Preliminary Single Subject

Program Overview

The MSMU Preliminary Single Subject Credential Program prepares individuals to teach grades 6-12 or a single subject across all levels (TK-12) in California. The program emphasizes social justice, inclusiveness, and leadership, and includes coursework, supervised teaching, and professional preparation courses. Graduates earn a California Preliminary Single Subject teaching credential and may also pursue an optional Master of Science in Education degree.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

• Objective: Prepare individuals to teach 6th to 12th grade (Secondary) or one subject matter across all levels (TK-12) as licensed teachers in California.
• Focus: Social justice, inclusiveness, and leadership in Secondary Teacher Preparation.
• Outcomes: California Preliminary Single Subject teaching credential and optional Master of Science in Education degree.
• Approval: California Commission on Teacher Credentialing under SB 2042 standards.
• Emphasis: Cycle of planning, teaching, and reflecting to provide rigorous academic learning for all students.
• Commitment: Working with diverse student populations in urban settings and making the best choices for their students.

Outline:

• Coursework: Grounded in the California Standards for the Teaching Profession.
• Structure: Carefully constructed to build upon each other.
• Professional Preparation Courses: Early fieldwork in exemplary teachers' classrooms, supervised teaching, collaboration with Mount Saint Mary's University associated schools.
• Content: Diversity & Schools, School & Society, Teaching English Learners, Introduction to Exceptional Learners, Typical and Atypical Child & Adolescent Development, Principles of Secondary Education, Content Area Modules, Principles of Secondary Curriculum, Content-Based Reading Instruction, TPA Lab I & II.
• Supervised Teaching: Elementary Fieldwork, Supervised Teaching Culminating Seminar.
• Prerequisite Courses: 9.5 units total.
• Supervised Teaching: 3-11 units total.
• Professional Preparation Courses: 13 units total.
• Additional Requirements: 5 units total.

Assessment:

• State assessment: Teacher Performance Assessment embedded in supervised teaching.
• Optional Master's degree assessment: Requirements not specified.

Teaching:

• Methods: Theory and practice infused throughout the courses.
• Unique approaches: In-depth coursework, focus on general education teacher preparation, training to effectively teach all students, particularly those with special needs.

Careers:

• Potential career paths: Secondary teacher, subject-specific teacher (depending on chosen subject).
• Opportunities: Work in diverse urban school settings.
• Outcomes: Prepare students for successful teaching careers and make a positive impact on students' lives.

Other:

• Program contact: Dr. Loretta Johnson-Smith, Director of Secondary Education (213.477.2620).
• Course descriptions and major requirements: Mount Saint Mary's University Catalog.
• **Program requirements are subject to change without notice.

• **Contact the department for more information.