How to get a single subject teaching credential in california

Welcome to the Single Subject Teaching Credential Program!

Program Theory of Teaching & Learning

The Single Subject (SS) Teaching Credential Program is constructed on the theoretical foundation of Transformative Education. This is defined internally as the "process of developing inclusive educators who critically improve teaching and learning with a simultaneous emphasis on the individual and community."

The SS program strives to help teachers develop four tenets of Transformational Teaching: a process orientation (Dweck, 2016), a critical community literacy (Puett, 2018), an ability to connect content to real-world contexts (Emdin, 2016), and an ability to be change agents (Paris & Alim, 2017).

• A process orientation helps candidates develop a Growth Mindset by “focus(ing) on the learning process and show(ing) how hard work, good strategies, and good use of resources lead to better learning (Gross-Low, 2016).
• Critical community literacy includes a deep understanding of the emancipatory potential of sustained community engagement, building on the (sometimes hidden or ignored) strengths already present in the community while simultaneously working to developing actions to identify and overcome obstacles.
• Connecting curriculum and pedagogy to the worlds in which students are familiar helps build scaffolds between Mainstream Academic Knowledge and the lived experiences of the students. This connection is essential to the learning process.
• Finally, our program works to develop teachers who are change agents. Teachers often are trained to think of change as one-directional – bad into good, un-educated into educated – but Paris and Alim (2017) remind us with their work surrounding Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies that sometimes being a change agent is not succumbing to the forces within the profession that identify resources as deficiencies.

Each of these theoretical foundations are addressed throughout coursework and fieldwork experiences and contribute to how our program transforms the teaching profession.

Teaching Performance Expectations

Our program is accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) and meets the Standards for Educator Preparation and Educator Competence.

Throughout our program, candidates engage in coursework aligned with the California Teaching Performance Expectations (TPEs) – the set of professional knowledge, skills and abilities expected of a beginning level practitioner in order to effectively educate and support all students in meeting the state-adopted academic standards.

Our coursework and fieldwork (clinical practice) provide multiple opportunities for candidates to learn, apply, and reflect on each TPE. As candidates progress through the program, pedagogical assignments are increasingly complex and challenging.

Pathways & Roadmaps to Credentialing

The Single Subject program prepares teachers to serve students in middle schools, junior high schools, and senior high schools in urban classrooms using a variety of instructional models. The single subject teaching credential with authorization in single subject instruction qualifies holders to teach in their authorized field at any grade level – preschool, kindergarten, and grades 1 through 12 – or in classes organized primarily for adults.

The following categories are defined by state legislation as follows:

• Art
• English
• Industrial and Technological Education
• Languages (including, but not limited to, Chinese, French, German, Russian, and Spanish)
• Natural Science (biological sciences, chemistry, geoscience or physics)
• Mathematics
• Music
• Physical Education
• Social Science

We offer the following roadmap options for students to complete their Single Subject Teaching Credential Program:

• 
   Roadmap Traditional

• 
   Roadmap Fast Track

• 
   Roadmap Intern

• 
   Roadmap Part Time

Upon completion of the preliminary credential, we also offer a Teacher Induction program to support students in obtaining a clear credential.

Program Advisement

To learn more, we recommend you attend a group advisement meeting or contact a credential program advisor in the Office of Student Services.

Credential Group Advisement

Division of Curriculum and Instruction