Gladys L. Benerd School of Education

Multiple Subject (Elementary Education) Credential

About the Credential

The Department of Curriculum and Instruction offers the Elementary Education (multiple subject) credential covering all the educational requirements for becoming an elementary school teacher in California.

California Basic Skills Test (CBEST)

Students must have passing scores on the California Basic Skills Test. The CBEST must be taken prior to applying to become a Credential Candidate, and must be passed prior to directed teaching (student teaching or internship).

California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET)

Students must have a passing score on the Multiple Subject Matter Examination of the CSET prior to directed teaching (student teaching or internship).

Admission Information

A bachelor's degree or higher is required for completion of a credential in California. A minimum of a 2.5 grade point average (GPA) (on a 4-point scale) in the last 60 units of an undergraduate program is required. Students with a bachelor's degree or higher must apply to the University's Graduate School.

Undergraduates at Pacific may take coursework and pass state examinations for completion of a credential during their undergraduate program.

Bilingual Emphasis in Spanish

Currently, the Multiple Subject with the Bilingual Emphasis in Spanish is an undergraduate program in the School of Education's Diversified Liberal Studies major.

United States Constitution Requirement

This state requirement of completing the U.S. Constitution requirement, for Pacific students, can be met in any one of the following ways:

• Passing one semester of United States Government and Politics at the college level (POLS 41, United States Government and Politics)
• Passing both semesters of United States History (HIST 20 and 21: United States History I and United States History II)
• Successful passing score on a United States Constitution Challenge Examination (Details are available in the Department of Political Science.There is a testing fee.)
• Successful passing score and receipt of college credit for an Advanced Placement Examination in United States History or United States Government
• Successful passing score on a United States Constitution Challenge Examination from selected community colleges

Successful Clearances of Fingerprints

The Teacher Education program has two fingerprint clearances in most instances:

1. Review of fingerprints prior to registering for prerequisite courses in teacher education that have fieldwork placements.Materials are available in Room 108, Credentials Office, Education Building . Materials are returned to Room 108 prior to registration.
2. State Certificate of Clearance: Students must apply and successfully be granted this clearance by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC); this is review of fingerprints by the Department of Justice by for the state of California.Materials and directions are found in Room 108, Credentials Office, Education Building

Students must provide clearance of TB by providing the results of the TB skin test to staff in room 108, Credentials Office, Education Building prior to registering for prerequisite courses in Teacher Education.

Required Prerequisite Content-Related Courses

(May be taken concurrently with prerequisite teacher preparation courses)

• United States Constitution (see above)
• Math 161, Elementary Concepts of Math
• Arts 131, Visual Arts in Education
• Medu 100, Music for Children
• Spts 151, Elementary Physical Education

Prerequisite Teacher Preparation Courses

(Must be completed prior to enrollment in the professional teacher education courses)

• Curr 105x, Introduction to Education, 3 units
• Epsy 121, Learner-Centered Concerns, 3 units
• Curr 134x, Educational Computing, 2 units
• Curr 130x, Teaching and Assessment, 3 units
• Curr 137x, Teaching English Learners, 3 units

Professional Teacher Education Courses

• Curr 131x, Teaching Social Studies, 2 units
• Curr 132x, Teaching Science, 2 units
• Curr 133x, Teaching Math, 2 units
• Curr 135x, Teaching Reading and Language Arts (Multiple Subject), 3 units
• Curr 136x, Literacy Assessment (Multiple Subject), 2 units

Approval for Directed Teaching (Student Teaching or Internship)

Prior to student teaching or internship, students must gainapproval to register for Directed Teaching and must have completedthe following requirements:

• CBEST must be passed.
• CSET must be passed.
• United States Constitution requirement must be completed to apply for a University Internship Credential or the Preliminary Multiple Subject Credential.
• The Reading Instruction Competency Assessment (RICA) must be passedto apply for the preliminary Multiple Subject Credential.
• All prerequisite and professional methods courses must be successfully completed with no grade lower than a "C" and a GPA of 2.5 or higher for credential, non-master's degree and non-intern students. GPA of 3.0 or higher is needed for prospective internships. An internship requires the holding of a bachelor's or higher degree and a teaching contract from a public school district in the local area.
• The Student Teacher review (STAR review) needs to be completed with the Coordinator of Credential Services.
• Students must attend a meeting with the Director of Field Experiences to prepare for directed teaching approval and registration.
• Teacher Education Program assessments, such as Embedded Signature Assignments (ESAs) and the Teaching Event of the Performance Assessmentmust for California Teachers (PACT) be successfully completed.
• Interns only: Must have approval to seek an internship; have a full-time contract from the employing district; obtain a University Memorandum of Understanding (MOU); apply for the CTC University Internship credential.
• Options:
  • Student Teaching, non-Master of Education degree:
    • Curr 158x, Directed Teaching (MS), 10 units
    • Curr 195x, Seminar: Directed Teaching, 2 units
    • Sped 125x, Teaching Exceptional Learners, 2 units
  • Internship, non-Master of Education degree:
    • Curr 158, Directed Teaching (MS: Special Assignment), 10 units
    • Curr 195x, Seminar: Directed Teaching, 2 units
    • Sped 125x, Teaching Exceptional Learners, 2 units

Application for the Preliminary Multiple Subject Credential

To apply for the preliminary Multiple Subject or Multiple Subject BCLAD Credential:

• Directed Teaching must be passed.
• Teaching Performance Expections (TPEs) must be signed by one cooperating teacher and a university supervisor.
• The Teaching Performance Assessment (TPA) and the Teaching Event (TE) must be passed.
• The RICA must be passed.
• The Bachelor's degree must be completed.

Application for a Professional Clear Credential

To obtain a Professional Clear Credential, students must obtaina teaching position, and through their district or a university-district program,complete a two-year induction program.

Beginning teacher support and assessment programming will provide additional training in content, pedagogy, health, technology, teaching English learners, teaching exceptional clearners, and assessment.

The district will recommend a preliminary credentialed teacher for the Professional Clear Credential under SB 2042 regulations. (Note: Infant, child, adult, Level B CPR certification is also required for the Professional Clear Credential.)

Additional Information

For additional information, please contact the Administrative Assistant

Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Gladys L. Benerd School of Education
3601 Pacific Ave
Stockton, CA 95211

Phone: (209) 946-2852
Fax: (209) 946-3110