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Washington State University
College of Education

Teacher Education – Admission Requirements
Textbooks

We want you in our program!

Here is what you need to do to make that happen!

Program application review occurs each fall and spring. Interested students apply in February for fall admission and in September for spring admission.

Meeting minimum application requirements makes a student eligible to apply, but does not guarantee admission. Enrollment is limited and admission is competitive.

Here is what we will be looking for:

  • A completed application.  Please be sure to complete the correct application below. There are separate applications for elementary and secondary.

Elementary Education Application – Pullman Campus
Secondary Education Application – Pullman Campus

  • Personal goals statements will be submitted with your application in the link above. The purpose of the personal goal statements is two-fold: 1) for us to better understand who you are and why you want to be a teacher, and (2) to assess the quality of your critical thinking and writing skills.  Please respond to both questions in separate answers.  Each response should be typewritten, double-spaced, and (a maximum of 300 words each, with each question starting on a new page in one document.  Be sure to include your name and WSU ID# on the top of both pages.  **PLEASE SUBMIT THIS DOCUMENT IN THE APPLICATION AS A PDF.**
    1. In a job interview, you will likely be asked to talk about who you are and why you should be hired. Imagine that you are one of three finalists for a teaching position.  Begin your writing sample by telling us something about yourself and why you want to become a teacher.  What can you add that sets you apart from other applicants?
    2. Teaching is very much about relating to and interacting with others. Tell us about a situation when you interacted with someone different from you.  Whatever the outcome, what did you learn from the experience?
  • We require 80 hours of recent educational experience with children or youth and 20 of these hours must be with students from diverse populations or attending cultural events. You do not need to submit these hours at the time you submit your application.  Your hours are due by the last day of instruction for the term in which you are applying. **PLEASE SUBMIT THIS DOCUMENT IN THE APPLICATION AS A PDF.*
  • Complete at least 45 semester hours of course work, which includes very specific courses, as outlined in the above-posted application.
  • Complete a personal interview, A link for you to sign up for your interview will be provided after you submit your application online.
  • Meet minimum basic skills requirements in reading, writing, and math. This can be fulfilled through scores on the SAT, ACT, or WEST-B. See Basic Skills Testing page.
  • Have earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 at WSU

Secondary education majors:
If you are applying for fall 2023 and have not taken TCH LRN 317, you must enroll for summer 2023. Everyone enrolling in TCH LRN 317 is required to attend an informational meeting on one of the following dates:

*  March 7 – 4:10 to 5:00 pm in Education Addition 116
*  March 29 – 4:10 to 5:00 pm in Education Addition 116

To teach a specific subject in middle school or high school, you must complete a bachelor’s degree in the subject you choose. In addition to the classes for your declared major, you must complete core professional education coursework within the College of Education to earn teacher certification in a particular subject.

 

* Please consult the WSU General Catalog for course planning. You must meet the requirements as outlined in the catalog in order to graduate.

Please email any questions to beateacher@wsu.edu.