Subject Matter Competency

California Education Code requires that all candidates for a teaching credential must demonstrate they are proficient in the subject matter area of their intended credential.  Action by the Governor and the Legislature on AB 130 (Chapter 44, Statutes of 2021) has expanded the ways in which candidates may demonstrate subject matter proficiency.  

For teh Education Specialist Credential Program (ESCP), subject matter competency may be demonstrated through either the Multiple Subject Pathways or through any one of the Single Subject Credential pathways as listed below:  

1) Completion of a subject matter program approved by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. At CSULB, our Liberal Studies program is the approved Elementary Subject Matter Program.  We also have many approved Single Subject Subject Matter Preparation Programs.  
 
2) Passage of the California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET). For Multiple Subject, candidates must pass the CSET Multiple Subject Subtest 101, 214 and 225. For Single Subject, candidates must pass all required subtest for any of the areas that a Single Subject Credential is offered.   

3) Successful completion of a baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with the following, as applicable: 

  • For multiple subject credential candidates, a baccalaureate or higher degree in Liberal Studies, Liberal Arts or Elementary Education.
  • For single subject candidates, baccalaureate or higher degree in an academic major that is an EXACT match to the title of the subject matter in the credential:  
    • Art 
    • English 
    • World Language (in any of the languages for which there is a credential) 
    • Health Science 
    • Mathematics, Applied Mathematics or Statistics
    • Music  
    • Physical Education 
    • Science
      • For Biological Science: an academic degree major in Biology, Biological Science, Biological Engineering or Biochemistry
      • For Chemistry: an academic degree major in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or Biochemistry
      • For Geoscience: an academic degree major in Geoscience, Geology or Earth Science
      • For Physics: and academic degree major in Physics, Applied Physics,Mechanical Engineering or Structural Engineering
      • For Foundational-Level Science: an academic degree major in any type of engineering or any degree major offered by a college or university science department.
    • Social Science 
    • Also acceptable: Applied majors (e.g., Applied Mathematics, Applied Physics) and exact majors in one of the single subject areas that may have additional modifiers (e.g., Biology: Environmental Biology; Art: Art History; and Physical Education: Kinesiology). 

4) Through completion of coursework aligned with the subject matter domains. Multiple Subject candidates wishing to use this option must request an evaluation from the Department of Liberal Studies. Evaluations are only available to current CSULB students that are enrolled in the ESCP pre-requisite courses. 

Single Subject candidates may view the coursework domain requirements on the SSCP Subject Matter Competency website. 

5) Through a combination of coursework and CSET exams. Candidates may mix and match coursework and CSET exams. For more information on how to request an evaluation for satisfying one or more of the CSET subtests via coursework, see the Department of Liberal Studies website or the SSCP Subject Matter Competency website.