Education and California Teacher Credential Program M.A.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Education and California Teaching Credential Program prepares prospective teachers to work with California’s culturally and linguistically diverse student population. Students in this program earn a master’s degree and are eligible to apply for a Preliminary California Credential upon completing a 12-month, five-quarter program comprised of two summers and one academic year. Graduates of the program are prepared to teach English language learners enrolled in TK–12 public schools. The program also offers the Bilingual Authorization (in Spanish) for primary language instruction or dual language immersion instruction in a TK–12 setting.

Please note that we do not offer a stand-alone Master of Arts in Education nor a stand-alone credential program. Additionally, holders of a previously issued California or out-of-state credential are not eligible for admission to the program.

Students who complete the program are eligible to apply for a California Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential or a California Preliminary Single Subject Teaching Credential. The Multiple Subject Teaching Credential authorizes the holder to teach in a TK—12, self-contained public school classroom, where two or more subjects are taught by the same teacher. The Single Subject Teaching Credential authorizes the holder to teach in his/her credential subject area in a 6-12 departmentalized classroom setting within a public school system.

The UC Santa Cruz Single Subject Teacher-Credential Program offers the following subject areas: mathematics, English, social science, and science. Programs of study are subject to change.

Because program requirements are authorized by statutes and regulated by a state entity, the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing program requirements must be responsive to new legislation and regulatory policies. Admission requirements and programs of study referred to are subject to change to comply with regulatory mandates.

Prerequisite Admission Requirements

A bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution meets California Basic Skills Requirement (BSR) per Senate Bill (SB) 153, effective 6/29/24. No additional documents are required at time of application to meet the Basic Skills Requirement (BSR). If admitted to the program, we will use your official transcripts to verify completion of the bachelor’s degree.

Subject-Matter Requirement

California state law mandates that all teachers provide evidence of their subject-matter knowledge. Exam registration confirmations, exam score reports, or documentation of an approved waiver program must be submitted on the online application. Deadline to complete this requirement is June 10 of each year (prior to official enrollment in the program). However, it is highly recommended that documentation of meeting the subject matter requirement be submitted with the application. Please note that admission priority may be given to applicants who provide documentation at the time of application. In addition to the options listed below, the Subject Matter Requirement may be met if your bachelor’s degree is in the same area as the credential that you seek. Additionally, there is a college course work option. Please see the MA/C Program website for details on the various options to meet the state Subject Matter Requirement.

Options to meet the Subject Matter Requirement

• Passing scores on the appopriate CSET tests

• Completion of a CTC-Approved Subject Matter Program

• College coursework in each of the identified subject domains

• B.A./B.S. in the same area as the credential sought

• The Subject Matter Requirement may also be met through a combination of college coursework and CSET exams to meet the content for all required CSET subtests.

The deadline to submit evidence of satisfying Subject Matter Competency Requirement is June 10. However, it is highly recommended that documentation of satisfying the Subject Matter Competency Requirement be submitted at the time of application.

More information on each of the Subject Matter Requirements can be found here.

Certificate of Clearance

In accordance with Education Code Section 44320(b), each credential candidate for an initial credential, prior to admission to any credential program, must obtain a Certificate of Clearance from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). This certificate is a document issued by the commission to an individual who has completed the commission’s fingerprint character and identification process. Please note that the CTC requires either a United States-issued Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) to apply for a Certificate of Clearance. The IRS issues ITINs regardless of immigration status, primarily for the purpose of federal tax reporting. Detailed instructions for obtaining a Certificate of Clearance may be found here. Additional information can be found on the Education website here.

Applicants should be aware that a criminal conviction on their record may preclude them from obtaining a Certificate of Clearance.

Bilingual Authorization Candidates

Applicants seeking Bilingual Authorization must obtain it concurrently with a preliminary multiple subjects or single subject credential. While the state allows the Bilingual Authorization to be obtained after the candidate receives their credential, the UC Santa Cruz program is a concurrent model. Bilingual Program applicants will be required to submit a 1-2-page essay in Spanish with their application to the M.A./Credential Program. The essay should address topical questions listed on the Education Department website here.

For Further Information

Please contact the department by email to edma@ucsc.edu, or view the Education M.A./Credential Program admissions requirement webpage for full details about the M.A./Credential program.

Additional California State Requirements for a Preliminary Credential

(Not Required for Initial Admission to the Program)

In addition to the Basic Skills and Submit Matter Requirements, the following state requirements may be met prior to or while enrolled in the program, and must be met to be eligible for a California teaching credential upon completion of the M.A./Credential program.

U.S. Constitution Requirement

A course on the U.S. Constitution (or completion of an examination offered by the Education Department to enrolled students) is required. UCSC-approved courses that meet this requirement are POLI 20, American Politics; POLI 111A/LGST 111A, Constitutional Law; POLI 120A, Congress, President, and the Court in American Politics; and HIS 10A, United States History to 1877. Passage of the AP exam in U.S. History or Government are acceptable for meeting the U.S. Constitution requirement if the applicant received college credit for the exam.

Admitted applicants must submit verification of completing the U.S. Constitution Requirement prior to completing the final quarter of the M.A./Credential program.

Preliminary Technology Requirement

All candidates for their credential must fulfill the requirements for technology skills which includes general and specialized skills in the use of computers in educational settings.

UC Santa Cruz students meet this requirement in one of two ways:

• Option 1: Pass the CSET Preliminary Educational Technology Subsets I & II, (CSET test codes 133 & 134). For more information, see the Technology Subsets I & II information on the CSET website.
• Option 2: Pass the UCSC approved course offered through the UCSC Extension Program, XSC209, Technology in Schools, Introduction (online format).

Admitted applicants must submit verification of completing the Technology Requirement prior to completing the final quarter of the M.A./Credential program.

Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA)

Multiple Subjects candidates are required—prior to completion of the program and in order to be recommended for a preliminary credential—to pass the RICA examination. The RICA measures the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential to offer effective reading instruction to TK–12 students. For more information on the RICA examination, see the RICA examination information on the CSET website.

Admitted applicants must submit verification of having passed the RICA prior to completing the final quarter of the M.A./Credential program.

CPR

A certified cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course (infant, child, and adult) must be completed and valid upon application for the credential.

Admitted applicants must submit verification of obtaining certification in Infant/Child/Adult CPR prior to completing the final quarter of the M.A./Credential program.

Tuberculosis (TB) Test

All TK-12 schools require anyone working with children to be tested for TB. You can get tested through the UCSC Student Health Center (831-459-2500 to make an appointment) or your private doctor. A copy of your official results must be turned into the Education Department before the end of the first summer quarter.