Credential Programs, page 2
School of Education

Teaching Credentials

The Metropolitan Teacher Education Program is a California Commission on Teacher Credentialing approved program for preparing professional educators for service largely in urban, suburban and ethnic neighborhoods within California. It is the intention of the USC School of Education to encourage the development of research and instruction with an emphasis on the metropolitan context. USC's credential programs for Multiple and Single Subject Teaching have been developed around this theme. These credential programs can be initiated at the undergraduate or graduate level.

Two types of Single and Multiple Subject Credentials are issued: Preliminary and Professional Clear. The Preliminary Credential is issued to a candidate for a period of up to five years. The undergraduate program at USC is structured so that the Preliminary Credential may be earned at the end of the senior year. Within five years of receiving the Preliminary Credential, the holder must complete additional course requirements to qualify for the Professional Clear Credential. The Professional Clear Credential must be renewed every five years to continue teaching in California.

Entering as an Undergraduate: Multiple and Single Subject Teaching Credentials with or without CLAD Emphasis

Persons who wish to pursue work leading to USC recommendation for a teaching credential must first gain admission to the university. Once admission has been verified, the student should seek program advisement from staff in the School of Education, Teacher Education, Waite Phillips Hall 1001.

Requirements: Multiple Subjects

Please refer to Bachelor of Science in General Studies.

General Education Requirements:
Single Subject

The Single Subject Credential Program follows general education requirements for the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

Major Requirements: Single Subject

Students must establish competency in a content field by completing the university required Subject Matter Competency Program courses or by passing the Praxis exam for the subject in one of the academic majors listed below.
(213) 740-
Art*WAH 1042787
ChemistryLJS 2697022
Chinese*THH 2263707
Earth ScienceSCI 1173551
EnglishHSS 2011980
French*THH 126F3170
German*THH 4022797
History-Social ScienceSOS 2531657
JapaneseTHH 2263707
BiologyAHF 107C2777
MathematicsDRB 2922400
Music*WPH 3023222
PhysicsSGM 4101144
Spanish*THH 128L1271
*These departments have a state-approved Subject Matter Competency Program. Program proposals in English, history-social science, and science are being reviewed. Check with Teacher Education Advisement, WPH 1001, regarding program availability.

Professional Studies Requirements: Single Subject

Freshman YearUnits
CTSE 130Introduction to Curriculum Frameworks
(1 unit or examination)
Sophomore YearUnits
CTSE 203Teaching and Learning in School Settings 4
Junior YearUnits
CTSE 409Foundations of Language Education 3
CTSE 410Teaching of Reading and Writing 4
Senior YearUnits
CTSE 414Learning and Evaluation 2
CTSE 450abCurriculum and Methods in
Secondary Education 3-3
CTSE 451abObservation and Directed Teaching in
the Secondary School, or
CTSE 473abMethods and Directed Teaching: Art Education, or
CTSE 474abDirected Teaching: Public School Music 4-4
Each student must meet the following requirements before enrolling in the Directed Teaching courses:

(1) 80% completion of a state-approved Subject Matter Competency Program leading to the MST or SST credential or a passing score on the MSAT (Multiple Subjects Assessment for Teachers) or Praxis.

(2) Successful completion of CTSE 130, 203, 409 and 410; and HIST 200 or GEOG 222.

(3) An overall pass on the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST). The CBEST must be taken prior to enrollment in CTSE 410. Information may be obtained from the USC Testing Bureau, telephone (213) 740-7166.

(4) References from three professional studies instructors.

(5) A cumulative grade point average of 2.75 (A = 4.0).

(6) A Certificate of Clearance.

(7) Verification of tuberculosis skin test or chest X-ray.

(8) An interview with the Admissions Committee.

Professional Clear Credential Requirements

For completion of the Professional Clear Credential Program, a fifth year of course work is required in order to be recommended to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

The requirements are admission to the master's program, CTSE 432, 533, 565 and 593ab and 14 additional units of graduate study in education, approved in advance by the advisor. Certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is also required.

Admission for the master's program credential requires a 3.0 grade point average (A = 4.0) and submittal of Graduate Record Examinations scores.

Credential Applications

Credential application materials must be completed toward the end of the semester in which all requirements will be met. Application materials may be obtained from and submitted directly to the Office of Student Services, Waite Phillips Hall 803.

Entering as a Graduate: Multiple and Single Subject Teaching Credentials with or without CLAD Emphasis

Graduate students who enter the USC Metropolitan Teacher Education Program to complete a Multiple or Single Subject Teaching Credential must have completed a bachelor's degree at an accredited college or university, achieved an overall "pass" on the California Basic Educational Skills Test, submitted results of the Graduate Record Examinations General Test, and submitted a graduate application to USC for admission to the master's degree program.

Admission to the master's program requires a 3.0 grade point average.

General Education and Academic Major Requirements

Students entering the elementary track will have fulfilled the general education and major requirements if they have passed the Multiple Subjects Assessment for Teachers (MSAT) or have completed an approved subject matter competency program at an accredited college or university.

Students entering the secondary education track, or the Single Subject Teaching program, must either pass the Praxis Series Subject Examination or have completed the required courses in a state-approved Subject Matter Competency Program for: art, biology, chemistry, Chinese, earth science, English, French, German, history-social science, Japanese, mathematics, music, physics or Spanish. Advisement for these programs at USC is the same as that listed for undergraduates (see Major Requirements: Single Subject).
Required coursesUnits
CTSE 409Foundations of Language Education3
CTSE 432Use of Instructional Technology in Curriculum2
CTSE 503Teaching and Learning in U.S. Schools4
CTSE 533Student Health and Welfare4
CTSE 565Participation of Exceptional Students in Regular
School Programs4
EDPT 540Introduction to Educational Measurement
and Evaluation3
Directed teaching experience for Multiple Subject TeachingUnits
CTSE 548abCurriculum and Methods for Teaching
Multiple Subjects4-4
CTSE 549abObservation and Directed Teaching in
Multiple Subjects4-4
Directed teaching experience for Single Subject TeachingUnits
CTSE 550ab**Curriculum and Methods for Teaching
Single Subjects4-4
CTSE 551ab**Observation and Directed Teaching in
Single Subjects4-4
CTSE 473ab*Methods and Directed Teaching: Art Education, or
CTSE 474ab*Directed Teaching: Public School Music4-4
*Art students take only CTSE 473ab; music students take only CTSE 474ab.

**Students in subject areas other than art or music take CTSE 550ab and CTSE 551ab.

Each student must meet the following requirements before enrolling in the Directed Teaching courses:

(1) Current enrollment in the M.S.Ed. degree program.

(2) Completion of a USC Subject Matter Competency program, a passing score on the Multiple Subjects Assessment for Teachers (MSAT) or a passing score on the Praxis Series Subject Examination.

(3) Successful completion of CTSE 503 or CTSE 538 or evidence of course work in multiculturalism, and a course or examination on the U.S. Constitution.

(4) An overall pass on the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST).

(5) References from two professional studies instructors.

(6) A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (A = 4.0).

(7) A Certificate of Clearance.

(8) Verification of tuberculosis skin test or chest X-ray.

(9) An interview with the Admissions Committee.

Entering as an Undergraduate or Graduate: Bilingual CLAD Emphasis

Persons who wish to obtain authorization for teaching in a bilingual classroom must meet the following requirements:

(1) Complete a program for the Multiple or Single Subject Credential with a CLAD Emphasis.

(2) Complete one semester of directed teaching in a bilingual classroom.

(3) Complete CTSE 548 or 549, and 560.

(4) Pass the state's language examination in Spanish or Chinese.

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Produced by the USC Division of Student Affairs, Office of University Publications, May 1, 1995
Joye Day
day@mizar.usc.edu