Frequently Asked Questions

What GPA is required for the program?

A GPA of 2.67 is required to enter the single subject credential program. If your GPA is below 2.67 you must petition to enter the program. In most  cases, your petition is looked upon favorably if your GPA for the last 60 units of college credit is above a 2.75. Your petition is reviewed by the Art Education Department and the Single Subject Credential Program Petition Committee.   Students can be admitted, provisionally admitted or rejected at this point. Please note that you must have a 2.50 GPA to be admitted to the university as a post baccalaureate student. Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to the Single Subject Credential Program.

Can I take the PRAXIS/SSAT to demonstrate subject matter competency?

Starting Fall 2001, CSULB will accept the PRAXIS and SSAT for subject matter competency. That means you have a few choices as to how you will demonstrate subject matter competency. You can do our waiver program (see a list of required courses) or you can take the tests.
WAIVER PROGRAM:
The set of classes for the art credential has been approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

If you take the exams you still must take the professional education courses for the credential. The lists above show you how you can demonstrate subject matter competency only.

What sorts of financial aid is available?

There are a variety of scholarships, loans and grants available for prospective teachers. The College of Education has information about the Cal T grant and others. Visit them for paperwork.

• A relatively new money source is the Governor's Scholarship which awards $20,000 for you while you earn your credential provided that you teach four years in an underperforming school.
• The Edison Internation scholarship is for folks who are enrolled full-time in a Teacher Credential program. This is a $5,000 need based scholarship for students pursuing a credential (multiple subject, single subject, educational specialist) at CSULB. Details can be found in the College of Education or from me.

The Single Subject Office also keeps a list of grants and scholarships. Visit their website to find out more.

How does student teaching work?

Student teaching is a full time, semester long commitment. Once you have completed your course work (both art and professional education) you will enroll in 15 units of student teaching during a single semester. You are expected to be at the school all day long. Most art students are placed in either a middle school and a high school for their student teaching experience.  You will ultimately be responsible for creating lessons, teaching classes and grading student work. You are expected to be at the school all day long. You will observe your master teacher and other teachers in the school. You will learn how a school works by attending department and faculty meetings and conferences, and other extra-curricular events.

During student teaching you will be observed by university supervisors (at least six times).  You will also participate in the student teaching seminar on campus.

If you are employed when it comes time to student teach you can petition to complete student teaching while on the job. A list of conditions must be met when using a job for student teaching. See Dr. Hartung or Dr. Turley to find out more about this option.

If a student fails or withdraws from Student Teaching they may petition to re-enroll in student teaching in a subsequent semester. In virtually all cases, there will be additional stipulations put on students in this situation. We do this to increase the likelihood of success the second time. Students in this situation are usually prohibited from using a job for student teaching, especially the first year of the job. Again, see Dr. Hartung for details.

How do I get to CSULB and your office?

From the 405 or 605 take route 22 (7th Street) West. CSULB is located on 7th Street. Enter campus on West Campus Drive (next to the large, electronic message sign). Make your first right off West Campus. Follow the road around the Education Building to the stop sign. There are metered parking spaces to the left of the stop sign or straight through the stop sign. An information booth is located to your left. After parking your car you can proceed to ED1 (the buildings you just drove around) if you want to go to the Single Subject Office (ED1-54) or you can proceed north to FA2. To get to FA2 you will walk away from 7th Street. You will pass by open fields. The first large building on your right will be FA2.  My office is FA2 201.Directions to campus & a map of campus

Last update: 3/16/06