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Teaching Credential Programs

Education Specialist Credential

The Special Education Credentials offered at Sacramento State are the preliminary Mild-Moderate and Moderate-Severe Disabilities Specialist Credentials, and the Early Childhood Special Education Credential (ECSE).

Multiple Subject Teaching Credential

The Multiple Subject Teaching Credential (MS) authorizes the holder to provide instruction in any self-contained classroom. The MS is held primarily by elementary and early childhood teachers. Regardless of degree major, all individuals who wish to earn a Multiple Subject Credential must pass the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET) for Multiple Subject, in order to satisfy the subject matter competency requirement.

Single Subject Teaching Credential

The Single Subject Teaching Credential authorizes the holder to provide instruction in approved subject areas (subject matter programs*) in a departmentalized program. Almost all junior and senior high school teachers hold the Single Subject Teaching Credential. Teaching areas for this credential include: art, English, foreign languages (French, German, and Spanish), health science, home economics, mathematics, music, physical education, science (biology [or life science], chemistry, geoscience, physics [or physical science]), and social science (now available with a History Option). For the Single Subject Credential, subject matter competency may be satisfied in ONE of the following ways:

  1. Complete an approved subject matter program from an accredited California college/university or

  2. Pass the required single subject examination(s): California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET) subtests in your subject area.

*Teaching majors are termed "subject matter programs." A major through an academic department is not necessarily a waiver program, i.e., a teaching major.

Bilingual Authorization

The Bilingual Authorization can be added to a Multiple Subject or Single Subject Credential. This authorization prepares the recipient to teach limited English proficient students in bilingual instructional settings in their target language. Credential students fluent in Spanish and Hmong may earn a Bilingual Authorization through the Bilingual Multicultural Education Department's (BMED) Multiple or Single Subject credential programs. Additional coursework, language proficiency, and modified fieldwork experiences are required. If interested in this authorization, contact Adriana Echandia (College of Education Equity Coordinator) for more information - Eureka Hall 212, axe@csus.edu.

Credential Requirements

Completion of the Preliminary Teaching Credential requires that the student:

  1. Hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited collegiate institution. To find more information about regionally accredited institutions accepted by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC), go to www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/accreditation-bodies.html

  2. Complete an approved teacher preparation program, including student teaching and PACT.

  3. Complete an approved subject matter program or pass approved subject-matter examinations (CSET.)

  4. Complete an approved course in the teaching of reading and, for Multiple Subject candidates, pass the Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA).

  5. Pass a college-level course or examination on the U.S. Constitution.

  6. Meet the basic skills requirement, for example, CBEST.

Sacramento State offers a two-semester and three-semester option for completing the Multiple Subject and Single Subject credential programs. Special Education credentials programs are flexible.

Field experience, including student teaching, is an integral part of the program leading to a teaching credential. In the Multiple Subject and Single Subject programs, cohorts have been organized around clusters of schools in area school districts. In both the Multiple Subject and Single Subject Programs, students complete student teaching at several grade levels. All student teachers have experience working with children or youth from a broad range of cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds.