Elementary California Teacher Preparation Program in Conjunction with a B.A. Degree in an Academic Major (Liberal Studies recommended; see major description and requirements)

Preparation for certification as an elementary teacher in California consists of two components, (1) academic preparation and (2) professional preparation. In addition, other state requirements must be met, as in (3) below. The Mount Saint Mary’s University Elementary Teacher Preparation Program is a California Commission on Teacher Credentialing approved program for the preparation of students for the Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential as defined by SB 2042. It is possible to complete both the academic and professional preparation as an undergraduate and to graduate with a preliminary teaching credential.

1. Academic Preparation. The undergraduate student interested in elementary school teaching ordinarily completes a Liberal Studies major as described in the Liberal Studies major description pages. However, qualified candidates, interested in a concurrent program of teacher preparation, may select another academic major. Students must satisfy the academic preparation requirement for a teaching credential by either completing the Elementary Subject Matter (waiver) program or by having an approved Subject matter requirement (SMR). Education advisors can guide students with the SMR and will show content competence through one of five options:  1) completion of subject matter program (waiver), 2) Passing scores on three subtests for the California subject Matter Examination(s) for Teachers (CSET) for multiple subjects, 3) Degree in liberal studies or other approved interdisciplinary degree, 4) completion of coursework in all required domains, or 5) A combination of exam scores and coursework. 

2. Professional Preparation. Simultaneously with the Liberal Studies major, undergraduate students complete the Elementary Teacher Preparation Program courses to satisfy professional requirements. Fieldwork in public schools affiliated with the Education Program is required in each professional preparation class. The student must be able to arrange for transportation to fieldwork sites.

Refer to Preliminary Elementary Teacher Preparation Program for the Elementary Teacher Preparation Program course list. Also see Preliminary Teacher Preparation Programs  for teacher preparation program requirements and Supervised Teaching for supervised teaching policies. Units taken in the Teacher Preparation Program may count toward the Baccalaureate degree.

3. Other Requirements: Students must apply to and be officially admitted to the Elementary Teacher Preparation Program with a passing score on the CBEST examination to enroll in advanced professional preparation coursework: EDU 155 Social Studies and the Arts and EDU 156 Language and Literacy. A Basic Skills Requirement (BSR) verification is required for official admittance. Passing scores on the CBEST exam or appropriate coursework in reading, writing, and mathematics with a grade of B- or better is needed for the BSR. Prior to filing for the credential students must fulfill the requirement related to the United States Constitution, pass a state-required examination on the teaching of reading (RICA), have a current CPR certification for adult, child, and infant. POL 1, American Government and Institutions, currently meets the U.S. Constitution requirement. If a student wishes to fulfill this requirement by taking a course off-campus, appropriate documentation must be on file. EDU 156, Language and Literacy: Elementary Curriculum will prepare students for the RICA exam.

   Prior to taking any course involving fieldwork, students must have received a Certificate of Clearance. Prior to supervised teaching. students must have either completed the Elementary Subject Matter (waiver) program or achieved a passing score on the California Subject Matter Examination(s) for Teachers (CSET), multiple subjects subsections. The Certificate of Clearance must be valid throughout the entire supervised teaching experience. Finally, all teacher credential candidates must pass the state-required Teacher Performance Assessment (TPA) administered during the program coursework.

4. Fieldwork requirements – The Multiple Subjects preliminary credential requires a total of 600 hours of fieldwork. One hundred and fifty hours of Early Fieldwork are completed during preliminary coursework and 450 hours are completed during Supervised Teaching. The 150 hours of Early Fieldwork are typically completed 50 hours per semester during EDU 150, EDU 154 and EDU 156. One hundred fifty hours of approved and documented field experience must be on file before a candidate enrolls in supervised teaching.

It is particularly important that all candidates in the elementary concurrent program of teacher preparation meet each semester with the undergraduate credential advisor (who is also the Liberal Studies advisor), because the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) regulations are subject to change.

The Preliminary and Induction Teacher Preparation Programs meet the standards for and have been approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC), leading to a California Preliminary or Clear Teaching Credential. Students who wish to practice in a state other than California will have additional licensing requirements to complete prior to practicing in a state outside of California. Prior to enrollment, prospective students must review the lists below to determine whether this program meets the educational requirements in a specific state. Once this information has been reviewed, contact the Education department at educationdepartment@msmu.edu to discuss the process of obtaining a teaching or cleared credential in a state outside of California.