The Master of Arts degree: Option in Mathematics and Science Teaching provides educators with the opportunity to develop of their pedagogical skills and knowledge, build capacity for collaboration in educational contexts, access and value knowledge from multiple sources, all grounded in the pursuit of equity. This program has two objectives, the Master of Arts degree and a California Single Subject Teaching Credential in either mathematics or science. This option satisfies the requirements for both the Masters of Education degree and for a California Single Subject Teaching Credential in Mathematics or Science. The Single Subject Credential is issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The secondary education programs include courses appropriate for preservice teacher preparation in middle schools, junior high schools, senior high schools. All students will pass a comprehensive examination. This option requires a minimum of 70 units.
Admission to the Program
In addition to university requirements for admission to graduate study, applicants must have a 3.0 or higher grade point average in their last 90 quarter (or 60 semester) units attempted, have met all of the requirements for the Los Angeles Urban Teacher Residency Program, and unless a waiver is approved by the dean of the College of Natural and Social Science, candidates for admission must have successfully completed 12 units of upper division courses in math, science, statistics or engineering.
Single Subject Credential (Secondary Teaching)
The teaching credential with authorization in Single Subject Instruction qualifies holders to teach in their authorized field at any grade level, preschool, kindergarten, and grades 1 through 12, or in classes organized primarily for adults. Eleven categories of Single Subject Instruction are defined by state legislation as follows: Agriculture, Art, Business, English, Health Science, Industrial and Technological Education, Languages (including, but not limited to, Chinese, French, German, Russian, and Spanish), Natural Science (Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Geoscience or Physics), Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, and Social Science. This program and option will focus only on Mathematics and Natural Science.
Students considering pursuing a Single Subject Credential are urged to obtain advisement at the start of the program from faculty advisers in their academic area and in secondary education. Candidates may enroll in programs leading to the preliminary/clear credential (see an adviser about admission requirements and enrollment limitations).
Credential Requirements
Applicants must satisfy the following criteria to qualify for the university-recommended credential:
• A Bachelor’s degree from regionally accredited college or university.
• Passing score on CBEST.
• Formal admission to credential program including attaining a GPA of 3.00 in the last 90 quarter units of coursework, completing EDCI 300 Requirements or acceptable alternative, EDFN 413 or acceptable alternative, and PS 456 or 457 or acceptable alternative; complete professional education requirements given below. See admission to Credential Program and Single Subject Credential (Secondary Teaching) Directed Teaching information earlier in this chapter.
• Verification of completion of a commission-approved subject matter program by subject-area department (see listings in undergraduate study chapter) or passing score on CTC-approved subject matter assessments.
• Pass UNIV 400, The writing proficiency examination (WPE), or acceptable alternative by petition
• Fulfill the U.S. Constitution requirement
• Pass the Teaching Performance Assessment (TPA)
• Complete Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training
