I. Overview of the Mit Admission Process 2015-2016

I. OVERVIEW OF THE MIT ADMISSION PROCESS 2015-2016

Phase One: Screening

Applicants submit a completed MIT Application by November 14, 2014

1. Applicants submit to the College of Education Office of Graduate Studies an official transcript(s) of all coursework completed after 12th grade with a self-evaluation worksheet in the desired endorsement (download at: http://education.wsu.edu/studentservices/endorsements/list/).

2. The certification coordinator will review applicant’s transcripts and self-evaluation worksheet. The applicant will be notified by email of the courses needed prior to beginning the program.

3. Applicants submit official documentation of passing scores on an approved Basic Skills test. Washington applicants are required to take the WEST-B and obtain a minimum score of 240 on each subtest in reading, writing, and mathematics. See this site for complete information: http://www.west.nesinc.com. Out-of-state applicants only, in lieu of the WEST-B, may provide official documentation of scores on the Praxis I (177 for the reading subtest, 176 for the mathematics subtest, and 174 for the writing subtest); or the Praxis I CBT (325 for the reading subtest, 321 for the mathematics subtest, and 321 for the writing subtest); or passing scores from California or Oregon on the CBEST. The last date to take and pass the WEST-B is December 2014.

4. Interviews will take place during the first two weeks of January 2015.

Phase Two: Application Review

Completed applications are reviewed by the MIT Admission Committee for the following requirements: endorsement course completion, statement of personal commitment and relevant experience, summary of letters of recommendation, three letters of recommendation, documentation of professional/volunteer experiences, resume, official transcripts, and passing scores on an approved Basic Skills examination and fulfillment of Washington State University Graduate School requirements. The WEST-B basic skills test must be taken by December 2014.

Phase Three: Admissions Review

Only applicants meeting all admission requirements are evaluated in Phase Three. The selection process is highly competitive. The MIT Admission Committee carefully reviews all materials submitted by the applicant in late December/early January 2015. The most outstanding applicants are selected for admission to the MIT Program. Applicants should be aware that if there are not enough internship/student teaching placements available in their endorsement area in the Pullman regional area, they may be required to complete that portion of the program in Spokane. You will be notified if this pertains to you and your endorsement area.

Additional Requirement: WEST E

Applicants submit official documentation of a passing score on the WEST-E prior to student teaching, which starts in January 2016. See this site for complete WEST-E information: www.west.nesinc.com.

2 II. TIMELINE OF THE MIT ADMISSIONS PROCESS FOR 2015--2016

1. Phase One screening may occur at any time throughout the academic year.

2. November 14, 2014: Phase Two Application Review. Completed MIT Application due to: WSU College of Education, Office of Graduate Studies, P. O. Box 642114, Pullman, WA 99164-2114

Completed WSU Graduate School Application due to: WSU Graduate School, P. O. Box 641030, Pullman, WA 99164-1030 or submitted on-line (http://www.gradsch.wsu.edu/future-students/admission/apply.html .

3. December 2014: last opportunity to take the WEST-B Basic Skills Test.

4. December 2014/January 2015: Phase Three Admission Review. MIT Admission Committee reviews applicant materials and makes final admission decisions

5. February 2015: Applicants notified of their admission status and must notify WSU if they intend to enroll in the program. Date to be announced in applicant notification letter.

6. April 2015: Orientation for new MIT students occurs.

College of Education Scholarship Opportunities

The College of Education offers a variety of scholarship opportunities to graduate students in Education. For the 2014-2015 academic year, the College awarded 132 scholarships in the amount of $273,250 to Education students. If you wish to be considered for a scholarship, please visit the College of education’s scholarship web page at http://education.wsu.edu/scholarships/ for application information.

III. MIT APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants complete an application for the WSU Graduate School and, simultaneously, an application for admission to the graduate program in the Department of Teaching and Learning. In order to begin the MIT program, an applicant must be admitted by both the Graduate School and the Department of Teaching and Learning.

Submit the following items to: The Graduate School Washington State University P.O. Box 641030 Pullman, Washington 99164-1030

1. A copy of the “Application for Admission to Graduate School” and the “Race/Ethnicity and Disability Survey” (optional) OR submit an on-line application at http://www.gradsch.wsu.edu/howtoapply.htm . 2. A $50.00 check or money order payable to WSU. On-line applicants use VISA or MasterCard. 3. Official transcripts sent directly to the Graduate School at the address above by the Registrar of each institution from which you have completed coursework after grade 12. 4. Names and email addresses of three people from whom you will be requesting letters of recommendation. The letter writers will be sent an email prompting them to submit a letter on your behalf. They will submit their letters on-line.

3 Submit the following items to: Office of Graduate Studies Washington State University College of Education P.O. Box 642114 Pullman, Washington 99164-2114

1. “Application for Admission to Graduate School” and the “Race/Ethnicity and Disability Survey.” On-line applicants need not submit these two items. 2. Documentation of endorsement course completion. Attach documentation of endorsement course completion and official copies of all transcripts. Course requirements can be downloaded at: http://education.wsu.edu/studentservices/endorsements/list/. If you currently hold a degree in the areas of Biology, Chemistry, Early Childhood, Earth and Space Science, English Language Art, French, Health and Fitness, History, Mathematics, Physics, Social Studies, and Spanish and have passed the WEST-E in the specific subject you will be required to complete the course on the Evaluation Assessment Chart (http://education.wsu.edu/Evaluation-Assessment-Chart.pdf). The Academic Coordinator will notify you of any deficiencies regarding program prerequisites. 3. Statement of Personal Commitment and Relevant Experiences. See instructions regarding this narrative on page 4. 4. Summary of Letters of Recommendation. Complete the form on page 5 in this packet. 5. Documentation of Professional/Volunteer Experiences. Complete the form on pages 6-7 in this packet. 6. Official transcript(s) sent directly to the Graduate School by the Registrar of each institution from which you have completed coursework after grade 12. 7. Current Resume

IV. MIT APPLICATION INFORMATION

Documentation of Endorsement Course Completion Applicants should attempt to finish all of the courses required for their endorsement program (e.g., History, Social Studies, Math, etc.) BEFORE entering the MIT program. Exceptions may be made for the methods course in your content area, which can be taken simultaneously with the MIT program. Often, it is not possible to complete all the endorsement courses before entering the MIT. However, applicants should recognize that the MIT program course schedule is not adjustable. Some endorsement course schedules may conflict with the MIT courses. The admissions committee will evaluate the number of courses completed, and may recommend that the applicant complete the endorsement courses before entering the MIT program, if there are numerous conflicts with the MIT program or if there are several endorsement courses missing. The recommendations will vary according to the particular endorsement program.

Test Requirements: WEST-B and WEST-E Washington applicants must successfully complete the WEST-B in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics and achieve a minimum qualifying score of 240 for each subtest by December 2014. When registering, applicants should select code 240 to ensure that the official WEST-B score report is sent to the WSU College of Education. Out-of-state applicants only, in lieu of the WEST-B, must successfully complete the Praxis I, the Praxis I CBT, or the CBEST (California or Oregon).

WEST-E: Secondary MIT applicants must receive a qualifying score in the endorsement area they are pursuing prior to student teaching which begins in January 2016.

4 Statement of Personal Commitment and Relevant Experiences See information in Section V. below.

Summary of Letters of Recommendation (Three letters are required) Three letters, submitted on-line to the WSU Graduate School. Please ask each of your three reference writers to discuss the following items in support of your application: (1) your experience working with youth, (2) your facility with written, oral and interpersonal communication, (3) your academic ability to do graduate-level work, and (4) your interpersonal skills. It is preferred that letters of recommendation directly support the applicant’s experiences listed in the “Documentation of Professional and/or Volunteer Experiences.”

Documentation of Professional and/or Volunteer Experiences Applicants should discuss relevant professional or volunteer experiences working with children or special populations.

V. STATEMENT OF PERSONAL COMMITMENT AND RELEVANT EXPERIENCES

The Statement of Personal Commitment and Relevant Experiences should be written in essay format and should not exceed 5 typed pages (double-spaced). Please number each response and put your name on each page of the document.

While the narrative is a required portion of the MIT Application, not all applicants may be able to respond to every item. If you choose not to respond to a particular item, please explain why an item was not addressed.

Contents of Statement: 1. Personal commitment to teaching. Describe your personal commitment to youth and the teaching profession. Include in your response details about your experiences with children and youth and your personal qualities that demonstrate your ability to make a significant contribution to the teaching profession.

2. Experiences with social service agencies, community agencies, and educational systems. Describe your experiences, demonstrated commitment, and leadership roles when working with social service agencies, community agencies and/or educational systems.

3. Experiences working with children/adults with special needs or diverse backgrounds. Describe any experiences working with children and/or adults with special needs or diverse backgrounds in a school system, with family or friends, or in your community. Discuss the impact of these experiences on you, personally and/or professionally.

4. Experiences demonstrating leadership, communication skills and initiative. Describe experiences that have influenced or enhanced your communication skills, leadership skills, and initiative. Reflect on these skills and how they will influence your ability to be an exceptional teacher. While these experiences may have taken place in a structured environment such as the work place, it is also appropriate to discuss more “everyday” and personal experiences.

5. Experiences with other languages and cultures. Describe your experiences living and/or working with people from other cultures or socioeconomic groups.

5 SUMMARY OF LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

Applicant's Name: Phone:

Please complete the information listed below for each reference writer.

Address (home or work)

Phone (home or work)

Place of business (if appropriate)

Relationship with reference writer (friend, employer, professor, etc.)

6 DOCUMENTATION OF PROFESSIONAL and/or VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES

Applicant's Name: Phone:

List your professional or volunteer experiences related to teaching or the education of children, youth, and/or adults.

Experience #1 Place Worked: Dates of Work Experience: Supervisor’s Name/Phone: Description of Duties (include grade level, age of students, nature of experience):

Check all that apply: Grade Level: Preschool ___ K-8th grade ______9th-12th grade _____ Adults

Nature of Experience: Responsible for some teaching No teaching Public school Private school Informal schooling

Describe experiences in this position working with diverse populations: ______

7 Applicant's Name: Phone:

List professional or volunteer experiences you have that relate to teaching or the education of children, youth, and/or adults.

Experience #2 Place Worked: Dates of Work Experience: Supervisor’s Name/Phone: Description of Duties (include grade level, age of students, nature of experience):

Check all that apply: Grade Level: Preschool ___ K-8th grade ______9th-12th grade ___ Adults

Nature of Experience: Responsible for some teaching No teaching Public school Private school Informal schooling

Describe experiences in this position working with diverse populations: ______

8 IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR MIT APPLICANTS

To begin the first internship, MIT candidates are required to obtain clearance from the Washington State Patrol and the FBI. Clearance involves submission of the Character and Fitness Supplement to the College of Education Student Services. The form asks questions about moral character and criminal history. In addition, WSP and the FBI require fingerprinting as part of their background check. WSP and FBI clearance is also required (in addition to successful completion of all MIT coursework, state-mandated examinations and internships) for final awarding of the teaching certificate. Upon admission to the MIT program, candidates will receive all of the necessary paperwork and fingerprinting information for clearance. Listed below are conditions that automatically prevent an applicant from being awarded a teaching certificate in the State of Washington.

Automatic Denials for Certification

Convictions, including guilty pleas, involving any of the following:

1. Physical neglect of a child under chapter 9A.42 RCW 2. Physical injury or death of a child under chapter 9A.32 or 9A.36 RCW (except motor vehicle violations under chapter 46.61 RCW) 3. Sexual exploitation of a child under chapter 9.68A RCW 4. Sexual offenses under chapter 9A.44RCW where a minor is the victim 5. Promoting prostitution of a minor child under chapter 9A.88 RCW 6. Sale or purchase of a minor child under 9A.64.030 RCW 7. Violations of similar laws to the above in another jurisdiction

Washington State University subscribes to the principles and laws of the State of Washington and the federal government, including applicable Executive Orders, pertaining to civil rights, equal opportunity, and Affirmative Action. Washington State University policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, sex, including sexual harassment, religion, age, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, physical, mental, or sensory disability, marital status, sexual orientation, and status as a Vietnam-era or disabled veteran in the recruitment and admission of students, the recruitment, employment and retention of faculty and staff, and the operation of all University programs, activities, and services. Evidence of practices that are inconsistent with this policy should be reported to the Director, Center for Human Rights, French Administration Building, Room 225, (509) 335-8288.