Graduate Education

Graduate degree and certificate programs in the College of Education and the College of Arts and Sciences are designed for teachers, administrators, and other specialists desiring advanced degrees or certifications beyond the bachelor’s degree. The Heritage University Master of Education, Master of Arts, Master in Teaching degree programs, specializations, and certifications develop a professional’s knowledge, skills, and dispositions required for success in specialized fields.

Admission to Specialized Programs

Upon successful completion of the application process, a student is admitted to the university as a graduate student. Admission to the university is the first step required in order to be admitted to a degree or certification program; however, successful admission to the university does not guarantee that the student will be accepted to a graduate degree or certification program. Students may receive degree or certification application materials
from an admissions counselor or the chair of each specialized program.

There are several specialized programs, each with its own admission requirements:

Master of Education in Educational Administration:

• Formal admittance to graduate school
• Application to the Administrator Preparation Program
• Three recommendations from administrators
• Three years of teaching experience or ESA experience (does not include substitute experience)
• Copy of valid Washington State teaching or ESA certificate
• Written statement addressing educational and professional goals

Master in Teaching (M.I.T.):

• Conferred Baccalaureate degree
• Formal admittance to graduate school
• Formal Interview with the College of Education faculty
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 for the last 30 semester credits (or 45 quarter credits) of undergraduate course work
• Passing scores for all sections of the Washington Educator Skills Test-Basic (WEST-B)

Master in Teaching (M.I.T.) -Accelerate Program:

• conferred baccalaureate degree
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 for the last 30 semester credits (or 45 quarter credits) of undergraduate course work. 
• 2 letters of recommendation, 1 letter should be education focused. 
• Formal Admittance to graduate school
• Formal Interview with College of Education
• Formal Interview with School District that results in an offer to hire
• Passing scores for all three sections of the Washington Educator Skills Test – Basic (West-B) Reading, Writing, and Mathematics Assessments
• Passing scores for the NES (National Evaluation Series) 102 and 103 Assessments.

Master of Arts in Multicultural English Literature and Language:

• Baccalaureate degree with minimum GPA of 3.0 for the last two years of undergraduate work OR completion of six graduate semester credits with a minimum GPA of 3.0
• Writing sample of at least five pages representative of the student’s previous work
• Short essay (approximately two pages, double-spaced) explaining the student’s goals and reasons for entering the Master of Arts in English Program
• Two letters of recommendation written by professors or others capable of assessing the student’s potential for success in a graduate program

Program Guidelines

The Academic Policies section of this catalog applies to both undergraduate and graduate students. The following additional policies apply to M.Ed. and M.I.T. students:

1. Up to six semester credit hours of equivalent graduate-level coursework may be transferred from another regionally accredited college/university. Transfer credits must be:
   1. Approved for graduate credit at the institution from which the credit transfer is requested;
   2. Taken within the last eight years, based on the student’s admission date to the Heritage University Graduate Program and based on approval by each respective department chair;
   3. Awarded a letter grade of B (3.0) or better; and
   4. Verified by an official transcript from the institution where credit was granted.

When requesting graduate-level transfer credit, students are reminded that:

• Heritage University operates on a semester system, and quarter credit hours transferred from other institutions are NOT equal to semester credit hours (e.g., 5 quarter credits equal only 3.33 semester credits)

• Some 500 and 600 level courses offered at other institutions do not carry graduate credit at that college/university and will not be accepted by Heritage University

• Continuing education, professional development, personal enrichment, in-services, clock hours, and correspondence courses are NOT acceptable for graduate transfer credit

• Non-graded courses are generally unacceptable for graduate transfer credit

• Approval of non-graded transfer credit will be assessed on an individual basis by the department chair

• One-quarter credit graduate-level courses will NOT be accepted

Candidates for the master’s degree shall take responsibility for the following:

• Initiating the transfer of credit process upon receiving an official transcript from another institution confirming satisfactory completion of course work

• Completing the request for approval of graduate transfer or substitution credit to Heritage University form required for initiating the transfer process no later than one semester prior to graduating from Heritage University

2. The minimum full-time semester credit load for graduate students is six semester credits in fall, spring, and summer terms.

3. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B) must be maintained in graduate work. Note: Educational Administration students can earn no lower than a B (3.0) in each course.  M.Ed., and M.A. in Multicultural English Literature students can earn no lower than a B- (2.7) in each course. Master in Teaching students can earn no lower than a C in each course.
4. If the term grade point average is below 3.0 (B), the student is placed on program academic probation. Once on probation, the student must attain a grade point average of 3.0 (B) for the next six semester credits in order to continue in the program.
5. Maintaining academic honesty is the responsibility of both students and faculty. The determination of ethical misconduct, including, but not limited to, cheating, invention of false data, or plagiarism, may result in probation, suspension, or dismissal from the university.
6. Some specializations offer options for completion of the required comprehensive examination. The portfolio assessment, comprehensive review/exam, special project, and thesis options are available in some degree specialties. Students need to consult their advisor for more information.
   If the thesis option is taken, the following steps are required: 1) permission from an advisor, 2) thesis topic approved, 3) supervisory committee selected, 4) proposal approved by supervisory committee, 5) thesis completed under advisor’s supervision, 6) thesis reviewed by committee and revisions made, and 7) successful completion of thesis defense. Two approved and bound copies must be submitted to the program chair four weeks before the end of the semester in which the awarded degree is anticipated. One copy is maintained by the university library and one copy is returned to the student. Two electronic copies must also be submitted to the university library.
7. Depending upon the level of human subject research, special projects and thesis proposals may need prior approval by the HU Institutional Review Board (IRB).
8. Academic requirements, including course work and a comprehensive examination, where required, must be completed within eight years after the first applicable course is taken.
   To ensure relevancy, all courses and transfer credit applicable for the master’s degree and/or certifications will be valid for a period of eight calendar years from the actual date taken for each course. On recommendation of the department chair, the associate dean or dean can modify or waive this requirement.
9. Professionalism expectations: All candidates for Master of Education (M.Ed.) and Master in Teaching (M.I.T.) degrees in the areas of specialization under the jurisdiction of the Graduate Program are required to demonstrate research and writing competency at the mastery level. Work should be well organized and written with clear focus and sufficient detail. Papers should be well written, using correct spelling and grammar. Grades reflect academic performance as related to the stated outcomes, as well as a student’s professionalism and program and class participation.
10. Candidates should be aware that they must meet all current State of Washington certification requirements that are in place at the time of final application for certification. (These requirements may change from the time a candidate starts the program to the time of application for certification).

Students are reminded that they are responsible for understanding and complying with the requirements for the academic degrees and certification programs described in this section, by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), and elsewhere in this catalog.

Degrees and Programs Offered

The Graduate Department offers a course of study to complete the Master in Teaching (M.I.T.) degree for a Residency Teacher Certificate in Elementary Education (K-8).  Please contact the College of Education for specific information.

Washington State Certificates:

1. Educational Administration Principal Credentials (candidate has an M.Ed.)
2. Educational Administration Program Administrator Credentials (candidate has an M.Ed.)

Information concerning university policies and regulations applicable to graduate programs, including admissions, grading practices, tuition, and fees, can be found in various sections of the university catalog. Consult the Table of Contents or catalog index for further information.

It is the responsibility of graduate students to familiarize themselves with procedures, policies, and expectations of the program in which they are enrolled.

Programs

• Elementary Education (K-8), Traditional Route
• Elementary Education HU Accelerate, Alternate Route
• Elementary Education HU Residency, Alternate Route

• Educational Administration, M.Ed.

• Educational Administration Certification Only

• Bilingual Education / English Language Learners Endorsement
• Special Education Endorsement

Courses

• MTED 500 - Reasoning with Numbers and Operations
• MTED 501 - Data Analysis and Probability
• MTED 502 - Proportional Reasoning and Algebraic Thinking
• MTED 504 - Analyzing Calculus Models
• MTED 505 - Measurement and Geometric Thinking
• MTED 510 - Initial Practicum
• MTED 515 - Advanced Practicum
• MTED 520 - Discrete Math for Educators
• MTED 525 - Functions and Modeling
• MTED 540 - Methods of Teaching Middle Level Mathematics I
• MTED 550 - Methods of Teaching Middle Level Mathematics II
• MTED 560 - Numbers and Number Theory
• MTED 571 - Algebraic and Proportional Reasoning

• RDG 504 - Literacy Through Children’s & Adolescent Lit
• RDG 510 - Developing & Teaching Literacy in a Multicult Set
• RDG 511 - Family Literacy
• RDG 512 - Affective Factors of Literacy

• SPED 515 - Spec Educ Fundamentals Educator
• SPED 520 - Instructional Methods in Early Childhood
• SPED 525 - Essential Knowledge and Skills for Special Education Teachers
• SPED 530 - Introduction to Special Education
• SPED 532 - Issues in Special Education
• SPED 533 - Behavior Management & Positive Behavior Support
• SPED 536 - Curriculum and Instructional Strategies for Students with High Incidence Disabilities
• SPED 537 - Curriculum and Instructional Strategies for Students with Low Incidence Disabilities
• SPED 538 - Assessment & Evaluation of Students with Disabilities
• SPED 564 - Differentiated Instruction in Content Areas
• SPED 568 - Special Education Law
• SPED 570 - Collaboration & Communities in Special Education
• SPED 572 - Practicum
• SPED 595 - Special Project