Program Description
School of Education Graduate Faculty
The Master's in Teaching Math and Science (MTMS) program at Seattle Pacific University integrates Washington Residency Teacher Certification with a Master in Teaching Math and Science degree. Candidates in the MTMS program become effective teachers by:
- Demonstrating effective and equitable teaching practices.
- Centering instruction on high expectations for student achievement, including culturally responsive teaching practices.
- Recognizing and responding to individual student learning needs.
- Providing clear and intentional focus on subject matter content and curriculum.
- Fostering and managing a safe, positive, and inclusive learning environment.
- Using multiple student data elements to modify instruction and improve student learning.
- Communicating and collaborating with parents and the school community.
- Exhibiting collaborative and collegial practices focused on improving instruction and learning.
- Developing professional wellness habits in order to persist and thrive in the teaching profession.
Alternative Routes
The AMTMS program recognizes the alternative routes to certification that have been identified by the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB). These routes are for individuals who possess a unique set of qualifications and wish to earn a Washington state Residency Certificate. SPU is approved to offer Routes 2, 3, and 4. Students should refer to the PESB Alternative Routes site for more information.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must submit the following items to the Graduate Admissions
- Online application and $50 application processing fee.
- Official transcript(s) from each college or university attended.
- Personal statement (1–2 pages).
- Résumé.
- Two to four letters of recommendation.
- Preferred WEST-B scores including 240 on each subtest: reading, writing, and mathematics.
- Applicants may use a combination of SAT, ACT, and WEST-B scores to meet the WEST-B requirement (reading writing, mathematics). Please contact the Graduate Admissions if you have questions.
- Minimum SAT scores required - Math: 515, Reading: 500, Writing: 490.
- Minimum ACT scores required - Math: 22, Reading: 22, Writing: 8.
- Taking the state endorsement test.
- You must take the endorsement test(s) for your intended endorsement area(s). Tests should be passed prior to the start of the graduate teacher education program.
- Several NES study guides are located on the main floor Reference section of SPU's Ames Library If you are admitted, you may use your SPU account to check out online study guides from the library.
- Verify endorsement readiness.
- Endorsements are the content and grade levels a teacher is prepared to teach. The Professional Education Standards Board (PESB) provides a comprehensive list of endorsements and the required content competencies and assessments.
- If your college major matches your intended endorsement, complete the Endorsement Verification form in the application.
- If your major does not match your intended endorsement, please contact our Certification Office. Complete the Endorsement Verification form only after contacting the Certification Office. On the form, indicate that you have been in contact with the Certification Office and list your “Approved Plan of Study” if one has been developed.
- Shortage-area requirement.
- Students enrolled in an alternative routes to certification program must be pursuing at least one endorsement in a subject and/or geographic area as defined by PESB including but not limited to special education, elementary, English language arts, Spanish, social studies, and English language learners. Students with a local shortage area (district wide) are eligible as long as the district is able to verify there is a local shortage. The current shortage areas can be found on the PESB website. If you do not meet the shortage area requirement and would like to participate in the accelerated version of our MTMS program, please contact the School of Education for additional options for students in this situation.
- Moral Character and Personal Fitness Policy form (found in the online application).
Applicants with complete files submitted by the deadline are screened for interviews in March. Invitations to interview are sent by email.
Contact
If you have questions about graduate education or certification programs:
Internship
Internships begin in late August as K–12 teachers return to school for in-service training. Candidates intern across the school year, while completing online and on-campus coursework. On-campus and online coursework integrate internship experiences to assist candidates in applying educational theory and research to planning, instruction, and assessment.
Candidates are paired with a mentor teacher and university field supervisor in a supervised school setting. Your internship is five days a week during an entire K–12 school year, including in-service and end-of-the-year activities. There are monthly internship release days so that candidates have time to devote attention to other program requirements.
Candidates and mentor teachers follow a co-teaching model, where responsibility for planning, instruction, management, and assessment is shared. You will begin your internship with focused observations and progress to independent teaching. Across internship, you will complete assignments designed to maximize learning from field experiences, such as a classroom management plan, internship reflections, lesson plans, a family engagement plan, and program assessments. Internship concludes with you returning control of classroom responsibilities to your mentor teacher.
Completion of the MTMS Degree
Candidates earn the MTMS degree by completing 3 graduate-level courses, totaling 9 credits. These classes are taken at the regular graduate tuition rate. Classes required for the MTMS degree are not needed for certification. However, most candidates complete degree requirements immediately following certification to increase their base salary.
Candidates may delay completion of degree requirements for five years following the quarter of admission, as long as active enrollment status is maintained by completing one class every four quarters. Students admitted to the MTMS program with a master’s degree may complete EDU 6085 Moral and Theological Issues in Education to receive the MTMS degree.
Students are required to earn their Residency Teaching Certificate in order to be eligible to earn the Master in Teaching Math and Science degree.
MTMS: Teaching Math and Science (MTMS)
57 Credits Minimum
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| EDSP 6644 | Educating Exceptional Students | 3 |
| EDU 6085 | Moral and Theological Issues in Education | 3 |
| EDU 6120 | American Education: Past and Present | 3 |
| 9 |
| EDRD 6530 | Disciplinary Literacy and Language Learning | 3 |
| EDU 6100 | Introduction to Equitable Teaching | 3 |
| EDU 6140 | Classroom Management and The Psychology of Learners I | 2 |
| EDU 6170 | Inquiry, Teaching, and Assessment Methods for Math and Science I | 3 |
| 11 |
| EDU 6141 | Classroom Management and The Psychology of Learners II | 2 |
| EDU 6171 | Inquiry, Teaching and Assessment Methods for Math and Science II | 3 |
| EDU 6526 | Survey of Instructional Strategies | 3 |
| 8 |
| EDU 6172 | Inquiry, Teaching and Assessment Methods for Math and Science III | 3 |
| 3 |
| EDU 6133 | Culturally Sustaining Teaching for Diverse Learners | 3 |
| EDU 6173 | Inquiry, Teaching Assessment Methods for Math and Science IV | 3 |
| 6 |
| EDU 6945 | Residency Student Teaching Internship | 4 |
| 12 |
| EDU 6944 | Professional Learning Networks | 1 |
| 4 |
| EDU 6139 | Professional Issues Internship Seminar | 2 |
| 4 |
| Total Credits | 57 |
Additional Requirements and Information
- OSPI & PESB requirements. See SOE.
- Earn Washington State Residency Teacher Certification
