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The Single Subject Credential Program

This program leads to a Preliminary Single Subject Credential for teaching at the secondary school setting - middle or high school. Candidates may begin in fall or spring and participate in supervised teaching practica throughout northeastern California.

Candidates are able to complete programs leading to credentials through a variety of delivery options. All candidates follow the education block system. Assigned faculty advisors assist candidates with program planning.

Subject matter preparation requirements are governed by state legislative action and approval of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Requirements may change between catalogs. Please consult with your departmental credential advisor for current information.

Admission Requirements

  • Subject-matter competence is required for program admission. Applicants can satisfy subject-matter competence by:
    • Completing a CTC-approved secondary subject-matter preparation program at CSU, Chico (verified by the subject-matter adviser in that department and sent directly to the School of Education), or
    • Completing a CTC-approved secondary subject-matter preparation program at another university (must provide an official, signed subject-matter verification from that university), or
    • Passing the California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET) in the subject area being pursued. Note: CSET results are only valid for ten years; results must be current through the entire credential program and the credential recommendation process. When completing the exams be sure to have your results sent to CSU, Chico.
  • Certificate of Clearance (fingerprint clearance) must be on file before beginning teaching practicum I.
  • A baccalaureate or higher degree, except in professional education, from a regionally accredited college or university is required in order to obtain a credential recommendation.
  • Passing status for the Basic Skills Requirement is necessary for admission to the credential program. Basic Skills covers reading, writing, and mathematics at the high-school level.
  • Credential candidates must be admitted to the University before beginning a program. Apply to Chico State as a graduate student through Cal State Apply.
  • Candidates must reside within the CSU, Chico services areas in order to complete the credential program.
  • All prerequisite courses must be completed before taking in-program credential courses.
  • Additional documentation and requirements are necessary for a complete application to the credential program. Begin the Credential Program Application to learn more.
  • Apply to the credential program during the semester you will finish the prerequisite courses. Applications due February 15 for fall semester, September 15 for spring semester. All prerequisite courses are offered every semester.

Prerequisites for Admission to the Credential Program

All prerequisite courses must be completed with grades of C- or higher prior to beginning the credential program.

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
EDTE 255 Introduction to Democratic Perspectives in K-12 Teaching   3.0 FS  
Prospective teachers acquire planned, structured observations and experiences in K-12 classrooms. Placements are made in selected schools and classrooms that demonstrate exemplary practice as described in the California Standards for the Teaching Profession and represent California's diverse student population. Dialog/discussion sessions assist prospective teachers in making connections between subject matter courses, personal, social and emotional growth, and life in the K-12 schools. Prospective teachers are encouraged to begin introductory school experiences as early as possible in the subject matter program. 3 hours lecture. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (015812)
EDTE 302 Access and Equity in Education   3.0 FS  
Prospective teachers examine socio-political issues of education relative to current demographics of California schools, integration of multicultural education, and promotion of social justice. Candidates identify, analyze, and minimize personal and institutional bias and explore the complexities of living and teaching in a pluralistic, multicultural society. Candidates identify barriers English Learners experience in becoming full participants in the school program and strategies for assisting students in overcoming these barriers. 3 hours lecture. (002977)
EDTE 530 Fundamentals of Teaching Practice for Secondary Teachers   3.0 FS  
Teaching is an intellectual challenge that involves planning, facilitating, and reflecting on the process of student learning. Teacher candidates develop strategies necessary to create safe and structured learning environments and explore relationships among curriculum, instruction, assessment, and classroom climate to meet the needs of a diverse student population within a democratic society. This is a Single Subject Program course and is not applicable to a master's degree. 3 hours seminar. ABC/no credit grading. (002935)
ENGL 471 Intensive Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition   3.0 FS  
An intensive introduction to the theory and practice of second language acquisition and teaching. 3 hours lecture. (020485)

Credential Program Courses

Must be accepted into the credential program in order to take these courses. Subject matter competence and basic skills requirement must be verified before applying to the program. Program starts in the fall and spring semesters.

Additional Courses - Required for a CSU, Chico Recommendation for a Credential

Complete at any time, but recommended before starting credential courses.

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
CMST 131 Speech Communication Fundamentals   3.0 FS  GE
Effective oral communication. Introduction to human communication theory. Practice in gathering, organizing, and presenting material in speeches to persuade, inform, and interest. 1 hour lecture, 2 hours discussion. This is an approved General Education course. (002206)
EDTE 451 Health Education for Secondary School Teachers   3.0 FS  
Addresses major health issues affecting the adolescent, including, but not limited to, health promotion and disease prevention, nutrition, substance use and abuse, and sexuality. Fulfills the state health education requirement for a preliminary teaching credential. 3 hours discussion. (004394)
EDTE 534 Teaching Special Populations   2.0 FS  
This course focuses on legal mandates and practical instructional strategies for general education instructors working with the exceptional student. Content includes the general education teachers' obligations under IDEA and ADA, the nature and range of exceptional students, models within schools for supporting special populations and selection of appropriate instructional materials and teaching strategies. The course addresses teachers' attitudes toward inclusion and emphasizes the development of a positive climate of instruction for all special populations in the general classroom. This is a Single Subject Program course and is not applicable to a master's degree. 2 hours lecture. ABC/no credit grading. (002938)
POLS 155 American Government: National, State, and Local   3.0 SMF  GE
An investigation of Who gets What, When, and How in national, state, and local politics. Also includes principles of American governmental institutions, federal systems, congress, president, and courts. Fulfills California state graduation and credential requirements for the American Constitution. (Satisfies requirement in California Administrative Code, Title 5, Section 40404.) 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. (007475)

First Semester Courses

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
EDTE 532 Literacy Development   3.0 FS  
This course examines issues of language and literacy development for first and second language learners with an emphasis on the adolescent learner. Theory and research on the effects of prior knowledge, motivation, and culture on reading and writing are addressed. Specific reading, writing, speaking, and listening strategies to support comprehension of academic content by diverse student populations are emphasized. Assessment techniques specific to literacy development are explored. The central theme of the course is helping students (grades 7-12) become strategic readers and critical consumers of information in a democratic society. 3 hours seminar. (002902)
EDTE 533 Subject Area Pedagogy I   3.0 FS  
This course assists teacher candidates in applying democratic practices to subject matter content as they develop their skills in planning, facilitating, and assessing student learning in their selected disciplines. Teacher candidates design short-term and long-term curricula to deliver content-specific instruction that is consistent with the state-adopted academic content standards and the basic principles and primary values of the underlying disciplines. They consider various instructional designs, create engaging experiences for all learners, and develop content-appropriate methods of assessing student learning. 3 hours seminar. (002937)
EDTE 535 Teaching Practicum I   6.0 FS  
Prerequisites: Admission to the Department of Education Single Subject Program and completion of Block One courses.
This first of two teaching practica provides a developmental sequence of carefully planned substantive, supervised field experiences in the 7-12 grade classroom, including opportunities to observe and apply democratic practices. Teacher candidate placements are determined through a collaborative effort of the University and colleagues in cooperating 7-12 grade schools. This course is a Single Subject Program course and is not applicable to a master's degree. 18 hours supervision. Credit/no credit grading. (002939)
EDTE 580 Educational Psychology   3.0 FS  
Prerequisites: Conditional admission to a Professional Education Program.
This course is designed to help candidates understand how students' cognitive, personal-social, and physical development, and cultural and linguistic backgrounds are related to effective teaching and interpersonal relations in secondary schools. Major segments of instruction include the study of how students learn, remember, and make use of the knowledge they have acquired and how students' educational growth is assessed in schools. Each candidate begins to use this knowledge to organize and manage a learning environment that supports student development, motivation, and learning. 3 hours seminar. (015899)
EDUC 501A Assessment of Teaching Performance: Cycle 1   1.0 FS  
This course addresses technical aspects of the teacher performance assessment CalTPA Cycle 1. Candidates learn how teaching performance assessments are evaluated. Scoring tools such as rubrics are explored. Technological topics include formatting and uploading responses, scanning documents for submission, and understanding online evaluations systems. 1 hour lecture. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 2.0 units. Credit/no credit grading. (020382)

Second Semester Courses

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
EDTE 532 Literacy Development   3.0 FS  
This course examines issues of language and literacy development for first and second language learners with an emphasis on the adolescent learner. Theory and research on the effects of prior knowledge, motivation, and culture on reading and writing are addressed. Specific reading, writing, speaking, and listening strategies to support comprehension of academic content by diverse student populations are emphasized. Assessment techniques specific to literacy development are explored. The central theme of the course is helping students (grades 7-12) become strategic readers and critical consumers of information in a democratic society. 3 hours seminar. (002902)
EDTE 533 Subject Area Pedagogy I   3.0 FS  
This course assists teacher candidates in applying democratic practices to subject matter content as they develop their skills in planning, facilitating, and assessing student learning in their selected disciplines. Teacher candidates design short-term and long-term curricula to deliver content-specific instruction that is consistent with the state-adopted academic content standards and the basic principles and primary values of the underlying disciplines. They consider various instructional designs, create engaging experiences for all learners, and develop content-appropriate methods of assessing student learning. 3 hours seminar. (002937)
EDTE 535 Teaching Practicum I   6.0 FS  
Prerequisites: Admission to the Department of Education Single Subject Program and completion of Block One courses.
This first of two teaching practica provides a developmental sequence of carefully planned substantive, supervised field experiences in the 7-12 grade classroom, including opportunities to observe and apply democratic practices. Teacher candidate placements are determined through a collaborative effort of the University and colleagues in cooperating 7-12 grade schools. This course is a Single Subject Program course and is not applicable to a master's degree. 18 hours supervision. Credit/no credit grading. (002939)
EDUC 501B Assessment of Teaching Performance: Cycle 2   1.0 FS  
This course addresses technical aspects of the teacher performance assessment CalTPA Cycle 2. Candidates learn how teaching performance assessments are evaluated. Scoring tools such as rubrics are explored. Technological topics include formatting and uploading responses, scanning documents for submission, and understanding online evaluations systems. 1 hour lecture. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 2.0 units. Credit/no credit grading. (021974)
Catalog Cycle:20