Pre-Teaching

Director: Carol Ann Gittens

Santa Clara University is accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing to offer professional preparation for prospective elementary school, middle school, and senior high school teachers. The Department of Education in the School of Education and Counseling Psychology offers graduate programs for the multiple-subject credential for elementary grades and the single-subject credential for secondary grades, both with a cross-cultural language and academic development emphasis. The teaching credential program at SCU is combined with a Masters of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree. Students interested in teaching should consider completing an interdisciplinary minor in urban education offered through the College of Arts and Sciences.

The Future Teachers Project (FTP), formerly known as the Eastside Future Teachers Project, works with students from traditionally underrepresented groups throughout Silicon Valley and the greater Bay Area, who are interested in becoming teachers. Through innovative outreach and support programs, the goal is to develop leaders who will make an immediate impact on their communities. FTP scholars are generally recruited during high school and once at SCU, are considered for the FTP scholarship, which contributes to undergraduate studies and the credential/MAT program. The FTP is managed through the Child Studies Program in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Preparation for Multiple-Subject Credential

Students interested in a career in elementary or middle school teaching must earn a bachelor's degree before entering into a post-graduate teacher credential program. Students who would like to teach TK-8 are strongly encouraged to select from majors such as psychology, child studies, or sociology within the College of Arts and Sciences, though any undergraduate major is acceptable. The undergraduate program of study, including the Core Curriculum, should encompass the range of subjects taught in grade school and include courses that have field-based learning placements in settings that directly serve school-aged children. The SCU undergraduate Core Curriculum provides a broad education in English, mathematics, science, social science, the arts, and humanities, all of which will be valuable preparation to become an elementary school teacher. Students are recommended to pursue the interdisciplinary minor in urban education to participate in undergraduate pre-teaching coursework. Those requirements can be found in the Interdisciplinary Minors and Other Programs of Study section in this chapter. Students must demonstrate the subject matter competency component for the multiple-subject credential by passing the California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET) for Multiple Subjects. Students must also demonstrate basic educational skills by completing the Writing Skills exam that can be added to the CSET or by passing the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST).

Preparation for Single-Subject Credential

Students interested in a career in secondary school teaching in a particular subject matter area are advised to fulfill the requirements of the academic major of their intended teaching specialization. California teaching credentials are available in the following subject areas: agriculture, art, biological sciences, business, chemistry, English, geosciences, health science, home economics, industrial and technology education, mathematics, music, physical education, physics, general sciences, social science, world language (English language development), and world languages other than English. Students must demonstrate specific subject matter competency by passing the CSET in the subject area they desire to teach. Completing an undergraduate major in this subject area is not required but it is highly recommended. An undergraduate interdisciplinary minor in urban education is also recommended. Students must also demonstrate basic educational skills by passing the CBEST.

Selected California state credential coursework or examination requirements may be waived by successful completion of one or more specific undergraduate courses on the provisions and principles of the United States Constitution such as POLI 1, HIST 96A, or HIST 96B.

Requirements for Multiple-Subject and Single-Subject Credentials

The minimum requirements for the multiple-subject or single-subject teaching credential include:

  • A bachelor's degree in a subject area from an accredited institution
  • At least 30 hours of recent experience working children or youth in an organized, formal setting
  • Demonstrated knowledge of the United States Constitution by completion of undergraduate coursework or passage of an approved examination
  • Demonstrated basic educational skills (see sections above for specific program requirements)
  • Completion of an approved program of professional education, including field experience achieved through student teaching or internship
  • Completion of a state-approved subject matter preparation program or passage of the CSET, a subject-area competency examination, in the area one plans to teach
  • For multiple-subject credential candidates only: Demonstrated knowledge of the various methods of teaching reading by passing the Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) examination

Fifth-Year Teaching Credential Program

The multiple-subject or single-subject teaching credential can be completed as part of the Masters of Arts in Teaching and Teaching Credential (MATTC) program. This program requires a fifth year of study following the bachelor's degree and qualifies the student for a preliminary teaching credential. The MATTC program includes graduate coursework in educational foundations, curriculum design, teaching methods, and supervised student teaching. Students seeking additional information regarding the MATTC program with a multiple-subject or single-subject teaching credential should contact the Graduate Department of Education in the School of Education and Counseling Psychology.

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