How does student teaching work?
Student teaching is a five period, five days a week, 20 week commitment. Once you have completed your course work (physical education and professional education) you will enroll in 15 units of student teaching during a single semester. You are expected to be at the school for 5 periods (3 periods for teaching, 1 for observation and 1 for preparation).  You may choose to student teach at the middle school or high school level. You must teach two different grades within that level.  You will ultimately be responsible for creating lessons, teaching classes and grading student work. You will observe your master teacher and other teachers in the school. You will learn how a school works by attending department and faculty meetings and conferences, and other extra-curricular events.

During student teaching you will be observed by a university supervisor (at least six times by each your supervisor). You will also participate in the student teaching seminar on campus.

If you are employed when it comes time to student teach you can petition to complete student teaching while on the job. A list of conditions must be met when using a job for student teaching. See Dr. Karen Hakim-Butt to find out more about this option see the WHAT IF I ALREADY HAVE A TEACHING JOB? section below.

What's a preliminary credential versus a clear credential?
The "Preliminary Credential" is what you will have earned after completing required physical education classes, education classes, health science for secondary teachers, the constitution requirement and student teaching. You then have 5 additional years to earn the "Clear Credential."   Requirements for the Professional Clear Credential include:

o Complete a minimum of thirty post baccalaureate units of study. (The courses you've taken for the credential 'count' if they are post baccalaureate hours.)
o Meet a computer literacy requirement, by course or equivalency.
o Meet a  "mainstreaming" requirement, most often via ED Psych 350. (EDP 350 can be taken before being accepted into the single subject credential program, it does not have EDSS 300P as a prerequisite.)

Must I be enrolled at CSULB to take EDSS 300P?
Not necessarily - eventually you must apply to the university, but you may choose to enroll in EDSS 300P through University Extension. Once you decide to apply to the program to earn your credential, you will apply to CSULB to take your classes.

What GPA is required for the program?
A GPA of 2.67 is required to enter the Single Subject Credential Program. In Physical Education we look at your overall GPA as well as your GPA in upper division physical education courses. We expect you to have a 2.67 GPA in both areas. If your GPA is below 2.67 you must petition to enter the program. In most  cases, your petition is looked upon favorably if your GPA for the last 60 units of college credit is above a 2.75. Your petition is reviewed by the  KPE pedagogy faculty and the Single Subject Credential Program Petition Committee.  Students can be admitted, provisionally admitted or rejected at this point. Please note that you must have a 2.50 GPA to be admitted to the university as a post baccalaureate student. Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to the Single Subject Credential Program.

Can I take the PRAXIS/SSAT to demonstrate subject matter competency?
The KPE department currently does accept the PRAXIS or SSAT for subject matter competency.  However, our preference would be for you to earn a BS / BA degree in Physical Education from CSULB or any other California State University with a CTC-approved Physical Education Program.

What if I already have a teaching job?
Sometimes students enter our program while already teaching on an emergency permit, or begin teaching on the emergency permit while still in the program. While our preference would certainly be for you to earn a credential before entering the classroom, we understand that the teacher shortage has lured many people into the classroom before they complete a credential program. If you are already teaching and want to continue teaching you will need to earn a credential. We will do what we can to help you to do so while teaching. You should know, however, that it will take longer, and there may be difficulties along the way. You will earn your credential more slowly because you cannot complete as many classes as a full time student. Most classes are difficult to find offered at times you are available to take them. Additionally, our department has several special requirements for an emergency credential student teacher.  We require:
    * A 3.0 overall GPA,
    * You must submit a videotape of yourself teaching,
    * You must submit two letters of support from your principal and department chairperson /
           on-campus mentor,
    * You must submit a written letter explaining why we should consider allowing you to
                student teach while employed under an emergency credential,
    * Your teaching site must be approved by Dr. Hakim-Butt (reasonable sized co-ed
                classes, adequate amount of equipment, a CA framework program, etc.),
    * You must have 2 full time years of teaching physical education at your present site.

Another option would be to do your traditional student teaching over the summer at a site assigned by Dr. Hakim-Butt..  The KPE department has several special requirements for a summer student teacher:
    * A 3.0 overall GPA,
    * You must submit a videotape of yourself teaching,
    * You must submit two letters of support from your principal and department chairperson /
           on-campus mentor,
    * You must submit a written letter explaining why we should consider allowing you to
                student teach during the summer
    * You must have 1 full time year teaching physical education at your present site.
    * There must be an adequate summer sight available and a University faculty member
                available to supervise you during the summer.
    * This option is only available to those who hold teaching jobs for the following fall.

All materials must be submitted to Dr. Karen Hakim-Butt prior to the deadline to apply to student teach (October 1 for Spring and March 1 for Fall Student Teaching).  All submitted materials will be reviewed by the KPE pedagogy faculty.  We will contact you with our decision.

What if I want to teach Physical Education and Health Science?
Supplementary authorization in health sciences requires completion of the following courses:

HSC 411B    Health Science for Secondary Teachers
HSC 421       Health Behavior
HSC 425I     Human Sexuality and Sex Education
HSC 427      Drugs and Health
HSC 430       Nutrition and Health

How do I get to CSULB and your office?
From the 405 or 605 take route 22 (7th Street) West. CSULB is located on 7th Street & Bellflower Blvd. Take 7th Street to Bellflower Blvd.  Make a right on Bellflower Blvd.  Enter campus by making a right on State University Drive. Make your thrid left off State University Dr. Follow the road downhill.. There are metered parking spaces to the left of the parking lot.  After parking your car you can proceed to AS2 (keep the administration building on your right and walk through the parking lot.  When you come to the gym - keep the gym on your left.  You will see AS1 on your right - AS2 is after AS1). Directions to campus & a map of campus