Preliminary California Secondary Teacher Preparation Program

The Secondary Teacher Preparation Program at Mount Saint Mary’s University has been approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing under the 2001 SB 2042 Standards for Professional Preparation. This program prepares teachers to work with students in middle and high school classrooms in California. Students begin the program with prerequisite courses in foundational areas such as development, culture, and language acquisition. In the three professional preparation courses students work with Content Area Coaches who are exemplary classroom teachers. This experience includes fieldwork in the Content Area Coaches’ secondary classrooms. In order for candidates to meet the required 150 hours of early fieldwork, they may complete additional fieldwork hours with  a variety of options including further work with the coaches or with alternate fieldwork subject to instructor approval. Students finish the program with supervised teaching and a culminating seminar. Supervised teaching may be completed in the student’s own classroom (intern or private school teachers) or in exemplary teachers’ classrooms in Mount Saint Mary’s University associated schools (undergraduates and pre-service graduate students). Coursework and fieldwork provide the essential knowledge and skills students need to pass the California Teacher Performance Assessment. Additional requirements for a teaching credential include demonstration of subject matter competence, the U.S. Constitution requirement (verified by coursework or exam) and a Certificate of Clearance. Students are urged to maintain regular contact with their program advisor as the CCTC credential requirements are subject to change. Graduate students may complete a Master of Science degree in Education in conjunction with the preliminary teacher preparation coursework.