Master of Arts in Teaching, Single Subject

Program Chair: Isabel Orejel
Associate Program Chair: Michael Vallejo

Program Length: The program length is approximately 1.5 - 2 years. Courses are offered in a traditional 16 week format. Some courses are also offered in an accelerated 8 week format, which can shorten the program length. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor to map out their course sequence.

This program is designed for students wishing to earn their single subject teaching credential and culminates in a master’s degree. Earning a credential takes several steps. Following entry into the program, students must successfully complete teaching methodology courses and fieldwork. Candidates then must be accepted for student teaching, which includes 15 weeks of in-classroom training. Finally, candidates complete core coursework for the master’s degree in an area of specialty of their choice, followed by a culminating project or paper structured to help improve their instructional and leadership abilities.

The single subject credential coursework addresses teaching strategies for all students in California schools. Integrated throughout the program are methodologies to deliver comprehensive instruction to English learners and to work with special populations in the general education classroom. This replaces the program formerly known as the CLAD credential.

All students must complete fieldwork hours in the state of California.

Program Dismissal

Students may be dismissed from the program  under several circumstances, including but not limited to: academic dishonesty, academic disqualification, failure to maintain minimum academic standards, failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress, removal from a fieldwork placement, unethical or unprofessional conduct, failure of program activities measuring student competencies/or dispositions, circumstance interfering with training or well-being of others, and/or felony conviction.  Students dismissed from the program may not apply for readmission.

Acceptance of Transfer Courses

For a candidate that would like to request that credential coursework from another institution(s) be considered for transfer credit, the candidate must provide a Letter of Good Standing from the program chair or Dean at their previous institution.

Admission Requirements

1. Completed Admission Application and application fee.
2. Official transcripts from all institutions attended. A Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution with a preferred GPA of 2.75 or above in undergraduate work and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above in any graduate work.
3. A Statement of purpose. Write a statement of purpose addressing the following points: your reasons for entering the teaching profession, any personal or professional experiences and/or qualifications related to your intended field of study, and your perspectives on the relevance and role of cultural competence in teaching. Your statement should be approximately 500-words in length and typewritten.
4. Two letters of recommendation from individuals qualified to objectively evaluate the candidate's potential to be a competent educator. Letters must be from individuals who can knowledgeably comment on academic skills, employment/volunteer experience, leadership potential, and professional abilities.
5. Basic Skills Requirement (CBEST or Equivalent).
6. Current TB Clearance.
7. Current Certificate of Clearance.

Additional Requirements for the Bilingual Authorization

1. Interview with Chair of BILA program
2. SOLOM - Oral language assessment in Spanish 
3. Statement of Purpose written in Spanish 
4. Reading assessment in Spanish

Program Requirements: optional, if available at the time of admissions.

The following items  are program requirements and may  be submitted at the time of admission:

1. CSET or proof of completion of Subject Matter Requirement (required prior to student teaching) 

Total Program: 45 semester hours

Core Courses

33 semester hours

The core credential coursework in the master's program is combined with six concentration options to create a continuum of learning. Students will select from a variety of concentration options below for their master's coursework. These options are designed to give students the opportunity to explore various content areas and gain introductory-level exposure to other disciplines within the field of educating.

Course List

Code	Title	Semester Hours
EDUC 427	Language and Literacy, Single Subject	4
EDUC 428	Introductory Teaching Practices, Single Subject	4
EDUC 442	Intermediate Teaching Practices, Single Subject	4
EDUC 443	Advanced Teaching Practices, Single Subject	4
Select one of the following: 1		4
EDUC 494A	Subject Specific Pedagogy - SS Math
EDUC 494B	Subject Specific Pedagogy - SS English
EDUC 494C	Subject Specific Pedagogy - SS Science
EDUC 494D	Subject Specific Pedagogy - SS History
EDUC 494E	Subject Specific Pedagogy - SS Physical Education
EDUC 494F	Subject Specific Pedagogy - SS Music
EDUC 494G	Subject Specific Pedagogy - SS Spanish
EDUC 494H	Subject Specific Pedagogy - SS Art
EDUC 494I	Subject Specific Pedagogy - SS Health
EDUC 494J	Subject Specific Pedagogy - SS Business
EDUC 494K	Subject Specific Pedagogy - SS Dance
EDUC 494L	Subject Specific Pedagogy - SS Theatre
EDUC 495	Foundations for Teaching Single Subjects	4
EDUC 497A	Introductory Supervised Teaching, Single Subject	3
EDUC 498A	Advanced Supervised Teaching, Single Subject	6
Total Semester Hours		33

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Must enroll in your content area.

Concentration Options

12 semester hours

Candidates will select a concentration from the six options listed below.

Option 1 - Teaching and Learning

This concentration is designed for students who seek a focus on current issues in the field of education and skills for action research. It is practical in nature and culminates in a project or paper structured to help teachers improve their instructional and leadership abilities.

Course List

Code	Title	Semester Hours
EDUC 501	Educational Assessment	3
EDUC 504	Methods of Research	3
EDUC 590	Issues in Teaching	3
EDUC 596	Graduate Seminar	3
Total Semester Hours		12

Option 2 - Educational Technology

This concentration is designed for students who seek a focus on technology. The concentration emphasizes teaching, pedagogy, theory, tools, resources, and applications used in traditional classrooms and flipped instruction classrooms. The concentration culminates in a project structured to help teachers implement technology in meaningful ways throughout the educational system.

Course List

Code	Title	Semester Hours
EDTC 551	Foundations of Instructional Design and Educational Technology	3
EDTC 552	Mobile Apps and Collaborative Communities	3
EDTC 553	Emerging Trends & Issues in Educational Technology	3
EDTC 554	Research Foundations & Integrative Capstone Project	3
Total Semester Hours		12

Option 3 - Teacher Leadership

This concentration is designed for students who seek a focus on teacher leadership. The concentration emphasizes teaching, coaching, and collaboration with colleagues to implement research supported practices that enhance student success. The concentration culminates with a capstone research project.

Course List

Code	Title	Semester Hours
EDLD 570	Instructional Leadership	3
EDLD 572	Foundations of Educational Leadership	3
EDLD 573	Contemporary Issues in California Schools	3
EDUC 593	Assessment and Research for Educators	3
Total Semester Hours		12

Option 4 - Inclusive Education

This concentration is designed for students who seek a focus on special education. The concentration emphasizes working with learners with mild/moderate special education needs and the structures that can be utilized to support such students. The concentration culminates with a capstone research project.

Course List

Code	Title	Semester Hours
SPED 420	Foundations of Inclusive Education	3
SPED 430	Assessment Practices and IEP Development	3
SPED 450	Inclusive Educational Systems - Law, Behavior and Case Management	3
EDUC 593	Assessment and Research for Educators	3
Total Semester Hours		12

Option 5 - Adolescent and Child Development

This concentration is designed for students who seek a focus on human development. In addition to an emphasis on the understanding of physical intellectual, social and emotional development across the lifespan. Candidates may also select an emphasis course with a specific focus.

Course List

Code	Title	Semester Hours
ASCD 503	Educational Psychology	3
ASCD 550	Human Development	3
Select one of the following:		3
ASCD 518	Language, Reading, and Concept Development
ASCD 551	Studies in Attachment
ASCD 558	Cognition and Brain Development
EDUC 593	Assessment and Research for Educators	3
Total Semester Hours		12

Option 6 - Teaching and Learning: Bilingual Emphasis

This concentration is designed for students who seek a focus on current issues and methodologies in bilingual/multilingual education. Because 2 core courses will be offered in Spanish, candidates who choose this pathway should be able to engage with course instruction delivered in Spanish.  The concentration is practical in nature and focuses on action research. It culminates in a project or paper structured to help teachers improve their instructional and leadership abilities.

Course List

Code	Title	Semester Hours
EDUC 434	Learning About Latino Cultures	3
EDUC 435	Methodology for Primary Language Instruction in a Bilingual Environment	3
EDUC 436	Bilingualism and Bilingual Education	3
EDUC 593	Assessment and Research for Educators	3
Total Semester Hours		12

Note: The bilingual teaching authorization requires student teaching in a bilingual classroom and demonstration of Spanish proficiency by one of the following:

1. a passing score on CSET: Spanish subtest III (test code 147)
2. a passing grade in SPAN 414 Spanish Composition & Advanced Grammar
3. a passing grade in EDUC 431 Spanish for Educators

Other Program Components

Student Teaching Program Prerequisites

All students must complete fieldwork hours in the state of California. Student teaching candidates must complete an application and be accepted by the faculty into the student teaching sequence with the following:

• Introductory Supervised Teaching Requirements:
  • Certificate of Clearance or equivalent fingerprint clearance
  • Demonstration of personal dispositions necessary for teaching (as outlined by the LaFetra College of Education)
  • CPR for adults, infants and children
  • Current TB clearance
  • Verification of Basic Skills Competence as defined by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
  • Successful completion of all pre-student teaching coursework as defined by a GPA of 3.0 or better
  • Speech course or verification
  • US Constitution course or passing test score
  • Health Education/Nutrition/Drug Prevention/Tobacco/Sexually Transmitted Diseases Course
  • Verification of Subject Matter Competence as defined by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
• Advanced Supervised Teaching Requirements:
  • Successful completion of all requirements for Introductory Supervised Teaching

Teacher Performance Assessments

The California Teacher Assessment Program (TPA) provides teacher candidates with the opportunity to demonstrate achievement of the teaching performance expectations. The TPA consists of two tasks embedded within the student teaching experience.

Enhanced Intern Credential (Multiple/Single Subject)

Candidates will be eligible for an enhanced intern credential if they have successfully maintained a 3.0 GPA, completed the constitution requirement, first term coursework (EDUC 425 Language and Literacy, Multiple Subject & EDUC 426 Introductory Teaching Practices, Multiple Subject; EDUC 427 Language and Literacy, Single Subject & EDUC 428 Introductory Teaching Practices, Single Subject), basic skills requirement, subject matter competence, and have a contract in a public school. All candidates must be concurrently enrolled in EDUC 467A-467L  or EDUC 497 Introductory Supervised Teaching, Multiple Subject or EDUC 497A Introductory Supervised Teaching, Single Subject or EDUC 498 Advanced Supervised Teaching or EDUC 498A Advanced Supervised Teaching, Single Subject to be eligible for the intern credential.

Preliminary Credential Application Requirements

To apply for a preliminary credential with the state of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, candidates must have:

• Maintained a GPA of 3.0 or better in all coursework
• Successfully completed clinical teaching requirements
• Received a B or better in EDUC 498 Advanced Supervised Teaching or EDUC 498A Advanced Supervised Teaching, Single Subject
• Completed a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
• Completed an “Application for Credential”
• Completed CPR Certification for Adults, Infants, and Children
• Passed all required TPAs
• Passed the RICA (Multiple Subject only)
• Must be cleared by the credential analyst for all remaining requirements
• Submit a Development/Induction Plan

Clear Credential Application Requirements

To apply for a Clear Credential with the State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, candidates must have completed a professional induction program through their employer within five years of the issuance date of their Preliminary Credential.