Requirements for Middle School Teachers

Currently there are two options for Multiple Subject Credential holders who wish to teach mathematics at the middle school level. 

An individual who holds a Multiple Subject Credential and wants to add a Foundational-Level Mathematics credential will be required to:

1. Pass CSET I and CSET II in mathematics
2. Successfully complete a single subject pedagogy course in mathematics

San Jose State University does not currently have a Foundational Level Credential. However, once an individual has obtained a Multiple Subject Credential and has satisfied the two requirements listed above, they may apply to get the foundational credential through the State of California. 

This authorization substitutes for the Supplemental Authorization for new teachers entering the profession. A Subject Matter Authorization in Mathematics may be added to a Single Subject or Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and will authorize the holder to teach mathematics in grades 9 and below. (Note that this will enable a teacher to teach a class in which the curriculum is for grades 9 and below but the students in the class may be in grades K-12.)

An applicant will qualify for a subject matter authorization upon the completion of either of the two options below:

1. 32 semester or 48 quarter hours of non-remedial collegiate coursework in mathematics. A minimum of three semester or four quarter hours is required in each of the specific content areas below.  The balance of the units may be in any course within the subject category. 
2. A collegiate major from a regionally accredited college or university in a subject directly related to mathematics.

Required Content Areas

• Course work must be college level mathematics or higher.
• Algebra courses must be for credit, applicable towards a degree, and, if completed at the community college level, transferable to a four-year institution to be acceptable. Elementary algebra courses may not meet these requirements. If trying to use an elementary algebra course, a course description will need to be submitted to verify the acceptability.
• Since both algebra and advanced algebra are required, there are several options available to meet both areas.  The requirement is algebra content at two different levels.
  1. If an individual completes a college algebra course, the “advanced” course may be another level of algebra such as linear algebra.  An individual may not use another college algebra course, an elementary algebra course, or the same level algebra course completed at another college of university.
  2. If an individual completes a college or other level algebra course (other than elementary algebra), the “advanced” course may be a “higher” level math courses such as trigonometry or calculus.
• Courses in calculus will clear the specific course requirements (one for each content area being cleared) in algebra, advanced algebra, geometry, and development of the real number system.  The applicant must still have the required 32 units. Calculus courses will not clear the probability and statistics content area.
• If the applicant has only one or two courses in calculus and no course work in algebra, geometry, or real number systems, the applicant will need to either submit course descriptions so that it can be confirmed whether or not those areas were covered by the calculus course(s) or complete additional course work in the required content areas.
• Personal enrichment-type mathematics courses are not acceptable.
• One mathematics-based computer course is acceptable as additional units toward the required 32 units.