Single Subject Credential

Most students in our program enroll in the Traditional Option. Students may choose to focus student teaching at one school in a yearlong experience through the Residency Program, or divide their student teaching at a different schools for each of the two semesters, for variety in school setting or grade levels. The majority of students who choose the Traditional Option usually enroll full-time (14-17 units per semester) and complete the program in three semesters (12-18 months, depending on which term you start).

Students have the option of starting the program part-time. The Part-Time pathway begins with 2-3 semesters of part-time study (6-7 units each semester) and transitions to a second year (2 semesters) of full-time study (14-17 units each semester) to complete Phase I and II Student Teaching.

Our Master of Arts Teaching (MAT) degree program, prepares students to engage in social justice teaching practices, contribute to the development of cultural literacy, provide education that promotes democracy, and develop content knowledge expertise to teach in urban and suburban schools. Students who enroll in our Single Subject Credential Program can also earn our MA in Teaching by completing an additional research requirement and culminating experience requirement, consisting of a project or portfolio. Completing the MAT degree can be done concurrently with the credential within the 3 semester (12-18 months).

Our Critical Bilingual Authorization Pathway (CBAP), Bilingüismo y Justicia, prepares teachers to obtain an authorization to serve in dual immersion or bilingual school settings in California. The pathway specializes candidates in pedagogy, practices, and ability to identify linguistic assets and potential for students and empowers candidates to be changemakers in their own context. Students have the option to earn a Bilingual Authorization in Spanish, Mandarin, or Vietnamese.

Our Intern Pathway is designed for individuals who have successful prior experience with lead-teaching in a K-12 classroom and who seek an alternative pathway to earning their preliminary credential. The Intern pathway provides qualified candidates who are offered a teaching position an opportunity to complete the credential program as a contracted (paid) teacher under an Internship Credential. Intern candidates receive support from a university field supervisor and an on-site coach from the school while completing their credential coursework.

- For new students, this is a 4-5 semester program of study, depending on MA options.

- For current students who are completing their final phase of student teaching, they will complete the program over 1-2 additional semesters, depending on MA options.

Our Ethnic Studies Teacher Residency Pathway is a yearlong student teaching placement at a single school site and enables residents to:

- Develop yearlong relationships with their students
- Work with the same mentor teacher for the year
- Experience the entire curriculum in the placement classroom
- Finish our credential program in as few as 13 months
- Earn up to $10,000 in funding from CSU Residency scholarships and CTC Residency grants 

To qualify for the Ethnic Studies Residency Program, you must be earning a Social Sciences credential and starting your student teaching in the Fall. You apply internally in the semester prior to starting student teaching.

- Your Subject Matter Competency (SMC) will be determined at your Subject Area Coordinator appointment. 

Transcript Review: Your transcripts will be evaluated to determine completion of appropriate major, teacher preparation waiver program, coursework and/or which CSET exams you need to pass, if any. If you do not have SMC via coursework, you may have the option of taking additional required coursework or earning passing scores on the required CSET exams in your subject area.

- Your advisor will forward your SMC Report to the Department of Teacher Education. This required document must be signed by your Subject Area Advisor in order to be admitted into the credential program. This document is also reviewed by the SJSU Credential Services office as part of your credential application.

You will be interviewed through the Subject Area. Application Interviews assess your dispositions toward the teaching profession and also screen for English oral language proficiency. Be prepared to discuss relevant experience, qualities, and interest in education. During your interview, you may be asked to do a writing task as part of your holistic application.

If your English oral language proficiency is not at the mid-level advanced as defined by the ACTFL, you may be called in for further screening or advised to seek additional experience.

Go to the Cal State Apply website, select the term you are applying for at the top of the page, and create your account. Apply for the Single Subject Credential Program in CalState Apply. Our credential program includes the Master's in Teaching (MAT) degree, which you earn simultaneously alongside earning your credential.

- If you intend to apply for the combined Credential/Masters program, please search for and indicate the credential program as this refers to the combined program. Be sure your extended profile indicates teaching credential NOT graduate as your degree goal. You may opt out of the MAT degree if desired, once you are enrolled.

- If you have any trouble with navigating your CalState Apply application, please contact grad-admissions@sjsu.edu.

- If you have questions about admission documents or requirements, read step 3 below or email teacher-education@sjsu.edu.

Applicants should receive an email from SJSU confirming that your application has been received approximately 1 week after your CalState Apply online application is submitted. Once you receive that confirmation email, you will receive an SJSU ID number and access to your MySJSU account and email.

Official transcripts must be received by Graduate Admissions by the 20th day of the month of your application deadline. Please request your transcripts just prior to or when you submit your application. 

If your university offers official electronic transcripts, we will accept this method of delivery. Please direct your university to email the electronic transcript to etranscript@sjsu.edu.

All mailed transcripts must be sealed and unopened to be accepted as official documents. Transcripts sent by mail should be sent to:

Graduate Admissions and Program Evaluations
San José State University
One Washington Square
San Jose, CA 95192-0017

SJSU students are not required to submit SJSU transcripts with your application.

International Applicants: Please see International Steps to Admission and SJSU International Student Success Center for additional advising or support.

If you have any questions regarding these instructions, please contact SJSU Graduate Admissions. 

The Basic Skills Requirement must be met at the time of application. Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education to serve as demonstration of basic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics. International transcripts must be evaluated by WES (preferred), ACEI, or ECE, and the evaluation must determine that the degree is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution. 

There are 3 steps to obtaining your Certificate of Clearance (COC). Do not wait until the last minute to request this item, as it can take weeks for the CTC to issue.

Step 1 | Live Scan Service

- Visit https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/locations for Live Scan Service locations. Live Scan Services may also be available at the SJSU Police Department. Call (408) 924-2172. 

- Print three copies of the Request for Live Scan Service form [form 41-LS] and take it with you to your Live Scan appointment.

- You must have a dedicated Live Scan that goes to the Commission on Teaching Credentialing--fingerprinting done for other organizations or districts is not transferable.

Step 2 | Certificate of Clearance Application

- After you’ve completed your Live Scan, complete and submit the CTC Online Application for the Certificate of Clearance (CoC). The fee for a CoC application is payable by credit card only.

- When your CoC is issued, you will receive an email. You can view and download the document on the CTC website. 

Step 3 | Upload Your Certificate of Clearance

Upload a PDF of the granted Certificate of Clearance to your Cal State Apply application.

Notes:

- An emergency sub permit or Child Development permit may be submitted in lieu of the Certificate of Clearance, as long as you ensure the department always has a current, valid copy.

- In order to get a Certificate of Clearance, you must have a US Social Security or Tax Identification Number. If you are not sure whether or not it is possible for you to obtain one of those based on your current visa status, please contact SJSU International Student and Scholar Services by email at global-students@sjsu.edu or see Recruitment Events for information regarding drop-in advising sessions.

- SB 695 confirms that an applicant does not need to disclose citizenship or immigration status for purposes of licensure, and may not be denied certification based solely on his or her citizenship status or immigration status. Applicants without a social security number may use an ITIN (Tax ID number) to apply for their Certificate of Clearance, and later their credential. (9/27/18)

- In addition to the required Certificate of Clearance, most school districts also require a district-level clearance prior to student teaching. Candidates may not begin their field placement without having both CCTC and, if required, district-level clearance.

- A copy of your Livescan Fingerprinting receipt is not accepted, as this is only Step 1 of getting this document.

Prepare a one-page resume that details your college-level academic, employment, and volunteer experiences. For each position you held, highlight the duties you performed and any accomplishments you achieved. Upload your resume as a PDF.

Your essay should be 1-2 pages in length, double spaced, and 12 font type. Choose 1 prompt.

Prompt 1: Explain how you arrived at your decision to become a teacher. Consider what experiences have influenced you to pursue this path and content area, and how they have shaped your view of yourself as an educator.

Prompt 2: Consider the mission, vision and core principles of our program. How would you envision enacting this mission and vision in your teaching?  What personal experiences, if any, do you have that relate to the mission, vision, and core principles?

- If you are applying for the Critical Bilingual Authorization Program, you must provide a second personal statement written in Spanish about why you want to be a bilingual teacher in particular. If you are applying for the Mandarin or Vietnamese Bilingual Authorization, you must provide a second personal statement written in English about why you want to be a bilingual teacher in particular.

Subject Matter Competency is required by the admission deadline.

- Subject Matter Competency is usually demonstrated by your undergraduate majors, prep for teaching programs, coursework or by passing the CSETs in the appropriate subject area. 

- Your Subject Area Coordinator will evaluate your subject matter competency, most likely at the appointment. Our Credential Services office can validate waiver programs from other universities.

- If using CSETs, PDF verifications of your passing scores for all of your CSET subtests must be submitted at the time of application, even if you have already submitted them to your subject area coordinator. The list of CSET subtests is available on the CTC website. Visit our Test Preparation Resources webpage for resources to prepare for passing various CSET exams.

Two (2) letters of recommendation are needed for the department application. These letters must be from people in a supervisory role who have known you in a professional or educational setting. Letters must speak to your ability to work with people (particularly youth), your work ethic, your intellectual capabilities, or other characteristics pertinent to teaching. Letters should be on letterhead, if possible.

- This step is located in the “Recommendations” tab of your Cal State Apply application. Once you list your recommenders, an email will be sent to them with a link where they can upload their letters.

- Use an early deadline for your letters of recommendation to be submitted. The earlier the deadline you use, the better. In contacting your recommenders to ask them to write a letter, include the name of the name of the program you are applying for at San Jose State University - Single Subject Teaching Program. Letters can be addressed to "Teacher Education Admissions Committee."

- Recommendations which are requested from within CalState Apply will be connected to your application once they come in. It is highly recommended that you wait until your letters are there before submitting your application. Once you submit your Cal State Apply application, however, you cannot go back and request more recommendations.

- You can submit up to 4 letters of recommendation within CalState Apply, but only 2 are required.

Spring 2026 applicants and beyond: field experience hours are now required.  

Field experience refers to hours teaching, subbing, volunteering, or observing in a public school or working with youth in another setting. Experience should be within the last 5 years. Courses that have a field experience component may meet this requirement. 

- Field Experience Documentation Form

- You may contact any California public school and let them know that you are applying to the SJSU Single Subject Credential Program and need to complete your observation hours of Field Experience.

- If you do not have any experience in a public school classroom, you may list alternate experiences. Alternate experiences may include working with children in private school, after school programs, outdoor education, etc.