Master in Teaching – Questions and Answers | College of Education

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You have questions, we have answers…

What is the MIT program?

Our Master in Teaching (MIT) degree is a high quality, intensive, practitioner-oriented, teacher preparation program designed for those with non-education bachelor’s degrees. The program is designed to prepare students to become effective elementary or secondary education teachers in just ONE calendar year!

Why WSU?

The WSU difference. WSU is one of America’s top research universities, with professors among the best in their field who are committed to developing students’ cultural competence and developing professional and responsible future teachers/leaders in our community. Our MIT program prepares you for your career. WSU has certified more current K-12 administrators than any other university in the state of Washington. Thanks to the reputation of students who have previously completed our program, WSU Cougars love to hire fellow WSU alumni. Go Cougs!

But, don’t just take our word for it. Listen to one of our recent alumna Abigail Kamrowski:

What is the format?

Most of the courses are offered through live, in-person classes. Most importantly, we find you a school-based internship during the fall and spring semester, where you will be mentored by an expert teacher. A few courses are broadcast over Zoom/online, giving MIT students an opportunity to meet and interact with MIT students on other campuses.

When does the program start and end?

The Pullman/Spokane MIT program for both the Elementary and Secondary programs begin each June and ends 13 months later.
The TriCities MIT program for both Elementary and Secondary, and the Vancouver Elementary programs begin each May and end 13 months later.
The Vancouver Secondary program begins early January and ends 15 months later.

When is the application deadline?

The priority deadline for Pullman/Spokane is November 15. We will accept all completed applications on a space available basis until April 1.

Can I still apply after the application deadline?

After the application deadline, please contact the individual campus coordinators. You may find their information as well as additional information on the application process here.

In what subjects does WSU provide licensure?

WSU provides certification (endorsements) for individuals to teach either at the elementary level (K-8) or in a wide variety of subject areas at the secondary level. Applicants wishing to teach in a self-contained (i.e., Special Education) elementary classroom will complete the elementary MIT program and will earn an elementary education endorsement. Secondary teachers are content specialists and will complete an endorsement in the area they want to teach. Select the below URL to see which endorsements are available at each of the WSU campuses:

https://education.wsu.edu/undergradprograms/teachered/endorsements/list/

Are there any prerequisite courses?

Elementary program. No. Incoming MIT students will have demonstrated mastery of the following foundational subject areas (American government, US History, economics, mathematics, life and physical science, and geography) by successful completion of Subtest 1 and 2 of the Elementary NES examination. Whereas completing college coursework in these areas is recommended, it is not required.

Secondary program. Maybe. Generally, individuals holding a bachelor’s degree with a major in the subject area they will be teaching will need to take a methods course and possibly an additional course or two in their content area during the fall while enrolled in the program and will not need to take prerequisite coursework. These individuals should use the “Evaluation Assessment Chart.” to determine these courses. Students with an undergraduate major different than the subject they want to teach will have more deficiencies and will likely have to complete prerequisite coursework. A course by course evaluation of their undergraduate transcript will determine these prerequisite courses.

Is there a minimum GPA requirement?

Yes, but there are exceptions. For admission into the Graduate School, applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. For individuals with less than a 3.0 GPA, the department may request a calculation of the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits. If that GPA is calculated to be above 3.0, the department has the option to recommend a student be admitted to the Graduate School. Occasionally, program faculty will recommend the admission of an applicant whose GPA is below a 3.0 if the balance of their application is exceptional and they have reason to believe the applicant will be successful in the program.

What are the costs?

For an estimate of costs for the fall and spring terms of the program, please follow this link, which provides the current tuition and fees for the academic year of the program. The MIT program also includes two summer sessions. For example, in 2023, the MIT Secondary program required 19 summer credits and the Elementary program required 21 summer credits. For the 2023 summer session, the summer graduate credit rate was $647 per credit hour (WA resident). In 2023, an MIT student would pay approximately $12k to $13k in tuition for summer courses (not including fees and room/board). For a current estimate for each summer, please review the current MIT handbook for the number of required credit hours in each summer session and multiply that by the current WSU graduate credit hour rate listed here on the summer tuition page.

Are there any required tests?

Washington State requires all certified teachers to complete testing in basic skills and content knowledge.

Basic Skills. This is required to apply. All teachers must demonstrate basic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics. If you have taken ACT, SAT, or West-B with all three subject areas (reading, writing, and math), you have met the basic skills requirement. If you took the ACT or SAT before there was a writing assessment, you can take the West-B writing test.

Content Knowledge. This is not required to apply, but is required for admission. The content exams verify that each teacher possesses the content knowledge in each endorsement they are completing. The Washington Educator Skills Test – Endorsement (WEST-E) or National Evaluation Series (NES) are the assessments used to fulfill this requirement. Students who meet endorsement requirements with their bachelor’s degree must pass the content exam prior to admission. Candidates completing elementary education or a secondary endorsement different than their undergraduate degree must register to take the content exam prior to enrolling in TCH_LRN 593, Pre Internship. Passing scores must be on file prior to student teaching. Individuals planning to complete endorsements in Spanish or French must pass the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) at the Advance Low level in addition to the Designated World Language WEST-E.

How do I apply?

Follow this link and get started on your application today.