Preparation for Secondary Education
The secondary certification program requires completion of an approved endorsement (major). Students must satisfactorily complete the general studies program, baccalaureate degree requirements as listed in this bulletin, and the Teacher Certification Program (TCP): Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3. The TCP consists of required pre-candidacy courses, certification core courses, endorsement courses, and cognates.
A minimum grade point average of not less than 2.75 is required in all pre-candidacy, certification, endorsements, and cognate courses that apply to these requirements. Any courses graded lower than a C cannot apply. A total of two repeats are permitted in any course or any combination of courses in the TCP Phase 1 and Phase 2.
Practicum experiences in secondary education require a formal application, law enforcement background check, and moral character clearance. Contact the School of Education and Psychology for details.
To be considered for full admission into the Teacher Certification Program (TCP) Phase 2, students must have junior standing or permission of the department, a Phase 1 GPA of 2.75, and complete an application packet. (The application packet is available upon request in the School of Education and Psychology.) Students must demonstrate excellence in knowledge representative of scholarship, skills of professionalism and dispositions, along with personal fitness appropriate for teaching. These terms are defined and explained in the Minimum Competencies document distributed in EDUC 211 Introduction to and Foundations of Education. The documents is also available upon request from the certification officer in the School of Education and Psychology. Students applying for full admission to the TCP Phase 2 are required by state law to earn a passing score on the Washington Educator Skills Test- Basic (WEST-B) and/or submit official documentation of current Washington State passing scores on the ACT/SATs, or a combination thereof, prior to admission into the program. Test dates and locations are available from the following website, www.west.nesinc.com.
Student teaching (Phase 3) requires formal application to the School of Education and Psychology. Student teaching application packets, available from the Education and Psychology office, are due by December 1, prior to the year in which the student plans to enroll for the experience. The candidate must document a minimum of 450 hours, according to current Washington state requirements, in supervised field experience over the course of their student teaching. Check with the certification officer for possible changes. Note: The School of Education and Psychology will contact all potential placements; however, placements cannot be guaranteed.
Senior students seeking certification are required to take the Washington Educator Skills Test- Endorsement (WEST-E) and/or National Evaluation Series (NES) prior to Phase 3. Students are required to pass the current Washington State assessment instrument in order to obtain WA State certification. In addition, students desiring to pursue graduate studies in education are encouraged to take the Graduate Record Examination (general).
Secondary Teaching Certification Requirements:
Phase 1: TCP Pre-Candidacy, Provisional Admittance Status
Pre-Candidacy program requirements
- Courses must be completed with a minimum grade-point average of 2.75 before a student may proceed to the TCP Phase 2.
- Must pass all sections of WEST-B and/or submit official documentation of current Washington State passing scores on the ACT/SATs, or a combination thereof.
- Apply for full admission to the TCP Phase 2 during the last quarter of pre-candidacy courses.
- A minimum of a B- average in the college Writing/ Research Writing sequence is required.
Pre-Candidacy Courses:
| EDUC 211 | Introduction to and Foundations of Education | 3 |
| EDUC 220 | Educational and Developmental Psychology | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 7 |
Pre-Candidacy Cognates:
*
ENGL 122: B- average required (ENGL223 Research Writing may be used to meet B- average)
Phase 2: TCP Core Certification Courses
Formal (full) acceptance into the Teacher Certification Program is required before registering for the courses listed below.
Teacher Certification Courses:
| EDUC 365 | Secondary Classroom Management | 4 |
| EDUC 390 | Measurement and Evaluation in Education | 4 |
| EDUC 395 | Secondary Methods of Instruction I | 1 |
| #### 395 | Methods course, major or minor academic field | 3 |
| | or | |
| EDUC 396 | Secondary Methods of Instruction II | 2 |
| EDUC 410 | Philosophy of Education (or PHIL 410) | 3 |
| EDUC 421 | Principals of Teaching and Learning in Inclusive Classrooms | 4 |
| EDUC 444 | Teaching and Learning: Cultural Diversity and Small Schools | 3 |
| EDUC 450 | Introduction to Student Teaching Field Experience | 0 - 1 |
| EDUC 461 | Secondary Student Teaching I | 2 |
| EDUC 471 | Secondary Student Teaching II: Assessment | 1-2; 3 |
| EDUC 475 | Teaching Reading Skills in The Content Areas | 3 |
| EDUC 481 | Secondary Student Teaching Part III | 12 |
| EDUC 495 | Colloquium: Child Abuse | 0 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 39-40 |
Washington State Assessment Instruments:
Taking all sections of WEST-E and/or NES in area of endorsement is a prerequisite for Phase 3 (student teaching).
| Assessment |
Requirement |
Deadline |
Outcome |
| WEST B or ACT or SAT or combination |
State required acceptance scores |
Before / During Phase 1 |
Apply for Phase 2 |
| WEST E / NES |
Minimum one attempt |
During Phase 2 |
Completion of Phase 3 application and student teaching |
| WEST E / NES |
Optional Retake(s), if necessary, with State required acceptance scores |
During Phase 3 |
Apply for Certification |
| edTPA |
State required acceptance scores |
During Phase 3 |
Apply for Certification |
Teacher Certification Program Cognates:
| EDUC 315 | Classroom Technology Tools | 2 |
| ENGL 223 | Research Writing | 3 |
| SPCH 101 | Fundamentals of Speech Communication | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Approved Primary Endorsements:
Endorsement requirements frequently exceed graduation requirements. For example, endorsements typically require a methods class appropriate for secondary teaching (grades 5-12). Additional endorsements in Social Studies and Science are available for students who already have, or are completing, an endorsable major. See the certification officer or secondary education adviser in the School of Education and Psychology for a current certification check-sheet.
Primary Endorsement Majors
Art
Biology
Chemistry
English
French
Health/Fitness
History
Mathematics
Music Education
Physics
Spanish
Additional Requirements for Denominational Certification
Religious studies (Bible) is not an approved Washington state endorsement. However, a religion minor, plus a methods course in religion, remains essential for those desiring a denominational endorsement in Bible.
One course chosen from the following:
16 Religion credits are required for certification and must include:
| RELB | (Selected from courses with RELB prefix) | 8 |
| RELH 457 | History of Adventism | 3 |
| RELT 202 | Christian Beliefs | 4 |
| RELT 417 | Inspiration and Revelation | 3 |
Eighteen Religion credits and a secondary religion methods course are required for the Junior Academy Religion Endorsement.
Notes on Washington State Certification
The school attempts to provide current information on certification requirements in this bulletin. Because of frequent changes in state requirements, however, the student must consult with the School of Education and Psychology certification officer periodically for updated information that might affect certification status.
Meeting graduation requirements as specified in this bulletin does not guarantee state certification. An application process, including fingerprint clearance and a Dean’s Affidavit regarding the candidate’s fitness, and passing of the current Washington State assessment instrument is required.