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Application Requirements
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THE FOLLOWING LIST OF PRE-REQUISITES MUST BE COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED IN ORDER FOR YOU TO BE CONSIDERED FOR ADMISSION TO THE SINGLE SUBJECT OR INTERN CREDENTIAL PROGRAMS.
IMPORTANT: Please keep your own record of your submitted Application Requirements, as you will need them when you apply for your credential with CCTC after completing the program. We do not make copies for you of the items you submit to our office. You must make your own copies.
FIRST STEP
Application to Graduate Admissions & Program Evaluations
- Go to CSUMentor.edu and apply to Graduate Admissions (there will be a $55.00 application fee), be sure to click the "submit" icon or your application won't go through (contact Graduate Admissions at 408-924-2480, or the Help Desk at 408-924-1530, with any questions regarding their online application).
- You must also submit a set of official/sealed transcricpts to Graduate Admissions from each college you've attended (with the exception of SJSU transcripts). It is recommended that you have the transcripts mailed to your home, then bring them in to Graduate Admissions & Program Evaluations located at Student Services Center (SSC), or mail them to: Graduate Admissions & Program Evaluations, San Jose State University, One Washington Square, San Jose, CA 95192-0017.
- If you're an international applicant, please go to Graduate Admissions and Program Evaluations "International Applicants: How to Apply" web page for further instructions. If you have any questions regarding these instructions, please contact Graduate Admissions at 408-924-2480 or visit them at Student Services Center (SSC).
SECOND STEP
Secondary Education Applicant Information Form
- Complete and submit the Applicant Information Form [pdf] to our department after you've applied to Graduate Studies (see above). This form must be completed with your name, SJSU ID, contact information, semester you're applying to, date of birth, SSN, subject area, and signature. We recommend that you submit this as soon as you apply to Graduate Studies and have been issued your SJSU ID, so we have your contact information on our department database and you don't miss out on email updates regarding upcoming orientations, possible exceptions on an Application Requirement, and/or new or extended deadlines.
NEXT STEPS
Subject Matter Competency and SMC Report
- Make an appointment with a Subject Area Adviser and have your transcripts evaluated to determine if you meet subject matter competency requirements.
- If you do not have Subject Matter Competency, you have the option of either taking the additional required coursework or earning passing scores on the required CSET exam in your subject area [Please Note: We do not automatically receive your official CSET scores when you check off the box to have them sent to SJSU. You must submit a copy of your official passed CSET scores directly to our office at SH 301 (keep the originals for yourself, as you will need them after completing the program).]. Subject-matter competency is a pre-requisite for all student teaching in the Single Subject Credential Program. A major in a subject area may not meet subject matter preparation requirements.
- The original Subject Matter Competency Report form signed by a Subject Area Adviser is required for admission to the credential program, even if you know you already meet the subject matter competency requirement with CSET or via coursework. The Subject Area Adviser will forward the original SMC Report to the department of Secondary Education.
- In addition to the subject matter competency review, the adviser will administer a required writing test (see next pre-requisite).
Writing Test
- Must pass a writing test which will be administered by the Subject Area Adviser. Our recommendation is that you take the test when meeting with the Subject Area Advisor regarding your Subject Matter Competency (see pre-requisite above). You will be given a prompt and will have 30 minutes to write on the prompt. The Subject Area Adviser will forward your written test to Secondary Education for review, and you will be notified by us via email as to the status.
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN ONE BATCH
We no longer accept these items individually, with the exception of Letters of Recommendation that are sent directly from the originator.
CBEST
- The CBEST is a general knowledge test required of all teachers in California and consists of three parts: math, reading comprehension, and writing.
- You must submit a copy of official passed scores on all three parts before being considered for the Credential Program. Please Note: We do not automatically receive your official CBEST scores when you check off the box to have them sent to SJSU. You must submit a copy of your official passed CBEST scores directly to our office at SH 301 (keep the originals for yourself, as you will need them after completing the program).
Transcripts
- Obtain a second official/sealed transcript (the first set for Graduate Studies and the second set for the department of Secondary Education -SH 301) from the colleges and universities you have attended (including SJSU). At least one set must have an undergraduate degree posted on it. It is recommended that the transcripts be sent directly to you and you deliver or mail them to the department of Secondary Education [Secondary Education, San Jose State University, One Washington Square, SH 301, San Jose, CA 95192-0077]. Do not open the envelope with the official transcript.
- Individuals who completed college or university coursework at an institution outside the United States must obtain a complete evaluation for foreign transcripts, degrees, and other relevant documents. This evaluation will determine if the coursework is equivalent to a Bachelors degree. The following is a list of CCTC [California Commission of Teacher Credentialing] approved evaluation agencies [pdf] (The approved evaluation agency only needs to be used for submisison of your transcrlipts to the department of Secondary Education, not to Graduate Studies (Graduate Studies uses their own evaluater). If you received an undergraduate or masters degree in the United States, that's the only transcript (official/sealed) you need to submit to Secondary Education, and evaluation of any other foreign degree is not necessary.
Three Letters of Recommendation
Letters should:
- be current (less than 2 years old)
- have their contact information and signature
- be from people who have known you in an educational or professional relationship
- speak to your ability to work with people, your work ethic, your intellectual capabilities, or other characteristics pertinent to teaching
- be submitted or mailed to the Secondary Education office (SH 301) [may be addressed to Dr. Mark Felton, Chair of Secondary Education]
- not be from personal friends or family (they will not be accepted
U.S. Constitution Requirement
- This requirement may be met by taking a course or passing an exam.
- If you have received a BA/BS degree from a CSU campus then you have satisfied this requirement.
- If you have taken a course and you are uncertain if it meets this requirement, obtain a course description or a course syllabus that states the course covered the U.S. Constitution. This will be verified once you have submitted your transcripts to SH 301.
- For information on the US Constitution Course or exam[pdf].
Pre-Professional Experience
- Complete a minimum of 45 observation hours of "Pre-Professional Experience" in a public middle or high school in California and submit a signed Pre Professional Experience form [doc] to verify your experience (private school class observation not acceptable). "Pre-Professional Experience" is simply observing a classroom setting. You may contact any California public Jr. High or High School and let them know that you're applying to the SJSU Single Subject Credential Program and need to complete your 45 observation hours of "Pre-Professional Experience." Summer classes are not acceptable; the classes observed must be in a regular academic year classroom setting in a class of the subject area you want your credential in.
Certificate of Clearance
California state law requires that you obtain a Certificate of Clearance before you begin student teaching.
To obtain a Certificate of Clearance:
- Print the special CCTC livescan form [pdf] and take it to the SJSU Police Department for the livescan service.
- To complete this process you must then go online and complete the CCTC application form. Be sure to click on "Certificate of Clearance" in the drop-down menu, not "Single Subject Credential" when completing the CCTC online application. NOTE: "Emergency 30-Day Substitute Teaching Permit" is not acceptable.
- Check back at the CCTC website until it says that you've been issued a Certificate of Clearance. Under "Credentials Held," click on Certificate of Clearance. Print that screen, which shows your certificate issue date, and submit that to Secondary Education (do not print the "Printer Friendly" certificate, as it doesn't show the expiration/issue date).
NOTE: Do not wait until the last minute to request this item, as it can take weeks for CCTC to issue.
Resume
- 1 page stating your work and educational experience (does not need to be related to teaching experience).
3 Options for the Technology Requirement
- Technology Test issued by the department of Elementary Education at SJSU: For information and dates of this exam, go to http://www.sjsu.edu/elementaryed/technology/. Once you have taken the exam, it is your responsibility to submit proof of passing the exam to SH 301 (they do not deliver it for you).
- You may also meet this requirement by taking the CIS 50A course at Foothill College.
- Or there is the CSET: Preliminary Educational Technology (test codes 133 and 134) option. Please Note: We do not automatically receive your official CSET scores when you check off the box to have them sent to SJSU. You must submit a copy of your official passed CSET scores directly to our office at SH 301 (keep the originals for yourself, as you will need them after completing the program).
*Deadline for the technology requirement may be extended to end of first semester on a case by case basis.
If you're applying for the INTERN PROGRAM, there is one additional requirement...
- Cover letter (one page, single spaced) outlining teaching and related experiences/skills you believe make you a good candidate for the Intern Program pathway.
FINAL STEPS
Notification of Application Status
After you have completed and submitted all Application Requirements to the department of Secondary Education, and once your file is reviewed after the Application Requirements deadline date, you will be sent an email regarding your applicaiton status.
Advising Meeting
- Once accepted to the Program, you will be contacted by Secondary Education to set up a meeting with the Program Coordinator to develop a Program Plan of the classes you will be taking while in the program.
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