GSE, as there is no guarantee they will count toward a graduate degree.
2. Complete an application packet by the following dates: for fall semester, July 1; for spring semester, Nov. 1; for summer semester, April 1.
3. There are two levels of admission, as follows:
   • Full admission: cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher, satisfaction of all prerequisites and acceptable recommendations.
   • Restricted admission: cumulative grade point average of 2.7 or higher, acceptable recommendations, and conditions identified by the admissions committee.
4. Applicants are expected to earn a score at the 25th percentile or higher on the verbal, quantitative, and analogies portions of the Graduate Record Exam or the Miller Analogy Test or to provide documented evidence of their ability to succeed in graduate school. This would include a statistics course and demonstrated graduate-level writing ability.
5. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
6. Completion/concurrent enrollment in a teacher-education program is required for all School of Education master’s degree and certification programs except for MIT, M.A./M.Ed. school counseling, M.A marriage and family therapy; and M.Ed. in administrative leadership. Photocopies of all Washington teacher, administrator and/or ESA certificates, as well as certificates from other states, must be submitted with the application for admission.
7. Prerequisites prior to graduate study may be required where applicants lack appropriate preparation. Students whose first language is not English may be required to complete prerequisites prior to consideration for admission to GSE. These courses are determined with an advisor to improve expertise in English, math, education methods and study skills.
8. Part of the application process to GSE is completion of the character-and-fitness supplement. Based upon a review and documentation of items disclosed in the character-and-fitness supplement, Whitworth may deny admission to any individual applying to GSE. Applicants with suspended or revoked educational certificates (teacher, counselor, principal, psychologist or other) for a program leading to state certification will not be processed for admission to GSE until such certificates have been reinstated. This includes certificates from other states, as well as from Washington.
9. For international students, the TOEFL test or the GRE is required prior to admission. The minimum score accepted on the TOEFL is 79 iBT or 550 on the paper test. Testing is also done in English and in math, prior to the student’s graduate coursework, to determine any necessary prerequisites that need to be written into the degree plan. International students must provide proof of adequate financial resources for graduate study prior to admission.
10. Special education applicants will be interviewed.

Note: At any given time, one or more of our programs may be undergoing revision to stay current with changing Washington State Board of Education requirements. Please consult your advisor to ensure that you have the most current information on your program.

Academic Policies for Graduate Education Programs

Academic Standards

1. Most GSE students are required to complete the Whitworth University Computer Assessment Tool (WUCAT) upon entering the program; each student has one year to pass all parts of the exam for full admission into his or her program.
2. Whitworth GSE offers independent studies (EDA/EDU/EDC/EDG/EDS-591) that may be taken on a tutorial basis. GSE approval is based upon the following criteria: No regular course covers the project materials, and a designated faculty member agrees to supervise the study (with a limit of two such studies during a student's entire program). Students are to submit proposals with the signatures of the faculty supervisor and the director/department chair to the GSE office by registration of the term in which the study will be taken.

Admission and Expulsion

1. Students who take no courses toward the completion of their master’s degree within a one-year period will be placed on inactive status. Should inactive students return to active status, they may be responsible for any new university or program requirements.
2. Students may be suspended or expelled for failure to meet academic standards and for plagiarism, cheating, misrepresentation of background information, or violation of program requirements. Subsequent readmission follows the procedures for new admission under the catalog requirements in effect at the time of reapplication.
3. Whitworth reserves the right to withhold transcripts and diplomas until all campus debts are settled.
4. Students are prohibited from bringing children, other family members or guests to their classes except in an emergency and with the permission of the instructor.

General Guidelines

1. Whitworth Graduate Studies in Education students may register in the GSE office in Dixon Hall or online. Tuition is paid through student accounting services in McEachran Hall. If a student enrolls in a course that is not approved for a specific program, that class will be considered an enrichment course only; it will not count toward a graduate degree or certification program.
2. Check with your advisor each term for preregistration advising and for exit requirements.
3. Online registration is available, with advisor clearance, after a student’s first term.

Master of Arts in Teaching

Master of Arts in Teaching, Gifted and Talented (M.A.T.)

Kathryn Picanco (program director)

This program is designed to train teachers of gifted and talented students and mainstream classroom teachers to evaluate and utilize appropriate current trends and research ideas, develop differentiated curriculum for all students, and individualize instruction to meet the needs of each child.  All required gifted and talented courses are offered online.

The Washington state specialty endorsement in teaching the gifted is available at Whitworth University. Contact the director of the Center for Gifted Education for a transcript evaluation and advising.

M.A.T. Gifted and Talented (34)

Specialty Endorsement in Teaching the Gifted

The specialty endorsement in teaching the gifted can be obtained while earning the Master of Arts in Teaching, Emphasis in Gifted and Talented (M.A.T./GT). It can also be earned separately in an 11-credit program, including a field study and a culminating portfolio. Please contact the Center for Gifted Education in the Graduate Studies in Education department for advising.

A variety of graduate-level short courses on topics of interest in gifted education, professional development, and general education are offered. Both on campus and on-line offerings are available. Descriptions are available through the Center for Gifted Education & Professional Development.

Master of Arts in Teaching Special Education (M.A.T.)

Flint Simonsen (program coordinator)

This program is designed to extend the skills and knowledge of teachers who wish to work with exceptional children and youth. It emphasizes curriculum needs of pupils rather than disability categories. The program can accommodate teachers who are seeking to complete their endorsement in special education under the new Washington state requirements. It is also intended to provide graduate-level specialized training for teachers who are already endorsed in special education. The program prepares teachers to understand inclusion (working with exceptional children in the regular classroom), as well as to work with special-needs learners in resource rooms or self-contained settings.

Prerequisite competencies are required. Transfer classes (graduate or undergraduate) may be accepted in place of the following courses, but any substitutions must be individually evaluated. The following courses, with the exception of field experiences, may be taken at Whitworth as part of the graduate electives required:

Possible Special Education Electives:

Note: Special education endorsement is also possible without completion of the master’s degree. Students must pass the WEST-E to receive an endorsement. Check with the special education coordinator for information.

Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy

Master of Education

Alison Olzendam (director)

This program is for potential principals/program directors in public or private (P-12) schools. Each candidate must have appropriate evaluations/references on file in the GSE office before admission is approved and must schedule a conference with the coordinator of the educational administrative program. The program carries with it competency-based certification with recommendations from the Administrative Professional Education Advisory Board. This board is composed of representatives of the Association of Washington School Principals, Washington Association of School Administrators, Washington Education Association and Whitworth University.

Experience Requirement: Candidates must hold or have held a valid teacher’s certificate or a valid educational staff associate certificate, and must have demonstrated successful school-based experience in an instructional role with students.

Certification at the Residency Level: Generally achieved together with the completion of the M.Ed. degree in administration. Certification is available for P-12 administration. The certification program is also available for teachers or counselors who have already completed a master’s-degree program.

Professional Administrator’s Certificate: Requires verification of 540 days of service as a principal, vice principal or assistant principal with satisfactory district evaluations. This requirement is subject to change by the superintendent of public instruction.

Note: A course that covers abuse and neglect of children is required for the professional teacher certificate and professional administrator’s certificate. Check with the certification office at 509.777.4406.

M.Ed. in Administrative Leadership (36)

Roberta Wilburn, (program coordinator)

This program is for potential administrators in settings not requiring principalship certification.  (Examples: educational service districts, private schools, special education settings and community colleges and other higher education settings.)

The courses in the Administrative Leadership program are subject to change due to program updates. Please check with your advisor for current course offerings.

Master of Education (M.Ed.)

Note: A technology component will be added to these programs as soon as appropriate approval is in place.

The courses in the Elementary and Secondary education programs are subject to change due to program updates.  Please check with your advisor for current course offerings.

Endorsements

Graduate-level English language learners (ELL), reading, special education endorsement, and specialty endorsements in teaching the gifted courses may be applied toward the 18 elective courses required in the M.Ed. in elementary education or M.Ed. in secondary education. Consult your academic advisor for additional information.

Evening Teacher Certification Program

Evening Teacher Certification Program courses taken at the graduate level may be applied to the M.Ed. in elementary education or the M.Ed. in secondary education. Consult academic advisor for additional information.

Master of Arts School Counseling (M.A.)

Master of Education School Counseling (M.Ed.)

Roberta Wilburn, (program coordinator)

This program is designed for the preparation of residency ESA certification for school counselors at both the elementary and secondary school levels.  Students living beyond 50 miles of Spokane will be responsible for paying mileage fee for supervision.

M.A. School Counseling (59)

*Additional hours required for Thesis

Master of Education in Social Emotional Learning, (M.Ed.)

Master in Teaching Program

www.whitworth.edu/mit

mit@whitworth.edu

Elementary Level — 56-60 Semester Credits

Secondary Level — 48-50 Semester Credits

The Whitworth Master in Teaching (MIT) Program was initiated in 1989 as a result of the Washington State Legislature calling for alternative teacher-education programs. It was the first such program in the state. Part of a nationwide movement to strengthen America’s corps of teachers by putting successful members of society’s workforce into teaching positions, MIT programs provide schools with mature teachers who understand the demands of the real world and whose teaching reflects these realities.

Those pursuing this option include professionals who are changing careers, those who are re-entering the work force, and recent graduates of undergraduate institutions. The professors teaching in the program are from both the higher education level and the K-12 public schools. Coursework and assignments are integrated and are both theoretical and practical. Upon successful completion of the program, candidates earn a Residency Teacher Certificate and a master in teaching degree.

This progressive, performance-based, cohort teacher certification and master’s degree program extends over 13 months of full-time coursework and a year-long school practicum. This rigorous program is characterized by 1) integration of academic work with an ongoing field experience; 2) programmatic coherence both from course to course and from on-campus to field work; 3) systematic study of classroom practice; and 4) individual self-reflection and renewal. All teacher candidates design a teacher work sample (TWS). Through this performance assessment, MIT candidates provide credible evidence of their ability to facilitate and improve student learning. Because of the significance of the TWS, most of the courses in the program address specific standards of the TWS.

Admission Requirements

• Willingness to embrace the vision of the MIT program
• Willingness and commitment to learning in a cohort
• Evidence of successful work with children or youth
• Bachelor’s degree in an approved teaching endorsement area from a regionally accredited college or university
• Grade-point average of 3.0 For the last half of college. Graduate coursework and/or work history will be considered
• $35 application fee
• Basic-skills test: WEST-B (www.west.nesinc.com to register online). There are three sections to this test. Two of the three must be passed for provisional admission. All sections must be passed by the end of the summer term (August) for full admission
• Submission of three letters of recommendation. Please have the letters sent directly to the following address:

  Master in Teaching Program
  Whitworth University
  School of Education
  Spokane, WA-99251

• WEST-E subject-matter text.  The WEST-E must be taken prior to the start of the program for provisional admission. All sections of the WEST-E must be passed by the end of fall term (December) for full admission.
• Submission of the character-and-fitness supplement.
• A written two- to three-page statement on why the candidate has chosen teaching as a profession and why s/he has selected the MIT program at Whitworth University for professional preparation.
• A completed application packet to the Whitworth Master In Teaching Office, including transcripts from all colleges attended.
• An interview with the MIT faculty.
• A positive recommendation from the MIT faculty following the interview.

All admissions to the MIT Program are conditional. Full admittance is granted upon successful completion of summer and fall coursework and passage of all WEST-E and WEST-B tests.

Applications for the program will be accepted through March 1 or until program capacity is reached. It is advisable to apply as early as possible.

Please note: 530 series courses are taken by all MIT students. 540 series are taken by elementary track students and 550 series courses are taken by secondary track students.