Credential Programs

College of Education web site.
School of Teacher Education web site--Information on the general Credential Program.
Policy Studies web site--Information on the Spanish BCLAD Credential Program.
Special Education web site--Information on the Special Education Credential Program.

The College of Education Office of Advising and Recruitment in BAM 259 has information about opportunities in the teaching profession and the three fifth-year SDSU credential programs. It also provides information about the APLE loan forgiveness program and other financial aid programs, CBEST and CSET preparation classes, Future Teacher Forums and clubs, and other items of interest to undergraduates. The phone number is 619 594-6320.

When students take LIB S 300, they attend a 3-hour workshop where representatives of the general, bilingual, and special education credential programs describe their programs. All LS majors are required to attend these workshops.

Students should start planning at least one year before they hope to enroll in a credential program. The handout titled "Moving to the Credential Program" describes the steps students need to take in order to apply to a credential program, including when they need to complete each step. It is especially important to apply early for the California Certificate of Clearance. For procedures, read the letter from Nancy Farnan, Director, School of Teacher Education.

I want to substitute teach before I officially graduate. How can I verify that I have completed all the coursework including the LIB S 498 assessment?

Normally students don't receive their diplomas until late September, late January, or late June. If students need to verify that they have completed all the requirements for the Liberal Studies degree, they should contact Christine Simone, the graduation technician, at 619 594-4045.

Information about the general Credential Program can be obtained from the School of Teacher Education web site. For group advising sessions, check the bulletin board in the School of Teacher Education office (BA 255). Students need to plan ahead to satisfy the following requirements:
1. Tests: CBEST and CSET-MS.
2. California Certificate of Clearance. Apply a year early.
3. Overal GPA of 2.67 or GPA in last 60 units of 2.85.
4. Prerequisites: ED 451 (3 units) and Special Education 450 (2 units). The other prerequisites are built into the Liberal Studies major. Check with the STE office for alternatives to SPED 450; SPED 500 and ENS 348 may be allowed as substitutes. Also check alternatives for Health 296; SDSU and community college courses equivalent to Community Health Education 101 may substitute if they were completed prior to fall 2006. Public Health 101 will not satisfy the requirement.
When applying to the SDSU CLAD credential program, students must submit the original graded copy of their early field experience write up. The EFE will not be reread, so students must do their very best work when they take ED 200 and LIB S 300.
For special questions about the general credential program, contact Dr. Bonnie Telfer at 594-3295.

Information about the Spanish BCLAD Credential Program can be obtained from the Policy Studies web site. For group advising sessions, contact the Policy Studies Department at 594-5155 (BA 248). Students need to plan ahead to meet the following requirements:
1. Tests: CBEST and CSET-MS.
2. California Certificate of Clearance. Apply a year early.
3. Typically requires an overall GPA of 2.67 or GPA in last 60 units of 2.85. Check with the department.
4. Prerequisites: Education 451 (3 units), Special Education 450 (2 units), and Policy Studies 515 (3 units) with a C or better grade. Certain courses in the Liberal Studies major, such as Health and Human Services 280, Linguistics 420, and and Linguistics 452, also require a C or better grade.
5. Students must pass the Spanish Language and Cultural Awareness Exam. Note that Spanish speakers do not have to complete a Spanish specialization if they are able to pass this exam. They should attempt to pass this exam before declaring their specialization.
6. Students must complete a total of 60 hours of field experience. The thirty hours done for LS 300 is not sufficient. Students matriculating in fall 2006 will have 30 hours from ED 200 and 30 hours from LIB S 300.
For special questions about the bilingual credential program, contact Dr. Ernesto Sanz at 594-1180.

Language proficiency can be at the low intermediate to fully proficient level at admission. After a brief orientation at SDSU at the end of June, candidates begin their opening session in Mexico with intensive language study. They complete a majority of their coursework and student teaching in Queretaro, including experiences in both public and indigenous schools. The final semester, beginning in April of each year, is completed in San Diego with courework in California frameworks and student teaching in local bilingual schools.

An alternative pathway to bilingual certification is to earn a regular education credential and pass a BCLAD exam. See http://www.ctel.nesinc.com/ for information regarding this exam.

Information about the Special Education Credential Program can be obtained from the Special Education web site. Students need to plan ahead to meet the following requirements:
1. Tests: Ask. Presumably the CBEST and CSET-MS.
2. California Certificate of Clearance. Apply a year early.
3. GPA in last 60 units of 2.85.
4. Prerequisites: SPED 500, 501, 502 (1 unit), SPED 527 (recommended) or ED 451, and one specialty course chosen from SPED 524, 525, or 528. The Human Development specialization allows students to complete SPED 500, 501, and 502. Note that the specialty courses are not offered every semester. The moderate and severe course, for example, is usually only offered fall semester. Check timing with the Special Education Department.
For specific questions about the Special Education credential, contact the Department of Special Education at 594-6665.
Sometimes a special education credential can be converted into a regular credential by taking additional courses. Ask the department.

What do I do if I want to attend a credential program at a different university?

For information about other credential programs, call the specific program or check the appropriate web page. Prerequisites vary for different programs; check about one year before you hope to attend. Education 451 may be accepted; Special Education 450 is not likely to be accepted.

Students: I received the following information about LA school district internship and other programs that are alternatives to regular credential programs. If the above event is already past, you may contact the individuals on the bottom of the attached announcement to obtain more information.

The Los Angeles Unified School District will be recruiting teachers in the San Diego Area Thursday, February 21 and Friday, February 22, 2008. The District is primarily interested in mathematics and science majors and individuals interested in special education to teach middle and high school students.

LAUSD is the second largest school district in the nation with a growing secondary student population. The District has an increasing need for mathematics and science teachers and individuals in special education and hires for these positions year-around.

Please help us find interested candidates by emailing the attached announcement to the students in your mathematics, science, and liberal studies department.

We are excited about the prospect of speaking with math/ science/liberal studies majors who may not have considered a career in teaching. There are many fully paid intern programs available to these individuals that include complete medical benefits for the teachers and their families.