Frequently Asked Questions for Spokane MIT Program

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 and thanks to the reputation of students who have previously completed our teacher preparation 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?

Courses are offered through live in-person classes, video conference classes, and online classes. The MIT program is an integrated course of study with field experiences in public schools across two semesters.

When is the application deadline?

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

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.

Are there any prerequisite courses?

For the 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 Subtests 1 and 2 of the Elementary NES examination.  Whereas completing college coursework in these areas is recommended, it is not required.

For the 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 additional courses in their content area during the fall term while enrolled in the program. Students with an undergraduate major different than the subject they will be teaching will have more deficiencies and require prerequisite coursework prior to beginning the program.  These individuals should use the “Evaluation Assessment Chart.” to determine these courses.  A course-by-course evaluation of undergraduate transcript will determine courses needed for secondary endorsement.

Is there a minimum GPA requirement?

Yes.  For admission into the Graduate School applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.  For individuals with a GPA lower than 3.0 for their bachelor’s degree, the program may request a calculation of their last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits of study. If the evaluated GPA is calculated to be above 3.0, the applicant then meets the GPA requirement. Occasionally, program faculty will recommend provisional 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?

The COSTS link (https://finaid.wsu.edu/cost-of-attendance/) provides the cost of tuition and fees for spring and fall terms.  Determining costs for summer is a bit more complicated because tuition for summer terms are broken down on a per credit basis and the credit requirements differ for the elementary and secondary programs and for the programs offered at each campus. Summer session costs may be found on the SUMMER tuition page (https://summer.wsu.edu/tuition-and-fees/)

One-year MIT programs require two summer semesters with varying credits and two full-time academic semesters. The specific costs of one-year MIT programs may vary greatly depending on the specific courses needed for completion of certification and endorsement requirements. However, for the purpose of estimation one-year MIT program students may expect tuition costs around $25,000.

Two-year Pareducator MIT programs with a special education endorsement costs will vary depending on courses needed for certification and the sequencing of courses that are taken. However, for the purpose of estimation Para MIT students may expect tuition costs around $41,000.

Are there any required tests?

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

Basic Skills– Washington requires that all prospective teachers show evidence of basic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics; however, prospective teachers will no longer need to achieve a specific passing score. This requirement may be met by:

a. Taking the WEST-B Exam (www.west.nesinc.com), OR
b. Holding SAT or ACT scores in reading, writing, and math OR
c. Out-of-State post-baccalaureate and master’s level applicants may utilize out-of-state basic skills exams to meet the basic skills requirements.

Prospective teachers have the option of using any combination of approved tests to fulfill the basic skills requirement.

Content Knowledge– 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. Individuals planning to complete endorsements in Spanish or French must pass the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) at the advanced low level in addition to the Designated World Langue WEST-E.