The master in teaching (MIT) program is approved by the Washington State Board of Education.  Students completing the elementary, secondary or special education programs are eligible for state certification. To ensure eligibility, it is sometimes necessary to make program revisions if the Washington State Board of Education makes changes in certificate requirements. Any changed state requirements takes precedence over requirements outlined in the catalog.

The Master in Teaching Program provides the opportunity for simultaneously earning teacher certification and a master's degree.  Certifications may be obtained in the areas of:

• Elementary education,

• Secondary education, and/or

• Special education.

During the professional sequence, students gain knowledge and skills essential to effective teaching and participate in varied field experiences in school classrooms.  University faculty and local school district teachers and administrators participate in the program and contribute to its quality and relevance.

The Master in Teaching Program is a 45-73 semester-hour degree offered during days, evenings, summers and weekends.  The number of semester hours varies with the MIT programs: elementary education is 55-61 semester hours; secondary education is 45-51 semester hours; and special education, 67-73 semester hours. In addition to these total required hours, the student may need to complete pre-requirements and/or endorsement courses.

The education program is approved by the Washington State Board of Education.  Students completing the elementary, secondary or special education programs are eligible for state certification.  The Washington State Board of Education sometimes makes changes in certificate requirements that take precedence over requirements outlined in the University's Graduate Catalog.

Competency-based endorsements
All students are required to complete two competency-based endorsements of 30 or more semester hours each. Course requirements may be satisfied by coursework completed at a regionally accredited, state-approved college or university with a 3.0 GPA or better; approved waiver documentation for previous life and/or work experience; and/or successfully passing the appropriate PRAXIS II exam.

In addition to an endorsement in elementary, middle-level and/or special education, each student is required to have at least one additional endorsement with 30 or more semester hours in an academic field (a subject area such as English or biology) earned either at Saint Martin's or elsewhere. While this requirement is usually satisfied with the student's baccalaureate major, additional coursework may be required.

Candidates for secondary education (grades 5-12) are required to have an academic major or equivalent (30 semester-hour minimum) in the area in which they intend to be endorsed.

Students seeking MIT certification can be recommended only in the field of their major and in fields for which they meet state requirements for added endorsements.

Authorized endorsements
Saint Martin's has been authorized by the Washington Board of Education to offer teacher certificate competency-based endorsements in the following fields: biology, bilingual education, chemistry, drama, early childhood education, early childhood special education, elementary education, English language arts, English-as-a-Second Language, French, health/fitness, history, Japanese, mathematics, middle level humanities, middle level math/science, choral music, instrumental music, general music, reading, science, social studies, Spanish and special education. Contact an education advisor for assistance in developing an approved endorsement program.

Admission to the MIT program
All applicants for admission must meet the following requirements:

1. Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.

2. Submission of the following materials:
   -  Saint Martin's University graduate application form and $35 processing fee.
   -  College of Education application packet, with $25 college of education application fee.
   -  Moral character supplement.
   -  College of Education Student Contact Sheet.
   -  Current fingerprints (within last two years.
   -  A color photograph.
   -  An Institutional Application for a teacher's certificate.
   - Three letters of recommendation from professionals, including a recommendation from an immediate supervisor, who have knowledge of your potential to do graduate level work.
   -  Copies of official transcripts from all schools, colleges and universities attended.
   -  Score on either the Graduate Record Examination or the Miller Analogies Test, taken within the last five years.
   -  An essay of approximately 400 words describing how your masters program will contribute to your professional development and aid in achieving your professional goals.
   -  A professional or work experience vitae.
   -  Valid first aid and CPR card.
   -  West-B Tests (passing scores on all three tests).
    

All application forms, letters of recommendation, test scores and fees should be delivered to:

College of Education
Director of Graduate Programs
Saint Martin's University
5300 Pacific Ave. SE
Lacey, WA 98503-7500

Application procedures
Students must apply for formal admission to the MIT program before or during the semester in which they complete the pre-professional sequence of courses required for program admission.  Submission dates for priority consideration are June 1 for fall semester, September 15 for spring and February 15 for summer. Admission to the program requires a grade of at least "C" (2.00) in each of the required pre-professional courses, an overall grade point average of 3.0 (B), demonstrated competency in basic skill areas (oral and written expression, mathematics) and scores that meet state requirements on standardized tests.  Students should contact the college of education office to obtain application packets.

Students should review prerequisites of all courses required for admission to the MIT program.  Students who preregister will be processed on the assumption that they will satisfactorily complete all coursework presently taken.

Students who fail to receive a grade of at least "C" (2.00) in each professional course - or whose overall grade point average falls below 3.0 - will automatically be withdrawn from the teacher education program.

MIT Program requirements
Pre-professional courses
Required before formal admission.

Core courses
(must be taken at the graduate level)
For elementary, secondary, special education programs
(14-18 semester hours)

Basic certification core courses
(must be taken at the graduate level)
For elementary, secondary, special education programs
(23 semester hours)

Elementary methods courses
(18 semester hours - required in addition to the basic and core courses listed above. May be taken at the graduate or undergraduate level)

Secondary certification courses
(10 semester hours - required in addition to the basic and core courses listed above. May be taken at the graduate or undergraduate level)

Special education certification courses
(25 semester hours - required in addition to the basic and core courses listed above. May be taken at the graduate or undergraduate level)

Special Education Program
(grades kindergarten-12)

The University's Special Education Program prepares teachers to work with mildly or moderately handicapped students in an inclusionary classroom, a resource room or a self-contained special education class. Completion of the required courses for the program will lead to an institutional recommendation that the student be endorsed in special education. 

NOTE: Completion of the special education major and/or endorsement program leads to a special education endorsement. That endorsement does not allow the certificate holder to teach in a regular elementary or secondary classroom. Therefore, students also must complete the required elementary or secondary sequence, including at least eight weeks of internship in a regular classroom. The section concerning endorsements applies to the special education program as well as the elementary program.

To ensure proper sequencing of courses, student planning to enter the Master in Teaching Program must consult an advisor for the College of Education prior to taking courses at the University.

Thesis option -
MED and MIT programs
The MED and MIT thesis option requires a thesis or field project as part of the degree.  A practicum and comprehensive examination is required for the guidance and counseling strand/educational staff associate (ESA) certificate (thesis and non-thesis options). The thesis/field project must be developed in consultation with the student's advisor.  It will be characterized in the following way:

• The nature of the thesis/project will demonstrate advanced competency related to the area of specialization.

• The development of the thesis/project will show significant effort above and beyond the normal workload of the candidate.

• The thesis/project will result in a usable, well-researched product (such as a written document, a curriculum grade, a movie or a case study) and be accompanied by a quality research study and thesis.

• The thesis/project should make a significant contribution to the candidate and/or his or her immediate professional position, and a more general contribution to the field.

• The thesis/project cannot be approved on an ex-post-facto basis.

Once the final thesis/project is completed and approved, the student will present the thesis/project at a public seminar.  This oral defense is a sharing of information, materials and/or procedures having potential usefulness to the educational community as well as to answer questions related to the thesis.

Non-thesis option - MED and MIT programs
The MED and MIT non-thesis option requires MED 550: Integrating Seminar (1) and one or two additional graduate level courses (3-6 credits) beyond the requirements for the thesis option.  These elective courses may be from any strand area, but may not include MED 580, 590, 595, 597.

The non-thesis option also requires six hours of written comprehensive exam (three hours for the core and three hours for the specialty area) and two hours of an oral comprehensive exam.

Internship
All teacher education programs require supervised student teaching or intern teaching.

A student is expected to complete all required professional courses and be accepted into candidacy before applying for internship.

To facilitate placement, application for supervised internship (contact the College of Education office for specific deadline dates). Students are asked to convey special placement requests at that time.  University supervisors will discuss individual placement problems with students, but the University ultimately makes the student teaching assignments in cooperation with school district personnel. Students may not make special arrangements on their own. To do so may jeopardize placement at that school and/or district and may result in termination of any/all field experience placements in that district for the student.

Completion of an application for student or intern teaching and assignment to a school or classroom always are tentative and based on successful completion of coursework in progress.  Students may be withdrawn from intern teaching at the discretion of the college of education faculty or of the administrators of the kindergarten-12 field experience school.

All internship assignments are considered full-time work, normally requiring seven hours a day in the school, plus additional time for class preparation and seminars.

Post-baccalaureate
Certification-only program
For those who already have a baccalaureate degree, the Post-Baccalaureate Certification-only program at Saint Martin's University provides the opportunity to earn Washington State teacher certification without earning a master's degree.

The program is a 59-67 semester hour non-degree program offered during days, evenings, summers and weekends.  The total number of semester hours varies with the certification:

Elementary education certification
- 67 semester hours - includes an elementary endorsement
- Secondary education certification 
- 49 semester hours - includes certification and a secondary content area endorsement
- Special education certification
- 59-61 semester hours - includes a SED endorsement

Note: Pre-requirements and/or endorsement courses maybe in addition to these totals.

Students in this program may choose to register for graduate credit for several select courses, rather than the undergraduate equivalents.  On satisfactory completion of the certification program and subsequent application and successful admission to the Master of Education Program, the graduate level credits would apply toward the MED degree.  Once these courses start, students are not permitted to change registration between the undergraduate and graduate course levels.  Those interested in the program should consult the catalog's undergraduate section for application and certification requirements.

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