A teacher with a Multiple Subject Credential is authorized to teach grades pre-K through 12 in self-contained classrooms. The Multiple Subject Credential Program (MSCP) prepares students to be credentialed in the State of California for elementary and middle school instruction. The program allows for daytime field experiences in elementary classrooms and includes methodology courses and student teaching. The program can be completed in one summer and two semesters or three semesters, depending upon when prerequisites and corequisites are taken, when the student begins the program, and whether a part-time or full-time schedule is followed. Program requirements must be met within five years of the date of admission to the program.
The department has four Preliminary Multiple Subject Credential Program (MSCP) tracks:
For program information and advisement, contact the Teacher Preparation Advising Center (ED1-67; 562/985-1105) or visit the website: www.ced.csulb.edu/tpac
Successful completion of any track in the Multiple Subject Credential Program leads to the Preliminary Credential, which is valid for five years. Requirements for the Preliminary Credential are:
The Preliminary Credential is valid for five years from the date of issuance and is not renewable. During the first five years of teaching, teachers earn the clear credential through their district-sponsored Induction Program.
The MSCP is a 40-unit program separated into three successive phases. Students must complete each phase before advancing to the next one.
Admission to the university and the MSCP are two separate processes. Applications to the university are made on-line through CSU Mentor (www.csumentor.edu). Graduating seniors, transfer students, and returning students should apply for post-baccalaureate admission to the university with the objective of entering the credential program (identify the program objective as Multiple Subject Credential). Admission to the university does not constitute admission to the program.
Matriculated students may be admitted to the program based on their current undergraduate or graduate status. Pre-program advisement and brochure materials are available in the Teacher Preparation Advising Center (ED1-67). Prospective candidates may obtain a program application by attending one of the regularly scheduled information and application meetings (see schedule at www.ced.csulb.edu/mscp). Candidates are required to comply with all program policies and procedures detailed in the MSCP Handbook, which is available online at www.ced.csulb.edu/mscp.
Candidates in the Multiple Subject (post-baccalaureate), Intern, or ITEP tracks who wish to add a Bilingual Authorization to their credential must meet with the appropriate language advisor to discuss requirements for the language authorizations in Spanish, Korean, Mandarin, or Vietnamese.
Candidates for the post-credential Bilingual Authorization must possess a valid SB 2042 teaching credential OR a valid Ryan teaching credential with CLAD authorization OR the equivalent. They should consult the Bilingual Authorization advisor to plan their course of study.
The final phase of the MSCP is student teaching. For some candidates, student teaching is a full-time five days per week experience for the length of the university semester. Candidates in alternative programs may have different student teaching schedules. All student teachers have one placement in a K-2 classroom where they gain experience with early literacy instruction utilizing a balanced and comprehensive approach to reading. The other placement is in an intermediate classroom (grades 3-6) or in a middle school classroom (grades 6-8). One student teaching placement must be in a public school. There are several ways to complete student teaching: one regular semester, two semesters, two consecutive summers, one entire summer, or one summer and part of one regular semester. Candidates should be aware that there is limited availability in the summer and all requests may not be accommodated. A separate application is required to advance to student teaching. Applications for student teaching must be submitted in person to the Multiple Subject Student Teaching Office one semester prior to the first assignment. Application packets are available at www.ced.csulb.edu/fpo well in advance of the actual meeting dates. Deadlines for submitting applications to student teach are:
Students should note that these deadlines are firm. Late applications are not accepted.
Students must meet the following requirements to advance to student teaching:
1. Completion of all program prerequisite, corequisite and subject specific pedagogy requirements in Phases 1 and 2 of one of the MSCP tracks. Students must complete all five subject specific pedagogy (methods) courses with a 3.0 grade point average and no grade lower than "C." A grade of "D" or "F" in a program course will result in being dropped from the program. In addition, EDEL 413 and 431 must be completed with a "C" grade or better. The overall grade point average must continue to meet the program admission standard.
2. Passage of the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) or CTC-approved alternative.
3. A negative tuberculosis skin test or chest x-ray valid through completion of student teaching.
4. Proof of identity and character clearance (current Certificate of Clearance).
5. Bilingual Authorization candidates must meet additional bilingual authorization pedagogy and culture of emphasis requirements (see Track 4, below).
6. Submission of a student teaching application by the appropriate deadline.
