College of Education

Academic Awards	Master of Arts, Master of Education, Master in Teaching, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music in Music Education, Endorsements for the State of Washington teaching credential
Interim Dean	Molly Quick
Departments	Elementary Education; Secondary Education; Graduate and Undergraduate

The College of Education provides educational programs that serve diverse undergraduate and graduate students. Traditional undergraduate and Master in Teaching candidates can choose from a variety of endorsement areas across grade levels while earning their Washington State Residency Teaching Certificate. Master of Education candidates can choose from several concentrations, gaining advanced preparation for the classroom. Non-traditional adult candidates can work toward proficiency in Elementary Education. Finally, experienced teachers can expand their work as teacher-leaders, as well as work toward their second-level Professional Certificate with Washington State through our ProCert Support Program. Daytime, evening, weekend and accelerated classes allow the candidate to engage in meaningful, research-based content, while practicing across both private and public P-12 schooling.

The College of Education has a proud tradition of preparing well-trained candidates that flourish in the increasingly diverse field of P-12 schooling. Our programs align closely with state required learning standards. In addition, through partnerships with area public and private schools our candidates gain rich experience with teachers and P-12 students throughout their program. We prepare practitioners with the knowledge and skills to impact student learning in positive and life-changing ways.

The College of Education offers

Small class sizes
Experiential learning (over 600 hours in local schools as part of your program)
Strong resident faculty with extensive academic expertise
Leading adjunct faculty with extensive field experience
Career development activities with private and public school personnel across the region
A meaningful and well-connected learning community

College of Education Outcomes

The College of Education, directed by broad research and theory, and in accordance with state standards, prepares teachers in eleven specific proficiencies. These outcomes guide our candidates’ experience throughout all of our COE programs. In the COE we aim toward the following outcomes:

Holistic Teachers,

Candidates identify the influences of cultural background and situation for each student;
Candidates demonstrate culturally responsive pedagogy aimed at the holistic learning of all students;
Candidates equip students to appropriately engage their unique backgrounds in their own academic, social, and emotional development.

Adaptive Teachers,

Candidates identify the different ways in which students acquire, demonstrate, and reinforce content knowledge and procedures;
Candidates demonstrate differentiated teaching, adapting instruction where appropriate to meet student needs while remaining aligned with learning standards;
Candidates equip students to adjust their own learning strategies and practices in order to overcome learning obstacles.

Learner-Focused Teachers,

Candidates identify a variety of assessment tools through which to monitor and promote positive impact on student learning;
Candidates demonstrate reflective instruction, analyzing student work in order to further develop their own pedagogical practices;
Candidates equip students to reflect on their own learning by identifying learning targets and their progress toward them.
Candidates pass their state-required WEST-E/NES content assessments necessary for certification;
Candidates pass their state-required edTPA pedagogy assessment necessary for certification.

Candidates can major in Elementary (K-8) or Secondary Education (5-12), choosing from the following Endorsement areas:

Elementary Education (K-8)
Middle Level Humanities (4-9)
Middle Level Mathematics (4-9)
Middle Level Science (4-9)
Secondary Biology (grades 5-12)
Secondary Physics (grades 5-12)
Secondary English/Language Arts (5-12)
Secondary Mathematics (5-12)
Secondary Social Studies (5-12)
Choral Music (K-12)
English as a Second Language (K-12)
Health and Fitness (K-12)
Instrumental Music (K-12)
Special Education (K-12)
Theatre Arts (K-12)

Entrance Requirements

Meet all competency requirements (through content courses taken during freshman & sophomore years) – maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.00 for all college or university work;
Pass the Washington Educator Skills Test – WEST-B;
Satisfy the Oral Competency Requirement;
Successfully complete the Group Interview Exercise;
Complete all application forms (including the “Foundations Faculty” and Non-COE Faculty” recommendation forms;
Submit an acceptable candidate “Reflection Paper”;
Successfully complete the entrance interview with a faculty/practitioner panel;
Exhibit strong professional dispositions requisite to teaching children/youth, classroom management, and supervision responsibilities.

Transfer students. Complete the same requirements for admission to the Education program as incoming freshmen. (Admission to the University does not guarantee admission to the Education program. Questions regarding transfer status and admission to the program will be handled by the Dean of Education.)

An overall GPA of 3.00/4.00 must be maintained each semester throughout the sequence of COE courses. The minimum passing score for any COE specific course is 2.00/4.00 (“C”). Any course(s) that impede a cumulative GPA of 3.00/4.00 or that are individually marked below a 2.00/4.00 must be retaken at the expense of the student. A student not meeting the minimum coursework requirements has compromised the timely completion of their degree, and will not be allowed to continue on to the next semester until requirements are met.

Washington State Teacher Certification

Certification is granted by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. To qualify the candidate must complete their program which includes class and field work (field experience can be completed in private or public P-12 schools), successfully pass the state ‘content knowledge’ assessment (WEST-E/NES) for their endorsement area, as well as pass the state ‘pedagogy proficiency’ assessment (Teacher Performance Assessment, edTPA).

Special Students: Teaching Credential Only

Students holding four-year college degrees who enroll at Northwest University for the purpose of qualifying for Residency Teaching Certificate must be advised by the Dean of Education prior to enrollment in courses. The four-year degree must be earned at a regionally accredited college. Students with four year degrees received prior to 1998 may be required to update some of their General Education requirements.