Instructor Minimum Qualifications


CWU College in the High School instructors are highly qualified school district teachers that meet the same level of education and experience as CWU adjunct faculty. The CWU academic colleges set the minimum qualifications and assess each teacher to ensure educational integrity. The qualifications are reviewed/updated annually. The application review team consist of the specific academic liaison (CWU faculty), the respective department chair and the college dean. Below are the minimum standards arranged by college and subject matter. In most cases, a Master's degree is required.

Applications for new teachers is currently open https://cihs.cwu.edu/instructor/#prospects, and we are accepting applications to teach starting in 2024-25 academic year. The minimum qualifications below are for applying during the 2023-2024 academic year and beginning to teach during the 2024-2025 academic year.

A printable version of the minimum qualifications can be found on the Forms page, under the Instructor tab.

If your qualifications are close but not an exact match to the information below, please reach out to the Academic Liaison for that department for clarification. Liaison Contact Info

In addition to the minimum qualifications list below for History. Please also ensure you read the attached here.

Colleges


See below for each college and subject/major included.
  • College of the Sciences

    Anthropology

    • Master’s degree required.
    • Masters in Anthropology or a related field or Master of Education and a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology
    • ANTH 107

    Biology

    • Master’s Required. 
    • BS/BA in Biology or related science field (must include laboratory science), AND 
    • MS/MA in Biology or related science field (must include laboratory science), OR 
    • MEd plus evidence of teaching proficiency in Biology (ex. National credential, most recent TPEP evaluation, letters of recommendation speaking specifically to proficiency in Biology, etc.)
    • 3 years experience teaching Biology
    • BIOL 101 & 201

    Environmental Science

    • Master's degree required. BS/BA in natural sciences (biology, chemistry, geology, geography, environmental science) or education with STEM focus; MS/MA natural sciences or MEd.
    • ENST 201, 202

    Geography

    • Masters in Geography or closely allied field, or Masters in Education with subject area knowledge
    • GEOG 101, GEOG 107, GEOG 111, GEOG 208, GEOG 250

    Geology

    • Master's required. 
    • GEOL 101/L

    Math

    • BS or BA in Mathematics, Mathematics Education, or a related field
    • Master's degree in Mathematics, Mathematics Education, Education, or related field.
    • Department evaluation will consider the strength of the undergraduate degree, number of graduate mathematics courses, number of years of teaching experience, previous teaching experience with College in the High School, previous teaching experience with Advanced Placement courses, and recognition of teaching excellence via National Board Certification.

      A candidate with a master's degree in a field other than mathematics or without prior coursework in statistics can strengthen their application by taking approved graduate courses through the CWU STEM Leadership Program as recommended by the STEM Leadership Director.
    • MATH 101, 102, 130, 152, 153, 154, 172, 173, 211, 272, 273

    Physics

    PHYS 101, 103

    • Master’s Required (National Board Certification in Physics may substitute)
    • Undergraduate degree in any STEM field. Master’s degree can be in any discipline.

    PHYS 106, 111, 112, 113

    • Master’s Required (National Board Certification in Physics may substitute)
    • PhD or Master’s in any natural science, engineering, or mathematics field;
    • or a Bachelor’s in Physics, Astronomy, Mathematics, Engineering, Chemistry, and a Master’s in Education;
    • or a Bachelor’s in a science related area not listed above and Master’s in Education and successful completion of CWU PHYS 111 online content training course;
    • or a Bachelor’s in Physics, Mathematics or related field and National Board Certification in Physics;
    • or Taught AP Physics for 3+ years with an undergraduate in any STEM field and masters degree in any discipline

    PHYS 181, 182, 183

    • Master’s degree required (National Board Certification in Physics may substitute)
    • PhD or Master’s in any natural science, engineering, or mathematics field; or,
    • Bachelor’s in Physics, Astronomy, Mathematics, Engineering, Chemistry and a Master’s in Education; or,
    • Bachelor’s in Physics, Mathematics or related field and National Board Certification in Physics.

    Political Science

    POSC 101, 210, 260, 270

    • Masters degree required.

    • M.A. Poli Sci or similar Dept. preferred but will consider BA in Poli Sci or equivalent with MA in other discipline
    • If MA is not in Poli Sci or similar area:

      POSC 101: Substantial social studies background

      POSC 210:
      Taught AP US Govt, History, Internatl Bacc., or equivalent

      POSC 260:
      Taught AP Comparative Govt or equivalent

    Psychology

    • Master's degree required.
    • Official Transcripts for master’s degree in psychology or master’s degree in related field with at least one graduate level psychology course (prefix PSY) OR master’s degree with at least one psychology relevant course.
    • If no PSY prefix or have taken a psychology course, will review transcripts for any prefix that identifies a psychology course and will then ask for syllabi from that course to determine the breadth of the course.
    • Holds an BA or BS in psychology along with a master’s degree (for example, education or teaching) without a psychology relevant course.
    • Minimum of 2 years’ experience teaching (HS or College level), AP or Honors course preferred. May consider less than two years depending on breadth of teaching experience.
    • PSY 101

    Sociology *

    • Masters' degree required
    • A Master’s degree in any teaching related field will suffice, as long as the instructor has an undergraduate degree, and or extensive course work, in the subject they would like to teach.
    • Teachers with more than 20 years of experience and or National Board Certification in the subject area are encouraged to apply. We may be able to substitute experience for education on a case-by-case basis.
    • 5 years’ experience teaching sociology, social studies or related field.
    • SOC 101, 107, 109
  • College of Arts and Humanities

    Art

    • Master's degree required: Master's in Art Education, Studio Arts, or Art History.
    • Experience teaching art, art appreciation and/or art history.
    • ART 103

    Communications

    • Master's required. MA, MS, or PhD in Communication, Communication Studies, Rhetoric, or closely related field which may include Mass Communication, Media Studies, English, Psychology and other humanities and social science disciplines in connection with experience teaching public speaking - subject to approval by the department chair.
    • Experience teaching public speaking and the high school or college level.
    • COM 250

    English

    Master's in English strongly preferred. Master's in related field acceptable when accompanied by one or more of the following:

    1. Ten (10) graduate-level quarter credits in English Composition/Rhetoric, Literature, or Linguistics/TESOL;
    2. Evidence of excellent professional writing experience through former employment;
    3. Three years of experience teaching college-level English courses (e.g. Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Community College, or University).
    • ENG 101, 102, 105

    History

    • Masters degree in history. In addition to the MA in History, specialized training or experience appropriate to course being taught. This requirement may be satisfied by one or more of the following:

      • History graduate field in area and chronology of course being taught
      • 15 quarter credits of graduate-level history coursework in area and chronology of course being taught
      • 1 year high school history teaching experience in area and chronology of course being taught

    Additional desired qualifications: experience teaching AP or other college-level history in the high school and/or experience teaching at the post-secondary level. 2 years high school teaching experience.

    Please also ensure you read the departments expectations here.

    • HIST 143 & 144

    Humanities

    • Master's required. MA in either English, History, Humanities, or Philosophy. Masters in related field may be acceptable only with ten (10) graduate-level course credits in English, History, Humanities, or Philosophy.
    • HUM 101, HUM 102, HUM 103

    Music

    • Master’s Required. Master of Music, Master of Music Education, or Master of Arts in Teaching
    • Experience Teaching Music
    • MUS 101, 102, 103

    Theater

    Master's required. MA in Theatre, Media & Cultural Studies, Theatre Education, Applied Theatre, Performance Studies or Theatre Arts-related discipline. Master’s in related field may be acceptable only with eighteen graduate-level course credits in a Theatre Arts discipline AND one of the following:

    • Experience teaching theatre at the high school or college level
    • Evidence of three or more years working in the Theatre Arts industry
    • TH 107

    World Languages - French, German, and Spanish

    • Demonstrated language proficiency equivalent to ACTFL Advanced-low
    • Completed B.A. in target language
    • MA in Education, Second Language Acquisition or related field.

    B.A in target language Required.

    Those applicants who do not hold an MA can be admitted into the CiHS program provisionally under the condition that in they complete WLC 484 and WLC 485 (both courses offered Asynchronously Online) within that first year. Applicants who complete both courses successfully and have been observed by the liaison will be fully approved for CiHS instruction in the subsequent years.

    FR 151, FR 152, FR 153 (We are currently not accepting FR applications for 24-25.)
    GERM 151, GERM 152, GERM 153
    SPAN 151, SPAN 152, SPAN 153

    World Languages - American Sign Language

    Master's in ASL is strongly preferred

    For those who do not have a Master’s in ASL, a Master's or Bachelor's in a different field will require one of the following three:

    • a current ASLTA certification (Either "Certified" or "Master")
    • Enroll in CWU’s ASL Linguistics, ASL Literature, and Deaf Culture (or equivalent) and receive a one-time two-year conditional exemption to work on full ASL qualifications.
    • or approval from a full time CWU ASL faculty/SME

    For those who do not have a bachelors may work with a full time CWU ASL faculty/SME to create a plan on receiving a Bachelor’s in Deaf and Sign Language Studies and receive a one- time four-year conditional exemption.

    Two years of ASL teaching.

     

    • ASL 151 ASL 152, ASL 153
  • College of Education and Professional Studies

    Education

    EFC 250

    EDBL 250

    • Master's Degree and Teaching License. Backgrounds/coursework/experiences in ethnic studies, history, and/or current events. Experience teaching a diverse student population.

    Engineering Technologies

    • Master's degree required. MS/MA in related field. Bachelor's in Technology/Engineering or related field
    • Three years of teaching and related field experience.
    • ETSC 101, 145, 160, 265, 277

    Information Technologies

    IT 111
    • Master's strongly preferred.
    • Resume experience in web and digital technologies including experience with HTML and CSS.
    • Preferred: Applied experience designing, creating and maintain websites and other digital systems.

    IT 202

    • Master's strongly preferred
    • Resume experience in applying/using MS Office - Access, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
    • Preferred: MOS (Microsoft Office Specfialist) certification and a Master's degree.

    Military Science ***

    Currently not accepting applications.

    Physical Education

    • Master's required. Master’s degree in Physical Education, Kinesiology, or Movement Studies.
      MA in Curriculum and Instruction considered with auxiliary coaching or physical education teaching experience.
    • One year's experience at current school.
    • PED, PEF, PEID, PE TEAM

    Public Health

    • Master’s Required. Master’s degree in any Social Science, Education, or Public Health field.
    • 3-years experience teaching at the high school or college level.
    • PUBH 209

     

  • College of Business

    Economics

    • Master's required. MA in Economics or related field.
      MA in teaching is acceptable with the required experience listed.
    • 3+ years teaching experience in related field.
    • ECON 101, ECON 102, ECON 130
      Note: ECON 101, 102, and 130 require the use of a specific textbook. Contact Econ Liaison Peter Gray peter.gray@cwu.edu for specifics

    Finance and Supply Chain *

    • Bachelors with Master’s Strongly Preferred*
    • Experience teaching math, finance, economics, accounting, business or consumer science.
    • FIN 174

* A Master’s degree in any teaching related field will be considered, if the instructor has an undergraduate degree, and/or extensive course work, in the subject they would like to teach. Teachers with more than 20 years of experience and or National Board Certification in the subject area are encouraged to apply. We may be able to substitute experience for education on a case-by-case basis.

** Currently not accepting applications.

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