Shape the Future for Secondary Students with a Master’s in Teaching and Credential

The Master of Arts in Education: Teaching and Single Subject Teaching Credential equips teachers for diverse settings at the middle and high school levels (7-12). A broad range of strategically sequenced courses blend advanced theory and methods with a context-rich, practitioner-based approach, empowering candidates to continually evaluate and improve their teaching practice. Graduates are prepared to respond creatively and collaboratively to the learning needs of all students.

Which Teaching Credential is Right for Me?

If you want to be a teacher, it’s helpful to know which credential best fits your teaching goals and the kinds of students you wish to work with. For help deciding, read more about each type of teaching credential.

Program Highlights

Whether you are looking to fortify your teaching qualifications or are making a career change from another field, this combined credential and master’s in teaching program produces educators known for their skill and compassion.

  • Strengthen your teaching qualifications in a program known for producing educators of excellence.
  • Each class meets just one night a week, providing added flexibility for working students as they earn their degree and credential.
  • Expert faculty offer comprehensive instruction grounded in a Christian worldview, creating a relevant program that enables students to make a difference in their classrooms.
  • Small class sizes create a rich learning community as students progress through the program with a cohort of peers.
Deciding Between Student Teaching and an Intern Credential

In California, students enrolled in teacher preparation programs can choose to pursue an Intern Credential or earn their credential through student teaching. These two pathways come with different expectations and requirements. Here’s what you need to know about the differences between student teaching versus an Intern Credential.

School of Education Accreditation

Azusa Pacific University receives accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). In addition, the School of Education receives accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), which is transitioning to the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), making APU one of only three private schools in California with this distinction. Further, our credential programs are accredited by California’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). Our Educational Psychology program is also accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). These notable accreditations set APU graduates apart from other candidates and ensure that your degree will be recognized throughout the United States and internationally.

University Reputation

U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges 2023 edition named Azusa Pacific to its list of top national universities and several other significant lists, including First-Year Experiences and Top Performers on Social Mobility. The Princeton Review designated APU as 1 of 126 institutions in the “Best Western Colleges” section of its 2023 Best Colleges guide. APU’s School of Nursing was named a top nursing school in California for 2023 by College Factual and Niche. APU was included as a top-100 degree producer by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). Azusa Pacific is also a Military Friendly School and Yellow Ribbon University, serving more than 500 military-connected students and families, and is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as an R2 Doctoral Research University.

Note: This information is current for the 2022-23 academic year; however, all stated academic information is subject to change. Please refer to the current Academic Catalog for more information.