General Questions
Secondary Teacher Certification M.Ed.
General Questions
I want to be a teacher in Washington State. Where do I go to school and what do I study?
This depends on you.
- Do you already have an undergraduate degree?
- What grade level do you want to teach?
- Do you have a particular subject area that you are interested in teaching?
- Is there a particular university you want to attend?
- Are you wanting to attend school full-time or part-time?
Requirements can vary and at some point you will want to talk to an advisor, but here is some information that can help frame the conversation.
According to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), teachers in public and private schools in Washington State are required to hold a teaching certificate. The certificate is an official document which attests to minimum prerequisites, which include the following:
- Age. At least 18 years old.
- Moral Character & Fitness. A background check which includes obtaining fingerprints and being screened by both the Washington State Patrol and the FBI. (If you have questions about the "Moral Character & Fitness" requirement, you can talk to an advisor or to someone at the OSPI.)
- Degree. A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college/university.
- Preparation Program. A teacher preparation program at a state-approved college/university which includes content (what to teach) methodology (how to teach), and a student teaching experience (internship, or practicum).
The bachelor's degree and the preparation program requirements involve choices on your part.
The first major decision is what grade level you want to teach. People who teach young children (e.g. Kindergarten through 6th grade) are usually responsible for teaching all subjects. Therefore, your undergraduate program would require academic breadth, but almost any major is acceptable, including an education major.
People who teach older students (e.g. middle level and high school), typically teach only one subject, such as history or math. Therefore, your undergraduate program would consist of acquiring expert level knowledge by majoring in the field in which you plan to teach. If you are interested in teaching more than one subject, you can take extra classes in college to gain expertise in more than one field. If your undergraduate degree did not include a major in education, then you must still attend a teacher preparation program to get a teaching certificate.
The required teacher preparation program can stand alone as a post baccalaureate program, it can be part of a Master in Teaching (MIT) degree program, or it can be part of a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree program. The UW Bothell's K-8 Teacher Certification program is stand alone certificate program. The Secondary Teacher Certification M.Ed. program is combined with an M.Ed. program.
Teacher certificate programs in Washington State vary by what grades and subject areas they specialize in. For example, UW Bothell's post baccalaureate K-8 Teacher Certification program is for Elementary Education. When people graduate from this program, they are authorized to teach children from Kindergarten to 8th grade in all of the standard subject areas. The Secondary Teacher Certification M.Ed. is for Secondary Education in the subjects of Biology, English/Language Arts, History, Mathematics, and Social Studies. When people graduate from this program, they are authorized to teach in one of these subject areas at the high school or middle school level.
To help you decide what you want to focus on and what college to attend, OSPI maintains a couple of lists of colleges in the region that offer teacher certificate programs. One list is sorted by subject area and the other list is sorted by college. If you know what you want to teach, you can see what schools you can attend in Washington State. If you know what college you want to attend, you can see what areas you can focus on for a teaching certificate.
"Endorsements" are the official way that Washington state keeps track of what you are authorized to teach. For example, if you graduate from the UW Bothell's K-8 Teacher Certification Program you will have a teaching certificate with an "Elementary Education" endorsement. A graduate from the Secondary Teacher Certification M.Ed. program will have a teacher certificate with an endorsement in Biology, English/Language Arts, History, Mathematics, Social Studies, or some combination of these.
Typically your endorsement is based on what teacher certificate program you attended, but there are alternative paths to endorsements. Also, you can have more than one endorsement on your certificate, and there are "primary" and "supporting" endorsements that depend on the number of required college credit hours. Endorsements can get complex. For more information, talk to an advisor and/or check out the OSPI endorsement question page.
Because Washington State regulates what is required in a teacher certificate program for a particular grade range and subject area, all approved programs focus on the same knowledge and skills. However, each university program has its own distinctive features. There are also some differences in how universities schedule their classes. For example, UW Bothell offers a Five Quarter Program as well as an Extended Program which lasts 6 quarters for the K-8 Teacher Certification program. The Secondary Teacher Certification M.Ed. program is a two year program that starts with part-time evening coursework and ends with full-time coursework and student teaching. What choice you make in this regard is dependent on individual circumstances. Teacher requirements can change, so be sure to talk with an advisor before making major decisions. This can save you a lot of time and effort in the long run.
Can I get University credit for classes taken at the Community College?
Yes. UW Bothell has made agreements with some Community Colleges to accept classes as credit towards the Minor in Education. Talk to an advisor for more information.
Secondary Teacher Certification M.Ed.
What is the difference between the Secondary Teacher Certification M.Ed. program and an MIT program?
Like a Master in Teaching (MIT) program, the Secondary Teacher Certification M.Ed. program does result in a teaching certification along with a masters degree. However, the Secondary Teacher Certification M.Ed. is a rigorous academic program that challenges you to think deeply about yourself as an educator and a learner.
In our M.Ed. program, you will be encouraged to think about the complex nature of education, to explore questions central to your professional growth, and to develop sustained, collegial relationships with peers from across the region.
Can I earn a Secondary Teacher Cerfication without going through the Master of Education program?
No, this program combines the Secondary Teacher Certification with the Master of Education degree. There is no stand-alone option for earning a Secondary Teacher Certification at UW Bothell.
Can I add endorsements to my current Washington State Teacher Residency Certification through this program?
We do not have a pathway for earning additional endorsements for currently certified teachers at this time. If you are already a certified teacher and you want to earn your Master of Education degree, please explore the UW Bothell Master of Education program.
When can I start the Secondary Teacher Certification M.Ed. program?
The Secondary Teacher Certification M.Ed. starts a new cohort each Autumn quarter. The application deadline is in early April for the following autumn quarter. Please see the Education Program Admissions page for the current deadline.
How long does it take to complete the Secondary Teacher Certification M.Ed. program?
This program takes two years to complete. It is a "lock-step" program which means that the courses must be taken in the order offered and you progress from one quarter to the next.
You take classes two nights week during the first three quarters of the program (Autumn, Winter, and Spring). During the fourth quarter (Summer) you begin courses and fieldwork during the day, five days a week. This schedule continues during Autumn and Winter of your second year.
Upon the successful completion of Winter quarter, you will be recommended for your teacher certification and would be able to teach in the public schools. Spring quarter you complete your Completion Dossier for the Master of Education degree which concludes the program.
Which endorsements does the UW Bothell Education Program offer through the Secondary Teacher Certification M.Ed. program?
The UW Bothell Education Program is approved to offer endorsements in:
- Biology
- English/Language Arts
- History
- Mathematics
- Social Studies
Do I need an undergraduate degree in the subject area I want to teach?
No, you do not need to have an undergraduate degree in the subject area you want to teach. You do need to show that you have completed a sufficient amount of college level coursework in your endorsement area.
For each endorsement area, there is a Transcript Review form that lists the subjects you must have covered in your college level coursework. Please go to the Application Checklist web page for the Secondary Teacher Certification M.Ed. to see the Transcript Review forms for each endorsement area.
What courses count towards my endorsement course requirements?
Any college level coursework can be used towards your endorsement requirements. That includes 100 and 200 level work completed at a community college and classes taken via online or distance learning programs. All classes must be listed on an official college transcript.
Can I transfer courses from another teacher preparation program into the UW Bothell program?
The UW Bothell Secondary Teacher Certification M.Ed. program has been designed to be taken as a series of courses in sequence. You cannot substitute courses from another teacher preparation program in place of required courses in this program.
You are required to take at least 3 credits of elective coursework in the Secondary Teacher Certification M.Ed. program. If you were a matriculated graduate student in another program, a maximum of 10 credits of graduate course work may be considered for transfer into the program in place of these elective courses (based on the provisions and regulations of the Graduate School). A minimum grade of 3.0 is required for each course.
A maximum of six credits at the graduate level may be considered for transfer into the program if you were not a matriculated graduate student. A minimum grade of 3.0 is required for each course.
What is the cost of the Secondary Teacher Certification M.Ed. program?
At UW Bothell, as of 2009-2010, the tuition costs for both years of the Secondary Teacher Certification M.Ed. program is approximately $24,000, not including books and miscellaneous fees.
Tuition rates are subject to change and you should check the most recent tuition rates at Tuition & Fees on the UW Bothell web site.