Education Specialist Program Credential Programs

Education Specialist 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 the 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 for the last 60 semester or 90 quarter units or 2.67 overall G.P.A.

3) All parts of CBEST attempted (passage of CBEST is preferred)

4) Completion of a field experience of 45 hours in a K- 12 general education setting

5) Verification of Fingerprint Clearance

6) Verification of TB Clearance

7) Two letters of recommendation

8) Personal essay

9) Photocopies of all transcripts

10) Enrollment in or successful completion of program prerequisites

11) Submission of a complete program application packet prior to the current deadline

Please contact the Teacher Preparation Advising Center (TPAC) in ED1-67, telephone 562-985-9259, or email escp@csulb.edu for more information about admission to this program. The Center also offers free workshops for the CBEST, CSET, and RICA exams.

Program application periods are separate from University application periods.

CSULB Application Periods

The deadline for Spring 2009 admission to CSULB is November 15, 2008. Apply online at http://www.csumentor.edu. DO NOT submit test scores, personal essay or letters of recommendation with this application. These items will be submitted with your program application at a later date. Applications to CSULB typically require 6-10 weeks to process, beginning from the time you submit sealed transcripts to Enrollment Services.

If you wish to take prerequisite courses in Fall 2008, but have not applied to CSULB, you may attempt to take courses on a "space available" basis through Open University. For more information on the Open University process, visit http://uces.csulb.edu/OpenUniversity.

Program Application Periods (Program prerequisite courses must be in progress or successfully completed in order to submit your program application.)

January 2 - March 1 to begin core courses in the Summer/Fall Semesters,

July 1 - August 1 to begin core courses in the Fall Semester, and

August 1 - October 1 to begin core courses in the Spring Semester.

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.

FALL 2008 PROGRAM INFORMATION AND APPLICATION MEETINGS FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE EDUCATION SPECIALIST LEVEL I AND INTERN CREDENTIAL PROGRAMS:

EDUCATION SPECIALIST CREDENTIAL PROGRAM LEVEL I COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisite Courses (12 units; MUST BE COMPLETED OR IN PROGRESS when applying to the Credential Program.)

•  ED P 301 or 302   Child Development or 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)

EDP 405      Positive Strategies for Classroom Management (3)

EDEL 452    Teaching Reading, K-8 (3)

EDEL 462    Teaching Mathematics in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Classrooms (3)

EDSP 564    Assessment and Evaluation of Students with Disabilities (3)

EDSP 567    Curriculum and Instruction for Students with Disabilities: Literacy, Communication, Social and Physical Education (3)

EDSP 569      Curriculum and Instruction for Students with Disabilities: Math, Science, and Life Skills (3)

Final Field Study (12 units)

EDSP 587/588 A & B     Advanced Field Study and Seminar (6 & 6)

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

The candidate must attend 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.   

Education Specialist Level I Intern Program (ESIP)

Candidates must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the Education Specialist Intern Program:

1) Completion of the 12 units of ESIP Program Pre-requisite Courses (EDP 301 or 302; EDSP 350; EDSP 454 and EDP 405)

3) Clear admission to the Education Specialist Credential Program

2) Offer of contracted full-time employment with a participating school district (see list of participating districts below) as the teacher of record in an appropriate special education classroom or setting

4) Demonstration of Subject Matter Competence through passage of the CSET: Multiple Subjects (Scores valid for five years from date of test passage and must be valid at the time credential is completed)

5) Passage of CBEST

6) Meeting the U.S. Constitution requirement (met through undergraduate coursework in U.S. history or political science or through passage of the U.S. Constitution test)

Currently, CSULB's Education Specialist Intern Program has intern agreements with the following school districts:

ABC Unified School District,

Anaheim Union High School District,

Beacon Day School,

Bellflower Unified School District,

Capistrano Unified School District,

Compton Unified School District,

Cypress School District,

Downey Unified School District,

East Whittier Unified School District,

El Monte City School District,

El Rancho Unified School District,

Fountain Valley School District, 

Fullerton School District,

Garden Grove Unified School District,

Hacienda- LaPuente Unified School District,

Lawndale Elementary School District,

Lennox School District,

Little Lake City School District,

Long Beach Unified School District,

Los Angeles County Office of Education,

Los Angeles Unified School District (Local Districts 6, 7, and 8),

Lynwood Unified School District,

Montebello Unified School District,

Norwalk-LaMirada School District,

Newport-Mesa School District,

Ocean View School District,

Paramount Unified School District,

Redondo Beach Unified School District,

Rossier Park School,

Santa Ana Unified School District,

Summit View School,

Therapeutic Education Center,

Torrance Unified School District,

Tustin Unified School District,

Westminster School District, and

Whittier Union High School District.

Please note that the candidate needs to secure employment as a special education teacher working with students with M/M or M/S disabilities in any of the above school districts in order to be eligible for ESIP. While CSULB works closely with our partnering districts in supporting eligible candidates throughout their internship program, the University does not find internship positions for candidates.

The Intern Credential is granted by the CCTC for a 2 year period. All program coursework, field study and other program requirements must be completed within this timeframe.

Candidates are required to maintain continuous enrollment in program courses while on an intern credential. An individual program plan is developed for each intern when they are admitted into ESIP.  Interns receive support from both CSULB and their school districts. Financial support is available. Upon successful completion of ESIP, candidates earn the Level I Education Specialist Credential.

EDUCATION SPECIALIST INTERN PROGRAM (ESIP) COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisite Courses (12 units; MUST be completed prior to admission to ESIP):

ED P 301 or 302   Child Development or Adolescent Development (3 units)

EDSP 350     Education of Exceptional Individuals (3 units)

EDSP 454     Development of Communication Skills in Bilingual Contexts (3 units)

EDP 405      Positive Strategies for Classroom Management (3)

Core Courses (21 units)

EDSP 480    Foundations of Inclusive Education in a Diverse Society   (3)

ETEC 444    Computer Technology in Education I (3 units) or Passage of CSET Preliminary Educational Technology Examination

EDEL 452    Teaching Reading, K-8 (3)

EDEL 462    Teaching Mathematics in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Classrooms (3)

EDSP 564    Assessment and Evaluation of Students with Disabilities (3)

EDSP 567    Curriculum and Instruction for Students with Disabilities: Literacy, Communication, Social and Physical Education (3)

EDSP 569    Curriculum and Instruction for Students with Disabilities: Math, Science, and Life Skills (3)

Final Field Study (12 units)

EDSP 587/588 A & B     Advanced Field Study and Seminar (6 & 6)

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

The candidate must attend a 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.  

English Learner Authorization

The Education Specialist Level I Credential Program has been approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing for the English Learner (EL) authorization. Candidates will earn their EL authorization upon completion of the Level I credential program and will not need to take any additional coursework/tests to earn the CLAD certificate.

Education Specialist Level II

Upon completion of Level I requirements, candidates then have 5 years to complete a Professional Level II Credential.  Professional Level II preparation is intended to enable teachers to apply their Preliminary Level I preparation to the demands of professional positions while still fostering advanced skills and knowledge.

Admission deadlines are March 1 for the Fall Semester, and October 1 for the Spring Semester. Admission information and forms are available at  the Graduate Programs office at 562-985-8476. Admission forms can also be downloaded from the top of this page.See Level II Program Information for additional information about the Education Specialist Level II Program.

Please contact the Graduate Programs Office in ED1-8 (562-985-8476) for the application packet.

Last update: 7/30/08