Secondary Education: Preliminary Credential Program

This program meets subject-matter and professional requirements to prepare students to teach in secondary schools (middle school and senior high).

Program Admission Requirements

A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning or in exceptional cases, as part of an approved B.A./B.S. subject-matter program at Cal Poly Humboldt. The credential program application and admission requirements are available on the School of Education: Credential Programs website and at the Education & Credentialing Office (HGH 202). Orientation sessions that explain the application process are offered each fall, beginning in late September.

Program Requirements (38 units)

Credential requirements are subject to change due to action by the state legislature, the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, or the CSU Office of the Chancellor. The coordinator has current information on changes and the ways they affect programs.

Candidates must maintain a B average (with no grade lower than a C-) to remain in the program.

Obtain a preliminary credential by taking a 38-unit professional education program to qualify for teaching positions including teaching English language learners. Courses required for the single subjects (secondary education) preliminary credential must be taken in sequence.

First Semester (19.5 Units)

During the fall semester candidates will be evaluated by their mentor teacher, supervisor, and both discipline-specific and education faculty in terms of their academic abilities and suitability for entering the teaching profession.

SED 708 - Teacher Performance Assessment Units: 0.5
SED 711 - Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Units: 1
SED 712 - Teaching and Learning in Secondary Schools Units: 2
SED 713 - Classroom Management Units: 1
SED 714 - Educational Psychology Units: 2
SED 715 - Multicultural Education Units: 2
SED 717 - Service Learning in a Multicultural Setting Units: 1
SED 730 - Bilingual/ELD Theory and Methods Units: 3
SED 743 - Content Area Literacy Units: 3
SED 762 - Supervised Fieldwork in Student Teaching Units: 1-3 (2 units required)

Secondary Curriculum Instruction

Complete one course (2 units).

SED 731 - Secondary Curriculum Instruction: Art Units: 2
SED 733 - Secondary Curriculum Instruction: English/Language Arts Units: 2
SED 734 - Secondary Curriculum Instruction: Modern Language Units: 2
SED 737 - Secondary Curriculum Instruction: Math Units: 2
SED 738 - Secondary Curriculum Instruction: Music Units: 2
SED 739 - Secondary Curriculum Instruction: Physical Education Units: 2
SED 740 - Secondary Curriculum Instruction: Science Units: 2
SED 741 - Secondary Curriculum Instruction: Social Studies Units: 2

Second Semester (18.5 Units)

During the spring semester, candidates spend the entire day in a local school, as any other teacher would. Many candidates find it difficult to hold part-time jobs or take substantial additional coursework during full-time student teaching.

SED 709 - Teacher Performance Assessment Support Units: 1.5
SED 767 - Student Teaching Secondary Education Units: 14
SED 776 - Teaching in Inclusive Classrooms Units: 2

Secondary Seminars

Complete one seminar (1 unit).

SED 744 - Secondary Seminar: Art Units: 1
SED 746 - Secondary Seminar: English Units: 1
SED 747 - Secondary Seminar: Modern Language Units: 1
SED 749 - Secondary Seminar: Industrial Technology Units: 1
SED 750 - Secondary Seminar: Math Units: 1
SED 751 - Secondary Seminar: Music Units: 1
SED 752 - Secondary Seminar: Physical Education Units: 1
SED 753 - Secondary Seminar: Science Units: 1
SED 754 - Secondary Seminar: Social Studies Units: 1

Supplementary/Subject Matter Authorizations

Students may add additional subjects to their credential through coursework (as supplementary/subject matter authorizations) or by passing CSET examinations and taking methods courses in additional subject areas. The department office has the specific requirements.

Professional Clear Credential

An induction program is the preferred route to clear an SB 2042 preliminary credential. Locally, Cal Poly Humboldt collaborates with the North Coast Beginning Teacher Project to support new teachers being inducted into the profession.

Program Leader

Heather Ballinger
Harry Griffith Hall 207
707-826-5822

heather.ballinger@humboldt.edu