Coursework
- Intern Credential Eligibility Requirements
- Course Requirements
- TaskStream
- Steps to Becoming a Teacher
- Credential Analysts
- Frequently Asked Questions
Intern Credential Eligibility Requirements
For teacher candidates with full-time teaching employment and subject-matter competence:
- 120 pre-service hours Prerequisite for intern credential English language learner pre-service requirement: Any special education teacher candidate desiring to begin an internship in the fall or spring semester must complete the special education program digital modules’ pre-service hours. This digital module will be available during fall, spring, and summer. For more information, please contact the Department of Teacher Education, Special Education Programs office.
- Proof of passage of CSET (subject-matter competence)
- Full-time public school or WASC-accredited private school contract for SPED position
- Letter on official school letterhead from administrator fully describing the assignment/position for consideration (must have prior approval by program director)
- U.S. Constitution (passage of exam or course)
- Candidates with an approved non-WASC teaching position must complete an extra 4–6 weeks of Clinical Practice in a WASC setting, as placed by the Office of Credentials and Student Placements.
Course Requirements
| Module 1 | 6 units | |
|---|---|---|
SPED 511 Language Development for All Students | 3 | |
SPED 574 Literacy and Reading Instruction for Students with Moderate/Severe Disabilities* | 3 | |
*Students must complete this course before taking the RICA. The RICA must be passed before applying for the Education Specialist Preliminary Credential.
Apply for Clinical Practice
Apply for enrollment in clinical practice by April 1 for spring and October 1 for fall as well as clearance and placement by Office of Credentials and Student Placement with master teacher. Non-interns must complete Track A requirements and interns must complete Track B requirements on the application. The Office of Credentials and Student Placement does not secure placement for contracted (intern) teaching.
| Module 2 | 6 units | |
|---|---|---|
SPED 521 Collaboration, Inclusion, Community Integration for Students with Moderate/Severe Disabilities* | 3 | |
SPED 530 Introduction to Individual Differences and Strengths-based Education | 3 | |
*Assessment fee of 1 unit automatically charged with registration of SPED 530. If course is waived, fee will be moved to another course.
Transition Plan
Candidates must meet with faculty advisor by the end of Module 2 to develop a Transition Plan.
**Candidates cannot register for this course without clearance from the Office of Credentials and Student Placements. This is a mentor-based course. Teacher candidates do not attend classes. However, clinical practice seminars may be required and held face-to-face and/or online. Teacher candidates must attend a mandatory clinical practice orientation meeting before the beginning of the clinical practice term.
| Module 4 | 7 units | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SPED 502 Diagnostic and Prescriptive Intervention for Students with Moderate/Severe Disabilities | 3 | ||||||||||
SPED 507 Assessment and IEP Development for Students with Moderate/Severe Disabilities | 3 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
*Candidates may not register for this course without clearance from the Office of Credentials and Student Placements. This is a mentor-based course without regular class sessions. TaskStream is used for verifying clinical practice. Candidates must attend a mandatory Clinical Practice Orientation meeting. Coursework is a continuation of SPED 585A/586A.
Apply for Preliminary Credential
In order to apply for the Moderate/Severe (K–12) Education Specialist Preliminary Credential, all courses, fieldwork, clinical practice, and TaskStream ePortfolio requirements, including the completion of the Transition Plan and verification of CPR (infant, child, and adult), must be met.
| Required Courses for the M.A.Ed. in Digital Teaching and Learning* | 15 units | |
|---|---|---|
EDUC 511 Essentials in Educational Technology and Learning | 1 | |
EDUC 512 Instructional Applications of Productivity Software | 3 | |
EDUC 514 Digital Video in the Classroom | 3 | |
EDUC 515 Evolving Educational Technologies | 3 | |
EDUC 522 Learning in the 21st Century | 3 | |
EDUC 526 Capstone Experience in Educational Technology and Learning | 2 | |
*A laptop is required for EDUC courses.
| Comprehensive Exam |
|---|
| Submit Intent to Graduate Form to Graduate Registrar |
|---|
| Total Units | ||
|---|---|---|
| Credential only | 27 units | |
| Both credential and master’s degree | 42 units | |
NOTE: Completion of all credential requirements, including all examinations, coursework, and other requirements, must be met before the master’s degree will be posted. An Intent to Graduate Form must be completed and fees paid by the deadlines set by the Office of the Graduate Registrar.
TaskStream
All School of Education degree, credential, and non-degree candidates must register for and establish an electronic portfolio account through TaskStream for the duration of their studies. The candidate’s electronic portfolio will be contributed to throughout the program of study and will include the course signature assignments and other key assessments as required by the candidate’s degree or credential program. The signature assignments are critical to program improvement efforts and to the School of Education’s continuing accreditation. A candidate’s final course grade for courses with a signature assignment cannot be submitted until all necessary assessments have been uploaded to TaskStream. Successful evaluation of the electronic portfolio is required for degree completion and/or recommendation for a credential to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).
Steps to Becoming a Teacher
Step 1: Successful completion of all coursework.
NOTE: Candidates must earn a B or better in all teacher education coursework. Candidates who earn a B- or below must retake the course before they can move on to the next module. For EDUC prefix coursework, candidates must maintain a B average. Provisional Program Admittance candidates must maintain a 3.0 GPA and may not receive any grade lower than a B- during the first 12 units of the program.
Step 2: Completion of each of the following program requirements:
- GPA of 2.5 or higher from an accredited university
- Verification of passage of CBEST
- U.S. Constitution requirement (course or exam)
- Verification of subject matter competency (CSET exam or completion of a state-approved subject matter program)
Please note: Once students pass a subtest of the CSET, they do not have to take that subtest again as long as they use the score to earn certification within five years of the test date on which it was achieved.
- Verification of negative results from a Mantoux TB skin test
- Completion of English Language Learner coursework or preservice training
- Continuing verification from instructors of positive dispositions characteristic of the teaching profession (emotional stability, strong interpersonal relations, good mental and physical health, and other character standards listed on the application)
- Receipt of favorable results of Certificate of Clearance
NOTE: Candidates must report any changes in character standings, including unresolved issues with the law and/or CTC to the credential analyst. Failure to do so may result in expulsion from the program.
Step 3: Successful completion of fieldwork and clinical practice. Fieldwork is required of those credential candidates who are not in contracted teaching positions. Clinical practice is met traditionally with a master teacher; however, candidates who hold contracted teaching positions will complete clinical practice in their own classrooms.
Step 4: Before applying for a preliminary credential, credential candidates must:
- Verify successful completion of CPR for infants, children and adults.
- Show mastery of all Teacher Performance Assessments as designated by CTC.
- Multiple Subject and Special Education candidates must show proof of passage of the Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA).
Step 5: Application for a credential.
- Preliminary credentials are valid for five years and are nonrenewable. Contact the credential analyst for information on applying after steps 1 through 4 are completed.
- A clear credential is obtained through a CTC-approved SB2042 Induction Program through either a California public school district or through a California university.
Credential Analysts
Credential analysts are liaisons between graduate education candidates, school districts, and California’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). They process requests for fingerprint clearance (Certificates of Clearance), and applications required to file credentials with the CTC. They review all potential candidate files as part of the admissions process. For more information, please contact (626) 815-5346.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many units do I take each semester?
Students may take no more than 9 units per nine-week term, which includes a maximum of two methods or education classes and their corequisite field experiences (if appropriate).
How long is a semester?
Each semester has two terms (Fall I and Fall II, Spring I and Spring II). Each term is nine weeks in length. The 18-week student teaching semester covers Fall I and II or Spring I and II.
How many hours does each class session require?
Each class requires that students meet for approximately 4 hours and 15 minutes, once a week. Keep in mind that class meetings may vary as you blend on-campus and online coursework to complete the program.
How many evenings per week do I attend classes?
Students meet one night a week for nine weeks, plus a Saturday final exam session. Students may or may not meet each week, depending on how on-campus and online learning is blended to cover the course material.
Does APU require theses, dissertations, or capstone projects?
Students are required to complete a thesis/capstone project for this program.
How soon can I finish this program?
While this program can be completed in one year, most working individuals finish this program in 18–24 months.
