Education Specialist Credential Program, Level I

Authorization in mild/moderate and/or moderate/severe disabilities. Level I courses prepare individuals to perform the duties required of entry-level special education teaching positions.  Candidates in the Education Specialist Credential program will first earn a Preliminary Level I Credential.

Candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria to be eligible for the Education Specialist Level I Program:

1. Demonstration of Subject Matter Competence through passage of CSET: Multiple Subjects (Scores valid for five years from date of test passage and must be valid at the time credential is completed)
2. G.P.A. of at least 2.75 in the last 60 semester or 90 quarter units or 2.67 overall G.P.A.
3. CBEST attempted (passage of CBEST is preferred)
4. Completion of a field experience of 45 hours in a K- 12 general education setting
5. Fingerprint Clearance
6. TB Clearance
7. Successful interview with program faculty
8. Completion of program prerequisites

Click here to download Credential Program Application materials.

Please contact the Teacher Preparation Advising Center in ED1-67, telephone 562-985-1105, or email escp@csulb.edu for more information about admission to this program. The Center also offers free workshops for the CBEST and RICA exams.

The application to the University is separate from the application to the Credential Program.  Please note the deadlines below:

University Deadlines

• Please Note: Due to the California State budget crisis, all CSU campuses have been directed that they may not accept any graduate/post-bac admission applicatons for the Spring 2010 term for any enrollment category.
• Students may take program prerequisite courses in Spring 2010 through Open University, on a space-available basis.
• Click here for instuctions on applying to CSU Long Beach for Fall 2010 (credential program application is separate). Deadline is June 1, 2010.

Credential Program Deadlines

• Credential Program Application packets must be submitted in ED1-67 during the following periods: January 2 - March 1 for Summer/Fall admission to program; August 1 - October 1 for Winter/Spring admission to program.
• Students must be enrolled in or have completed program prerequisites in order to apply to the Credential Program.
• Click here for Credential Program Application Materials.

Complete Level I application packets must be submitted to the Teacher Preparation Advising Center in ED1-67, prior to the application deadline. Candidates who pass the paper screening will be invited to an interview with program faculty. Admission decisions are based on a thorough review of the application materials and the interview with program faculty.

Education Specialist Level I  Program Requirements

PREREQUISITE COURSES* (12 units; MUST BE COMPLETED OR IN PROGRESS BEFORE ENROLLING IN LEVEL I COURSES):

• ED P 301 - Child Development (3 units)
  OR
  ED P 302 - Adolescent Development (3 units)
• EDSP 350 - Education of Exceptional Individuals (3 units)
• EDSP 454 - Development of Communication Skills in Bilingual Contexts (3 units)
• ETEC 444 - Computer Technology in Education I (3 units)
  OR Passage of CSET Preliminary Educational Technology Examination

CORE COURSES (21 units)

• EDSP 480 - Foundations of Inclusive Education in a Diverse Society   (3 units)
• EDP 405 - Positive Strategies for Classroom Management (3 units)
• EDEL 452 - Teaching Reading, K-8 (3 units)
• EDEL 462 - Teaching Mathematics in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Classrooms (3 units)
• EDSP 564 - Assessment and Evaluation of Students with Disabilities (3 units)
• EDSP 567 - Curriculum and Instruction for Students with Disabilities: Literacy, Communication, Social and Physical Education (3 units)
• EDSP 569 - Curriculum and Instruction for Students with Disabilities: Math, Science, and Life Skills (3 units)

LEVEL I FINAL FIELD STUDY (12 units)

• EDSP 587 A    Advanced Field Study and Seminar (6 units)
• EDSP 588 B     Advanced Field Study and Seminar (6 units)

NOTE: Students pursuing dual M/M/S authorization must complete an additional 6 units of field studies.

The candidate must have applied for a Certificate of Clearance, passed CBEST, attended the fieldwork information meeting, and have an up-to-date advisement plan reflecting field study in order to apply for Final Field Study. EDSP 587/588 A & B may be taken concurrently under certain conditions with advisor approval.   

* Please note that the prerequisite course requirements for the Education Specialist Intern Program are different than those in the traditional program. Please refer to the Intern Program website listed on the left side of this page for more information on our Intern Program in special education.

Last update: 10/29/09