History / Social Science Credential Program

In order to teach History/Social Science in California secondary schools, you must earn a teaching credential in History/Social Science. This web page will inform and guide you through the History/Social Science Credential Program at CSULB.

To obtain a credential to teach social science you must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Bachelor’s Degree
2. Course on the U.S. Constitution
3. Pass the CBEST
4. Complete the Social Science Subject Matter Program, or obtain a passing grade on the CSET examinations in Social Science
5. Complete the Education Program

The Social Science Subject Matter Program at CSU Long Beach

The Social Science Subject Matter Program consists of 57 units directly related to courses taught in California schools grades 7 to 12:

Grade Seven - World History and Geography: Medieval and Early Modern Times
Grade Eight - U.S. History and Geography: From Independence to 1900
Grade Nine - Elective (California History or Psychology or Sociology)
Grade Ten - World History, Culture and Geography: The Modern World
Grade Eleven - U.S. History and Geography: The Twentieth Century
Grade Twelve - American Government (one semester), Economics (one semester)

The Education Program for Social Science Credential Candidates

EDSS 300S serves as the prerequisites for all other education courses. You may take EDSS 300S concurrently with other courses in the Social Science Subject Matter Program, but you may not enroll in any other education courses until you have successfully completed EDSS 300S. Candidates must pass EDSS 300S with a B grade or better to be admitted to the Social Science Credential Program.

Note: All candidates must pass C-BEST in order to get the Credential. In addition, candidates must have an overall GPA of 2.67 in all college courses as well as in the candidates major. Once the candidate is admitted to the Social Science Credential Program, the following courses must be completed:

EDSE 435 - American Secondary Schools/Intercultural Education
EDSE 436 - Learning and Instruction in a Multicultural Setting
EDSE 457 - Reading in Secondary School
EDSS 450S - Methods in Teaching Social Science
H SC 411B - Health Science for Secondary School Teachers
ETEC 444 - Computer Technology in Education, Level I
Note: This requirement may also be met by a passing grade on a state-approved examination.
EDSP 350 - Education of Exception Individuals
EdP 301, 302, or 305 Child / Adolescent Development / Educational Psychology
EDSS 472 (A, B, C) plus EDSS 473S - Student Teaching. (15 units) and S.T. Seminar
OR
EDSS 572 (A, B, C) plus EDSS 473S - Intern Student Teaching (15 units) and S.T. Seminar
*to be taken just prior to Student Teaching and concurrently with HIST 401 (both require a B Grade)

Last update: 8/13/08