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What
if I want to teach math and science?
If you want to teach
math and science you will need to take additional math courses (20 units).
A supplementary credential in mathematics only allows you teach through
9th grade. If you want to teach math in grades 10-12 you will need to earn
a full math credential. The requirements to teach K-9 math are 32 units.
Please see the math department to learn which courses are required as part
of the 32 units.
NOTE --- Supplemental authorization still exists, but a supplemental credential (20 units) does not qualify you to teach the subject area under No Child Left Behind. In order to teach a math you need 32 units of coursework in math or you must pass the CSET exams. There is a foundational level math authorization (first 2 exams) or full authorization (all 3 exams).
What
if I want to teach science and health science?
Supplementary authorization
in health sciences requires completion of the following courses:
HSC 411B Health Science for Secondary TeachersNOTE --- Supplemental authorization MAY change. With the new federal legislation (No Child Left Behind) the definition of a "highly qualified" teacher is coming under increased scrutiny. It MAY mean that the state will no longer offer supplemental authorizations. This MIGHT mean that you can only add a second authorization as a full add-on (i.e. full subject matter competence via coursework or test). I will provide you with more information about this when I know more.
HSC 421 Health Behavior
HSC 425I Human Sexuality and Sex Education
HSC 427 Drugs and Health
HSC 430 Nutrition and Health
EDSS 450D Curriculum Methods - Teaching Health Science (offered fall semesters only)
What
GPA is required for the program?
A GPA of 2.67 is
required to enter the single subject credential program. In science we
look at your overall GPA as well as your GPA in upper division science
courses. We expect you to have a 2.67 GPA in both areas. If your GPA is
below 2.67 you must petition for program admission. 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 Science
Education Department 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 an exam to demonstrate subject matter competency?
As of Fall 2001,
CSULB began accepting the state approved tests for subject matter competency.
That means you have a few choices as to how you will demonstrate subject
matter competency. You can do our waiver program (see
a list of required courses for each science discipline) or you can
take the state approved tests. As of January 2003 California no longer
accepts the PRAXIS and SSAT exams for subject matter competence.
(If you've already passed them your scores are good for 5 years. Folks
who have not passed them will not take them.) The new test, CSET, is the
state approved examination for demonstrating subject matter competence.
The Orange County Department of Education offers CSET preparation classes. Contact Joan Neumann (714-966-4156 jneumann@ocde.us) for details of visit the website (www.ocde.k12.ca.us).
WAIVER PROGRAM:All students must also take a basic skills test (CBEST). Passing CBEST scores are good for life. (CSET scores are only good for 5 years). You can take a practice CBEST test on-line at http://www.testprepreview.com/cbest_practice.htm
The set of classes for each credential has been approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Students do not need to take their science coursework at CSULB but must take all the courses on the list prior to earning a credential. Our waiver program is under review and a new listing of courses will come into effect by July 1, 2005. Students admitted into the current program will have until July 1, 2009 to complete the program. You do not need to take all of your classes at CSULB. Courses taken at other institutions will "count" as long as they are equivalent to courses at CSULB. To find out what classes are equivalent you can visit http://www.assist.org/ This website allows you to select universities and departments to find classes which articulate (count) at CSULB.CSET:
Starting January 2003 students can take the CSET exam to demonstrate subject matter competence. There are two general science exams and one subject specific exam. You must pass all three in order to become subject matter competent. You do not need to take all three in the same sitting and you may take the exams more than once. Your test scores are good for 5 years. (This means 5 years from the time you pass the first segment of any exam.)You still must take the professional education courses for the credential. The lists above show you how you can demonstrate subject matter competency only.
What
sorts of financial aid or scholarship packages are available?
There are a variety
of scholarships, loans and grants available for prospective teachers. The
College of Education has information about the Cal T grant and others.
Visit them for paperwork.
What
if I already have a teaching job?
Sometimes students
enter our program while already teaching on an emergency permit or intern
credential. Others begin teaching 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. Sometimes classes are
difficult to find offered at times when you are available to take them.
This is especially true of upper division science courses. Whenever possible
we offer classes at times conducive to teachers. But the reality is that
science classes and their labs tend to be more difficult to arrange in
the evenings and summers.
When it comes time to student teach you will need to petition to use your job for student teaching. It is not automatic that we will grant the petition. Several criteria must be met. Be sure to speak with the Credential Advisor well in advance of the student teaching semester.
How
does student teaching work?
Student teaching
is a full time, 20 week commitment. Once you have completed all your
course work (both science and professional education) you will enroll
in 15 units of student teaching during a single semester and its associated
seminar. You are expected to be at the school all day long. Most science
students are placed in both a middle school and a high school for their
student teaching experience. Most will teach one section at middle school
and two classes at the high school. (That assignment can be rearranged
to include two middle school and one high school class.) You will ultimately
be responsible for creating lessons, teaching classes and grading student
work. You are expected to be at the school all day long. 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 university supervisors (at least six times by each of your supervisors). Faculty will be assigned to visit you in both schools. 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. Henriques or the Single Subject Office to find out more about this option. If the application to use your job for student teaching is successful you could complete student teaching on an Emergency Permit or as an Intern.
If a student fails or withdraws from Student Teaching he/she may petition to re-enroll in student teaching in a subsequent semester. In virtually all cases, there will be additional stipulations put on students in this situation. We do this to increase the likelihood of success the second time. Students in this situation are usually prohibited from using a job for student teaching, especially the first year of the job. Again, see Dr. Henriques for details.
Deadlines to apply for student teaching are firm. Those students wishing to student teach during fall semester will apply no later than March 1st the previous semester. Those wishing to student teach during spring semester will apply no later than October 1st the previous semester. In order to get an application to student teach you must attend a "student teaching application meeting". This is the only way to get a student teaching application. You must be fully subject matter competent when you apply to student teach. To find a listing of dates and locations for student teaching application meetings visit the SSCP Credential Website.
How
do I find a job?
There are many resources
available to help you with the job search.
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. Enter
campus on West Campus Drive (next to the large, electronic message sign).
Make your first right off West Campus. Follow the road around the Education
Building to the stop sign. There are metered parking spaces to the left
of the stop sign or straight through the stop sign. An information booth
is located to your left. After parking your car you can proceed to ED1
(the buildings you just drove around) if you want to go to the Single Subject
Office (ED1-54) or you can proceed north to FO5. To get to FO5 you will
walk away from 7th Street. You will pass by open fields. The first large
building on your right will be Peterson Hall 1. Walk past that and turn
right. FO5 is between Peterson Hall 1 (PH1) and Peterson Hall 2 (PH2).
It is a small two story building. My office is FO5-131. Directions
to campus & a map of campus