College of Education

Academic Awards	Master of Arts, Master of Education, Master in Teaching, Bachelor of Arts, Endorsements for the State of Washington teaching credential
Dean	Molly Quick
Departments	Elementary Education; Secondary Education; Educational Studies, 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, additional endorsements, or Washington State Principal’s Certificate. Traditional undergraduate students can choose between pursuing Washington State P-12 teacher certification or earning a Bachelor of Arts in Educational Studies as preparation for educational careers outside the P-12 system. Daytime, evening, weekend and accelerated classes allow the candidate to engage in meaningful, research-based content, while practicing in their educational setting of choice.

The College of Education has a proud tradition of preparing well-trained candidates that flourish in the increasingly diverse field of education.Our programs align closely with state required learning standards and research-based industry standards. In addition, through partnerships with area public and private schools, businesses and non-profit organizations, our candidates gain rich and practical experience throughout their program. We prepare practitioners with the knowledge and skills to impact the world in positive and life-changing ways.

The College of Education offers

Small class sizes
Experiential learning (over 600 internship hours 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 schools, businesses, and non-profit organizations across the region
A meaningful and well-connected learning community

Cohort Model

The College of Education uses a cohort model. This means that students who enter the COE at the same time are banded together as a group. They will take some of their courses together, have opportunities for cohort events, Bible studies, and internship experiences. Benefits to the cohort model include more effective learning, increased community and sense of belonging, and stronger persistence toward degree completion.

College of Education Outcomes

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

Holistic Educators,

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

Adaptive Educators,

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

Learner-Focused Educators,

Candidates identify a variety of assessment tools through which to monitor and promote positive impact on learning;
Candidates demonstrate reflective instruction, analyzing work in order to further develop their own pedagogical practices;
Candidates equip learners to reflect on their own learning by identifying learning targets and their progress toward them.

Candidates can major in Elementary (K-8), Secondary Education (5-12), or Educational Studies.

Candidates Majoring in Elementary or Secondary Education must choose 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)

Candidates majoring in Educational Studies must choose from the following concentrations:

Community Programming for Children & Youth
International Education
Instructional Technology

Entrance Requirements (concurrent with entrance to NU)

Full acceptance to Northwest University
Previous cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
Submit an acceptable “Introduction Letter”

Entrance to Major Requirements for P-12 Certification (Application is made at the equivalent of students’ spring of sophomore year)

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 Interaction 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.

Entrance to Major Requirements for Educational Studies

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;
Satisfy the Oral Competency Requirement;
Successfully complete the Group Interaction 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 educational careers

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. Students not meeting the minimum coursework requirements have 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 candidates 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.