Teaching Credentials

A teaching credential provides authorization to teach in a California public school. Eligibility for a credential requires possession of a baccalaureate (bachelor’s degree); demonstration of subject matter competence in an appropriate major, either earned as part of the degree or established by examination; and successful completion of a professional education program.

CREDENTIAL DESIGNATIONS

Multiple Subject Credential:

Authorizes the holder to teach all subjects in the public schools organized with self-contained classrooms, preschool through grade twelve. Credentials available through CSU, Chico programs include the:

Multiple Subject Credential
Multiple Subject Credential with BCLAD* Emphasis
Multiple Subject Credential through Internship Program
Concurrent Special Education (Education Specialist)/Multiple Subjector Multiple Subject with BCLAD* Emphasis

Single Subject Credential:

Authorizes the holder to teach the subject designated on the credential in schools organized by subject departments, preschool through grade twelve.

Credentials available through CSU, Chico programs include the following:

Single Subject Credential
Single Subject Credential with BCLAD* Emphasis
Single Subject Credential through Internship Program

*BCLAD is an acronym for Bilingual, Crosscultural, Language and Academic Development. The holder of a credential with BCLAD Emphasis is authorized to provide English language development and specially designed academic instruction in English to English language learners as well as to teach learners in their primary language.

Education Specialist Credentials:

The Education Specialist in Mild/Moderate Disabilities Credential authorizes the holder to instruct individuals in grades K-12, and adults, who have specific learning disabilities, mental retardation, other health impairments, and/or serious emotional disturbance.

The Education Specialist in Moderate/Severe Disabilities Credential authorizes the holder to instruct individuals in grades K-12, and adults, with autism, mental retardation, deaf-blindness, serious emotional disturbance, and/or multiple disabilities.

Credentials and certificates available through CSU, Chico programs include:

Preliminary Level I Education Specialist in Mild/Moderate Disabilities
Preliminary Level I Education Specialist in Moderate/Severe Disabilities
Professional Level II Education Specialist in Mild/Moderate Disabilities
Professional Level II Education Specialist in Moderate/Severe Disabilities
Early Childhood Special Education Certificate

ENTERING A PROGRAM LEADING TO A BASIC CREDENTIAL

Obtain FOCUS ON TEACHING, Application for Professional Education Programs; information and application materials contained in the booklet will guide you through the process. Application booklets are available at the CSU, Chico Office of Graduate Programs, the Education Services Center, and from professional education programs and School of Education department offices. Check with the department that houses the program of your choice for application deadlines. A $25 non-refundable application processing fee is required when the completed application packet is submitted. Applicants to programs in Professional Studies in Education are requested to contact the department one year in advance of beginning the program for advising and pre-application materials.

NOTICE: Professional education program requirements are governed by legislative action and approval of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Requirements may change between catalogs. Please consult with the Department of Education or the Department of Professional Studies in Education offices for current information.

Applicants to programs must meet the following requirements:

1. Baccalaureate: Prospective teacher cndidates should begin to meet credential course requirements as early as possible in their baccalaureate program. While program applicants need not hold a baccalaureate at the time they enter a professional education program, the bachelor’s degree is required to apply for a California Intern, Preliminary, or Professional Clear Credential.

2. Subject Matter Competence: The State of California requires candidates for credentials to know the subject they will teach. To qualify for entry into a Multiple Subject, Single Subject, or Education Specialist Program, an applicant must have a cumulative GPA of 2.67 or a last 60 unit GPA of 2.75.

Multiple Subject Credentials candidates must:

a. complete a Liberal Studies major at CSU, Chico (contact the Liberal Studies Office, Holt 101, 530-898-5802); or

b. complete a California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) approved Subject Matter Preparation Program at another university and obtain a verificaion of progress; or

c. pass the California Subject Examination for Teachers.

A university Liberal Studies Subject Matter Preparation Program must be completed within the past ten years, or you must pass the CSET.

Single Subject Credentials candidates must:

a. complete an approved Subject Matter Preparation Program (designated courses in subject) at CSU, Chico; or

b. complete a California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) approved Subject Matter Preparation Program at another university and obtain a verificaion of progress; or

c. pass the California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET).

Academic departments at CSU, Chico have credential advisers who help you plan a Subject Matter Preparation Program (see page 307 for  a list of programs and advisers).

3. California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST): Applicants to CSU, Chico Professional Education Programs must take the CBEST before beginning a program. The CBEST must be passed prior to student teaching.

4. Additional Requirements

For additional information including all credential requirements, contact the department that houses the program of your choice. Prospective teacher candidates can begin to meet requirements during their bachelor’s degree program.

PROGRAM SPECIFIC PREREQUISITES

BCLAD Emphasis professional education programs and Education Specialist programs require completion of additional prerequisites. Consult FOCUS ON TEACHING, Application for Professional Education Programs, program, or department offices for information.

Internship Program Requirements for Multiple or Single Subject Credentials

The Multiple or Single Subject Internship Program enables qualified individuals who demonstrate potential for teaching to earn a credential while holding a paid teaching position. For information, contact the Department of Education.

Pre-Internship and Internship Program Requirements for Education Specialist (Special Education) Credentials

Internship opportunities associated with both the Mild/Moderate and Moderate/Severe Specialization programs are available. Specific information related to these opportunities may be obtained from the Special Education Program Office located in Siskiyou Hall, Room 123, 530-898-5575.

SPECIALIST/SERVICE CREDENTIALS

The university, through the School of Education, offers programs leading to specialist credentials. Some work toward a specialization may be taken concurrently with Multiple and Single Subject programs. However, one must hold a basic teaching credential and have teaching experience prior to being recommended for most specialist or services credentials, except for the Education Specialist Credentials.

Potential candidates are advised to confer with program coordinators in planning courses. Specialist or services professional education programs may be coordinated with a Master of Arts program. A listing of specialist and services credentials can be found on the second page of this section of the catalog. Specific course requirements for the specialist and services credentials will be found in programmatic brochures obtained from department offices or from the coordinators of specific programs.

OTHER PROGRAMS

The School of Education participates in a number of projects and programs that provide service to CSU, Chico students and K-14 teachers and students throughout Northern California. Among these programs are: Integrated Teacher CORE, Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment Project, Mini Corps, Teacher Diversity, Upward Bound, Migrant Education, and the Butte College Reading Connections Project.

Supplementary Authorization

Holders of a teaching credential who complete an additional 20 semester units of courses or 10 semester units of upper-division courses in an additional designated subject area may be eligible to have this subject appear on their credentials as an added authorization so that they may teach that subject in grades nine and below. For more information, inquire in the office of Credential Services, MLIB 180.

CLAD Certificate for Credentialed Teachers

Demographic changes in California schools require that teachers be prepared to meet the special needs of linguistically and culturally diverse students. The Crosscultural, Language and Academic Development (CLAD) Certificate for Credentialed Teachers provides the basic knowledge and practice to prepare teachers to work with diverse student populations.

Course Requirements:

BLMC    218    Lang & Comm Skills    3.0 FA

Prerequisites: Teaching experience and faculty permission

BLMC    236    Intro Multicultural Ed    3.0 FA

BLMC    372    Meth/Strat Sec Lang    3.0 FS

Prerequisites: Possess a single or multiple subject credential, or faculty permission.

BLMC    389A    CLAD Practicum    1.0 FS

The above course may be taken three times or the following course may be taken once.

BLMC    389C    CLAD Practicum    3.0 FS

In addition, an experience in learning a second language is required. A number of options are available to meet this requirement.

Early Childhood Special Education Certificate

Early Childhood Special Education Certificate  is an authorization that may be added to either the Education Specialist Mild/Moderate or Moderate/Severe credentials. Specialists who have completed Levels I and II in either Mild/ Moderate or Moderate/Severe will, if they successfully complete required course work and fieldwork in early childhood special education, receive a certificate authorizing service also to individuals with mild/moderate or moderate/ severe disabilities from birth through pre-Kindergarten.