Undergraduate Programs

Teacher Education Programs

Minor

Education Minor

Undergraduate Multiple, Single Subject, and Special Education Programs
In the state of California, classroom teachers are credentialed by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) upon the recommendation of colleges and universities with approved teacher education programs. At the University of San Diego, it is possible for students to graduate in four years with a bachelor's degree and a preliminary teaching credential in several areas: the Multiple Subject Credential (with optional Bilingual emphasis) for teaching in elementary education, the Level I Education Specialist Credential for teaching in Special Education in grades K-12, and the Single-Subject Credential for teaching in secondary education.

Pursuing a Credential
In order to pursue an academic program leading to a degree and teaching credential, students must declare their major as soon as possible by filing the appropriate form with the School of Education or the university Registrar. Students are required to make a formal application to the Teacher Credential Program in the second semester of their sophomore year or soon after declaring their major, should that occur in the junior year. To be admitted to the Teacher Credential Program, students must pass the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST), complete an application, submit a recommendation, and be interviewed by a faculty member in the Learning & Teaching Program. A minimum 2.75 cumulative grade point average is required for admission to the Teacher Credential Program.

Elementary Education
Students planning to become elementary education teachers (earning the Multiple Subject Credential) declare the Liberal Studies major in the College of Arts and Sciences. It is preferred that Special education candidates declare the Liberal Studies major, however, it is not required for an Education Specialist. All education specialist candidates (with or without a Liberal Studies major) must verify subject matter competency by taking and pass the CSET in multiple subject content to qualify for student teaching.

Secondary Education
Students planning to become high school or middle school teachers declare a major in the subject area they plan to teach (e.g. Art, Biology, Chemistry, English, History, Mathematics, Music, Physics, Spanish, etc.). Students complete requirements for their major and complete Professional Teacher Preparation courses. Students completing approved subject matter programs (USD currently offers approved programs in Biological Sciences, English, Mathematics, Social Science, and Spanish) are not required to take the subject matter exams (the SSAT and Praxis II or CSET) to qualify for a California teaching credential. Students earning degrees in subject areas for which USD does not offer approved programs, must pass the appropriate examination(s) to qualify for student teaching.

Depending on program requirements and the amount of advanced standing with which students enter USD, it may be necessary to take course work in summer sessions and/or intersession and/or carry 18 units during several semesters of undergraduate study in order to complete degree and credential requirements in four years.

For more information, please contact:
Kathy Estey, Program Specialist
Department of Learning and Teaching
kestey@sandiego.edu
(619) 260-4159