Basic Teaching Credentials

The CSU prepares teachers for positions in California as well as other states. It is in the student's best interest to be knowledgeable about credential or licensure requirements of the state in which they intend to teach.

The Preliminary Education Specialist credential with an authorization in Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN) is intended to prepare teachers to serve students across a range of disabilities. The program at CSUSB is accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). The Mild to Moderate Special Education Intern Program is an alternative certification program in which interns are employed full-time as Special Education teachers while earning the Preliminary Education Specialist Credential for Mild to Moderate Support Needs. All requirements must be completed in two years.

Supervised internship fieldwork and clinical practice is completed in the district of employment within San Bernardino and Riverside counties. The intern is supervised jointly by a district employed mentor teacher and university employed supervisor. Supervision by the university is an in-person learning experience. The program also meets state standards authorizing instruction to English learners to develop English language skills including reading.

Mild to Moderate Support Needs includes providing specially designed instruction to access grade level California Content Standards in the Least Restrictive Environment. The education specialist provides instruction and supports in one or more of the following domains: academics, communication, gross/fine motor, social-emotional, behavioral, vocational, and learning environment access skills. The supports may also include health, movement and sensory support. Mild to Moderate Support Needs practices may include lower student to educator ratio. 

The Education Specialist Instruction Credential: Mild to Moderate Support Needs authorizes the holder to conduct Educational Assessments related to students’ access to the academic curriculum and progress towards meeting instructional goals, provide instruction, and Special Education Support to students with mild to moderate support needs related to one or more of the following disabilities: autism, emotional disturbance, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, specific learning disability, and traumatic brain injury; in kindergarten, including transitional kindergarten, grades 1-12 through age 22, and classes organized primarily for adults in services across the continuum of program options available.

Admission to the Program

Applicants must apply to the program at Cal State Apply (https://www.calstate.edu/apply) to be considered for admission to the Preliminary Education Specialist Credential Program in Mild to Moderate Support Needs. Applicants must meet BOTH the general requirements of the university for post baccalaureate admission and the program requirements in order to be admitted to the university and classified as a credential candidate. In preparation for admission to the basic credential program, applicants must review the Special Education Credential Program Admission Booklet which can be downloaded from the Special Education Program web pages on the CSUSB website at: CSU Special Education Programs website and attend a mandatory Information Session scheduled through Teacher Education in the College of Education Student Services at either the San Bernardino or Palm Desert campus. At this session, applicants will receive instructions for completing their application to CalState Apply.  Applicants must submit to the Admissions staff in the College of Education Student Services according to the deadlines published for the semester of admission. Admission to the program is based on the following requirements included in the Cal State Apply application:

1. Completion of an application form;
2. Original verification of meeting the basic skills requirement by one of the following methods:
   1. Pass the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST);
   2. Pass the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET) Multiple Subjects Plus Writing Skills examination;
   3. Pass the CSU Early Assessment Program or the CSU Placement Examination;
   4. Achieve qualifying score on the SAT or ACT;
   5. College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations;
   6. Pass basic skills examination from another state;
   7. Meet the basic skills requirement by coursework;
   8. Meet the basic skills requirement by coursework and exam.
3. Original verification of subject matter knowledge by one of the following:
   1. passage of CSET examination(s) as appropriate for the multiple subject credential, or for the single subject credential in the areas of art, English, foreign language, mathematics including foundational-level mathematics, music, social science, or science including foundational-level general science and specialized science; or
   2. by completion of a subject matter program as appropriate for the multiple subject credential, or for the single subject credential in the areas of art, English, foreign language, mathematics including foundational-level mathematics, music, social science, or science including foundational-level general science and specialized science;
   3. verification of holding a valid California clear, professional clear, preliminary, Level I, or life teaching credential requiring a baccalaureate or higher degree, verification of subject-matter competence, and a program of professional preparation, including student teaching.
4. All applicants are required to enter two names and emails addresses of persons who can address scholastic performance and suitability for teaching (recommendations are required to be submitted by the program deadline date, letters of recommendation will not be accepted);
5. A written personal narrative to be reviewed and approved by the Special Education Program Coordinator;
6. Verification of a negative tuberculin examination within the last four years;
7. Academic achievement, verified through official transcripts from ALL institutions of higher education attended. Applicants must possess a minimum undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.67 in all baccalaureate and postbaccalaureate course work or at least 2.75 in the last 60 semester or 90 quarter units attempted;
8. Documentation of 45 hours of experience in K-12 classrooms;
9. Submission of an application for a certificate of clearance or evidence of a credential or permit authorizing public school teaching in California;
10. Verification of attendance at a Special Education Information Session;
11. Satisfactory completion of prerequisite courses with a grade of "B" or better:

ESPE 5530	Introduction to Special Education	3
ESPE 5531	Methods and Procedures in Special Education	3

Upon admission to the university and the Preliminary Education Specialist Credential Program, all candidates must attend the mandatory New Student Orientation. At this session, candidates will receive a program handbook and will be advised on completing an approved Coursework Plan.

Eligibility for the Internship Program (9 units)

In addition to meeting the general requirements for admission to the university and the Special Education Credential program, eligibility for the Internship program requires the following:

1. Submission of application for the Internship Education Specialist Credential: Mild to Moderate Support Needs;
2. Satisfactory completion of program prerequisite/pre-service coursework requirements with a grade of "B-" or better unless otherwise specified:

   ESPE 5530	Introduction to Special Education	3
   ESPE 5531	Methods and Procedures in Special Education	3
   ESPE 5532	Language Development in Diverse Learners	3

   Note: These courses may be included in Internship Program Requirements if pre-service requirements are met through possession of valid California Multiple Subjects or Single Subject Teaching credential.
3. Preparation to teach English learners must be verified by one of the following:
   1. Pre-service EL coursework/instruction;
   2. Valid California Credential with EL Authorization;
   3. CLAD/BCLAD Certification;
   4. Interview by university/school district representatives at the discretion of the Intern Program Coordinator.

Recommendation for the Internship Education Specialist Credential: Mild to Moderate Support Needs:

In addition to classified program admission and successful verification of eligibility for the internship program, the candidate must successfully complete the following requirements in order to be recommended for the Internship Education Specialist Credential in Mild to Moderate Support Needs:

1. Employment in settings appropriate for the Education Specialist credential with the authorization in Mild to Moderate Support Needs in a participating school district, verified by a copy of the contract indicating the beginning date of employment as an intern (Month/Day/Year) with the authorized signature as designated by the school district personnel office. The recommended credential issuance date will be the date the employing school district specifies on this contract as the beginning date of service;
2. Application for On-line Recommendation submitted to Credential Processing in the College of Education Student Services;
3. Completion of the U.S. Constitution requirement by one of the following:

HIST 1460	History of the United States: Pre-Colonization to Present	3
HIST 2000	United States History to 1877	3
HIST 5400	Constitutional History of the United States	3
PSCI 2030	Government of the United States	3
PSCI 4100	American Constitutional Law	3
PSCI 4110	The Bill of Rights	3
Successful completion of an examination administered through the College of Extended Learning;
Approved U.S. Constitution course substitution at another university.

Recommendation for the Preliminary Education Specialist Credential: Mild to Moderate Support Needs

In addition to credential and degree course work, candidates must successfully complete the following exit requirements to be recommended for the Preliminary Education Specialist Credential: Mild to Moderate Support Needs:

1. A grade point average of 3.0 ("B") in professional education course work, with no course grade lower than a "B-;"
2. Completion of the upper-division writing requirement;
3. Application for On-line Recommendation submitted to Credential Processing in the College of Education Student Services.

Credential Requirements (47 units)

All requirements must be met within the term of the internship credential (two years). Completion of the following courses with a grade point average of 3.0 or better with no grade lower than a "B-:"

ESPE 6631	Assessment for Planning and Instruction	3
ESPE 6633	Methods to Support Inclusive Learning	3
ESPE 6634	Practicum: Methods to Support Inclusive Learning	1
ESPE 6632	Supportive Learning Environments	3
ESPE 6635	Seminar in Literacy Learning for K-12 Students with Special Needs	3
ESPE 6636	Practicum: Seminar in Literacy Learning for K-12 Students with Special Needs	1
ESPE 6639	Collaboration and Consultation in Special Education	3
ESPE 6642	Methods for Students with Mild to Moderate Support Needs I	3
ESPE 6643	Methods for Students with Mild to Moderate Support Needs II	3
ESPE 6622	Supervised Intern Teaching in Special Education: Mild to Moderate Support Needs	24
Total Units		47