Master in Teaching Program

Doreen Keller (Program Director)  www.whitworth.edu/mit

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 reentering the workforce, and recent graduates of undergraduate institutions. The professors teaching in the program are from both the higher-education level and 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 is completed in one calendar year, which includes full-time coursework and a yearlong 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.

The student learning outcomes of this program prepare students to:

• Plan for effective instruction and assessment using research-based methods that include differentiation for all learners.
• Employ effective assessment strategies (formal and informal) throughout the learning cycle to support analysis of student learning and provide informed feedback to students on their progress.
• Engage K-12 learners in academic and reflective discourse for the purposes of eliciting student voice regarding content understanding and to provide opportunities for student self-reflection.
• Effectively engage in self-reflection to support continued improvement in instructional practices.
• Identify and describe the role that human development and social, cultural, linguistic, physical and community context play as related to the learner and the learning enterprise; and apply theories, concepts and strategies for culturally responsive pedagogy to promote inclusive communities for learning that foster the values and gifts of each member.

Admission Requirements

• Evidence of successful work with children or youth.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum 3.0 GPA (graduate coursework and/or work history will be considered).
• Completion of online application by posted deadline available at www.whitworth.edu/mit, where applicants will complete the following:
  • MIT application 
  • A statement about why the candidate has chosen teaching as a profession and why they have selected the MIT program at Whitworth University for professional preparation.
  • A current résumé.
  • Submission of three recommendations, requested via online forms once the application process is initiated.
  • Submission of the character-and-fitness supplement.
• Official transcripts from all colleges attended.
• An interview with the MIT faculty, which will be scheduled after all application documents are submitted.
• Basic-skills test: WEST-B (click to register online). There are three sections to this test. The test must be taken prior to the start of the program. SAT and ACT scores can be accepted in lieu of the WEST-B.
• NES/WEST-E subject-matter test (click here to register online). The NES/WEST-E must be taken prior to the start of the program for provisional admission. All sections of the NES/WEST-E must be passed by the end of Fall Term (December) for full admission.
• Prerequisites or corequisites 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. These courses are determined with an advisor to improve expertise in English, math, education methods and study skills.
• For international students, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the GRE are required prior to admission. The minimum score accepted is 88 on the TOEFL or an overall score of 7.0 on the IELTS. Testing is also done in English and in math prior to the student’s graduate coursework, to determine any prerequisites that need to be written into the degree plan. International applicants with diplomas from non-English-speaking universities may be required to provide a professional credential evaluation of their university transcripts from World Education Services. International students must also provide a current passport copy and proof of adequate financial resources for graduate study prior to admission.
• Graduates of the graduate studies in education and master in teaching programs at Whitworth seeking an additional master’s degree may have the core classes waived if they have been completed within the previous six years. These classes include Educational Research, Milestones in Education, Curriculum Development and Psychology of Learning or course equivalents. 

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

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

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.

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.

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 certification programs lead to Washington state certification. For certification in another state, the applicant will need to contact the appropriate state's certification agency to determine requirements.
• Whitworth University certification programs must meet requirements instituted by the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Professional Educator Standards Board. Hence, 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 educational certification & career services office, located in Dixon Hall, at 509.777.4403 or 509.777.4405 for further details.

Services Provided by the Office of Educational Certification & Career Services:

• Certification (Teacher, Principal, School Counselor)
• ​WSP/FBI Fingerprinting
• ​Clock Hour Provider
• Career Service Information:
  • Career fairs
  • Résumé and cover letter building
  • Current job listings

Academic Policies for Graduate Education Programs

Academic Standards

Whitworth Graduate Studies in Education offers guided studies that may be taken on a tutorial basis. Program director approval is required. Proposals are submitted  with the approvals of the faculty supervisor and the director/department chair via the electronic guided study proposal form by the registration deadline of the term during 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, unless arrangements have been made for a hiatus. In order for a student to return to active status they must reapply and they will 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 and/or guests to their classes except in an emergency and with the permission of the instructor.

General Guidelines

1. Master in Teaching students are registered for their courses by their advisor.
2. Check with your advisor each term for pre-registration advising and for exit requirements. Students must be cleared by their advisor prior to course registration each term.
3. Tuition is paid through student financial services located 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.

Master of Education in Educational Studies

The Master of Education in Educational Studies Program is designed for individuals who are interested in the field of education, but who do not complete the requirements to become a certified teacher.

This program is housed within the Master in Teaching (MIT) program. Students will complete all required academic and classroom-based courses, one semester of part-time student teaching during the Fall Term, and one half of the full-time student teaching in the Spring Term along with the intercultural field experience. This degree does not meet the requirements for teacher licensure in Washington state. Students will only be accepted into this program from the MIT cohort upon recommendation from the MIT faculty and director. 

Dean

ERICA SALKIN