Preparation for Secondary Education
The secondary certification program requires completion of an approved endorsement (major). Candidates 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 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 Teacher Certification Program.
Field 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, candidates must complete all Phase 1 classes, have 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.) Candidates 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 document is also available upon request from the certification officer in the School of Education and Psychology.
Candidates 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 candidate plans to enroll for the experience. The candidate must document 450+ hours, according to current Washington state requirements, in supervised clinical practice over the course of their student teaching experience. 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.
According to Washington state guidelines (WAC 181-78A-300), candidates seeking student teaching placement are required to take the Washington Educator Skills Test - Endorsement (WEST-E) and/or National Evaluation Series (NES) and provide evidence to the certification officer by August 1. Candidates will not be allowed to enter the clinical practice classroom without this documentation. Candidates are required to pass WEST-E/NES and the current Washington state assessment instrument in order to obtain Washington state certification. In addition, candidates 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
- Pre-candidacy courses must be completed with a minimum grade-point average of 2.75 before a candidate may proceed to the TCP Phase 2.
- Candidates must pass all sections of the WEST-B and/or submit official documentation of current Washington state passing scores on the ACT/SATs, or a combination thereof.
- Candidates must submit an application for full admission to the TCP Phase 2 during the last quarter of pre-candidacy courses.
- Candidates must earn 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 | 4 |
| PSYC 217 | Psychology of Learning and Development | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 8 |
Pre-Candidacy Cognates:
*
ENGL 121 and 122: B- average required (
ENGL 223 Research Writing may be used to meet B- average)
Phase 2: TCP Core Certification Courses
Formal (full) acceptance into the Teacher Certification Program Phase 2 is required before registering for the courses listed below. To be admitted into Phase 2 of the Teacher Certification Program, candidates must demonstrate excellence in knowledge representative of scholarship, skills of professionalism and dispositions, and personal fitness appropriate for the teaching profession. These terms are defined and explained in the Minimum Competencies document distributed in EDUC 211 Introduction to and Foundations of Education. The document is also available upon request from the certification officer in the School of Education and Psychology.
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 450 | Introduction to Student Teaching: Clinical Practice | 0-1 |
| EDUC 461 | Secondary Student Teaching I | 3 |
| EDUC 471 | Secondary Student Teaching II: Assessment | 2 |
| EDUC 475 | Teaching Reading Skills in The Content Areas | 3 |
| EDUC 481 | Secondary Student Teaching Part III | 12 |
| SPED 421 | Principles of Teaching and Learning in Inclusive Classrooms I | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 36-37 |
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 Requirements:
| EDUC 315 | Technology in Education | 3 |
| EDUC 410 | Philosophy of Education (or PHIL 410) | 3 |
| EDUC 444 | Teaching and Learning: Cultural Diversity and Small Schools | 3 |
| EDUC 495 | Colloquium: Child Abuse | 0 |
| ENGL 223 | Research Writing | 3 |
| SPCH 101 | Fundamentals of Speech Communication | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Approved Primary Endorsements:
Endorsement requirements frequently exceed graduation requirements. For example, endorsements typically require a methods class appropriate for secondary teaching (grades 5-12). An additional endorsement in Social Studies is available for candidates who already have, or are completing, an endorsable major. See the certification officer or secondary education advisor 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 Adventist Education 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 an Adventist Education endorsement in Bible.
One course chosen from the following:
18 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.
Course credits more than ten years old that are used to meet initial certification standards will be reviewed to determine acceptability by the academic department granting the credit.