Alternative Routes to Certification

The Alternative Routes to Certification (ARC) program at Seattle Pacific University integrates residency teacher certification with a Master of Arts (MAT) degree. This program prepares students who already have a bachelor's degree to become classroom teachers. Throughout this full-time program, ARC teacher candidates learn about classroom instruction, assessment and management strategies, the nature of students and society, and teaching as a profession.

The certification component of the program is a one year, 45 graduate credit, internship-based program of study leading to recommendation for Washington State Residency Certification. Please contact Ted Hiemstra in the Graduate Center if you have questions after reading this page.

Program Highlights
Teacher candidates begin in summer with an intensive, on-campus learning academy. Classroom topics provide a background in instructional inquiry, teaching methods and assessment, classroom management, and professional teaching issues. The personalized teacher development plan is written during this time.

Candidates continue throughout the year with field-based, online, and traditional classes. The traditional on-campus classes meet Wednesday nights from approximately 4:30 - 9:00. The online courses allow candidates to engage in virtual learning and benefit from asynchronous discussion formats. Field-based classes allow candidates to observe course concepts applied in the classroom and to engage professionals in learning-focused discussions.

For their internship, teacher candidates are paired with a mentor teacher and conduct supervised teaching in a school setting for an entire school year (3 quarters, September - June, 5 days a week). The ARC internship follows a CoTeaching model where a mentor teacher and a teacher candidate are both actively involved and engaged in all aspects of instruction. As a team, they share the planning, organization, delivery and assessment of instruction.

Courses included as part of the general ARC program experience:

EDU 6918 Introduction to Teaching (4 credits)

EDU 6130 Classroom Management (3)

EDU 6132 Learners in Context (3)

EDU 6133 Diversity in America (3)

EDU 6134 Professional Issues: Child Abuse and Others (2)

EDU 6150 General Inquiry and Teaching Assessment Methods (3)

EDU 6160 Applied Inquiry and Teaching Assessment Methods (3)

EDU 6136 Content Area Methods (3)

EDTC       A 6000-level educational technology course (3)

EDU 6139 Leadership in Teaching (3)

For those candidates desiring to teach in a general elementary (K-8) classroom, the following additional classes are required:

EDRD 6529 Teaching Reading: Strategies of Instruction (3)

EDMA 6432 Elementary Mathematics (3)

For those candidates interested in becoming a Special Education teacher, the following additional classes are required:

EDSP 6651 Special Education Assessment (3)

EDSP 6642 Individual Education Programs (3)

EDSP 6658 Issues in Special Education (3)

All Special Education endorsement candidates will need to demonstrate knowledge in a critical content area in order to meet federal Highly Qualified legislation. If your intended endorsement is Special Education, please contact Ted Hiemstra in the Graduate Center.

Advantages of the ARC program:

• Washington State Residency Certification in one year
• Progression through the program as a cohort
• Field-based experiences with diverse learners
• Personalized Teacher Development Plan
• Personalized advisement and mentoring
• Guaranteed enrollment in certification courses
• Technology embedded in the curriculum
• Master of Arts degree in teaching

The MAT Degree

All 45 credits of the certification component transfer to the MAT degree. 15 additional graduate credits comprise the master’s component of the degree. The master's component may be completed during the summer following the certification component, or it may be completed after the candidate begins a teaching career.

Courses included as part of the master’s component:

EDU 6085 Moral Issues in Education (3 credits)

EDU 6526 Survey of Instructional Strategies (3)

EDU 6120 American Education: Past & Present (3)

EDSP 6644 Educating Exceptional Students (3)

3 credit elective

Teacher candidates who enter the ARC program with a graduate degree from a regionally accredited university will only need to complete the certification component and EDU 6085 to receive a second master's degree.

Qualification Details

The ARC program at SPU recognizes the “alternative routes” to certification that have been identified by Professional Educator Standards Board of Washington (PESB; www.pesb.wa.gov) for individuals who possess a unique set of qualifications and wish to be certified to teach in a classroom.

To qualify for the ARC program at SPU, you must meet one of the following criteria.

• Route 2: Currently employed staff member (e.g. para-educator, instructional assistant, education aide) with a school district or private school; a minimum of one year of career-related experience; BA or BS or higher from a regionally accredited college.
• Route 3: Individuals not currently employed by a school district or private school; BA or BS or higher from a regionally accredited college. This is an ideal pathway for people considering a career change.
• Route 4: Teachers employed in a public school on a Conditional or Emergency Certificate or employed in a private school; BA or BS or higher from a regionally accredited college.

The Washington State Legislature offers an $8000 conditional loan-scholarship through PESB. Eligibility for the WA conditional loan-scholarship includes interning in a public school classroom.

Participants in ARC program must hold an accredited bachelor’s degree, preferably with a major in a state-recognized endorsement area, and meet all residency certification requirements. Applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-endorsement area, or who want to pursue an endorsement in a content area other than their bachelor’s major area of study may need to take additional courses to meet the content requirements in the desired endorsement area.

If you are interested in becoming a math or science teacher, consider the Master in Teaching Math and Science program.

Application Requirements

• Submit a transcript for bachelor's degree verification.
• Meet endorsement requirements for the desired teaching area. If your undergraduate degree/major does not match your desired endorsement, please contact Dr. Gregory Gelderman, Certification Officer at geldeg@spu.edu or (206)281-2376 to see if pre-requisite coursework is needed.
• Meet university graduate admission requirements, including the submission of GRE or MAT scores. However, the GRE or MAT requirement is waived for applicants with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, or with a master's degree.
• Be able to participate in a year long, full-time internship.
• Pass the WEST-B basic competency test.
• Pass the WEST-E competency test. The WEST-E website provides an explanation on which test to choose. If you wish, please check with the Certification Coordinator (281-2214) to verify that you are taking the correct test. Candidates pursuing endorsements in Designated World Languages and/or Bilingual Education also need to complete required ACTFL tests in written and oral proficiency.
• Write a personal statement with reference to the School of Education conceptual framework, which centers on four essential commitments of educators: service, leadership, competence and character. Address your own development on each commitment as a future teacher. 500 word limit. List any significant experiences working with K-12 aged students in a school or other setting. Please include the length of time of each experience. Bullet form is acceptable.

• Submit a professional résumé and two letters of recommendation.

Paraprofessionals, Instructional Assistants and conditionally-certified teachers are encouraged to apply to the Alternative Routes to Certification Program as they may be able to use their positions as internships.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION FOR THE 2012 ARC PROGRAM IS FEBRUARY 1, 2012. 

ARC applicants who meet all admission requirements, including an initial screening of their complete application file, will be interviewed on March 10, 2012. All applicants should make arrangements to be available for from approximately 9:00 am – 4:00 pm at Seattle Pacific University. All correspondence regarding the interview process will be carried out by email using the address provided in the application. Please set your email filters accordingly.

The 2012 ARC cohort Summer session will begin July 23, 2012 and run through August 17, 2012.

The certification component of the program costs $17,915 in 2011-2012. Financial Aid is available for qualified applicants through Student Financial Services.

The School of Education is now accepting applications for the 2013-2014 Alternate Routes to Certification program.  The application deadline is February 1, 2013.  Contact the Graduate Center at gradadmissions@spu.edu or 206-281-2091 if you have questions.

For additional ARC program information, please contact Ted Hiemstra.