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 Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) 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) and requires early fieldwork and supervised clinical practice for a total of 600 hours in school settings within San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Field work experiences totaling 200 hours are embedded in the credential coursework and practicum. Supervised clinical practice totaling 400 hours is completed in schools within partnering districts in San Bernardino and Riverside counties supervised jointly by a district employed cooperating 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.

The Preliminary Education Specialist credential with an authorization in Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) is intended to better prepare teachers to serve students across a range of disabilities and extends the authorization to serve learners through kindergarten. 

The Education Specialist: Early Childhood Special Education credential authorizes the holder to conduct educational assessments related to students’ access to the academic curriculum and progress towards meeting instructional academic goals; and provide instruction and special education support to students from birth through kindergarten who are eligible for early intervention special education and related services related to one or more of the following disabilities: autism, emotional disturbance, intellectual disability, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, specific learning disability, traumatic brain injury, and multiple disabilities including developmental delay and a disabling medical condition 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 Early Childhood Special Education. 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. 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);
4. A written personal narrative to be reviewed and approved by the Special Education Program Coordinator;
5. Verification of a negative tuberculin examination within the last four years;
6. 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;
7. Documentation of 45 hours of experience in early childhood and special education settings;
8. Submission of an application for a certificate of clearance or evidence of a credential or permit authorizing public school teaching in California;
9. Verification of attendance at a Special Education Information Session;
10. Satisfactory completion of prerequisite courses with a grade of "B" or better (6 units):

ESPE 5530	Introduction to Special Education	3
ESPE 5531	Methods and Procedures in Special Education	3
Total Units		6

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

Admission to Supervised Student Teaching

One semester in advance of the time candidates intend to enroll in supervised student teaching (ESPE 6619), they must submit an application for supervision. This application is due by Friday of the third week of the semester prior to enrolling in supervised student teaching (no applications are accepted in the summer).

Admission to supervised student teaching is based on the following criteria and conditions:

1. Completion of an application form submitted online;
2. Verification of an approved Coursework Plan including documentation of approved course substitutions;
3. Verification of complete PAF with official written verification that the applicant has passed the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST);
4. Satisfactory completion of program prerequisites and credential coursework (ESPE 5532, ESPE 6631, ESPE 6632, ESPE 6633, ESPE 6634, ESPE 6637, and ESPE 6638 ) with a grade point average of 3.0 ("B") and no course grade lower than "B-;"
5. Verification of a negative tuberculin examination within the last four years.

All coursework taken at another college and substituted for credential program requirements is subject to approval by the coordinator of the Special Education Program. All course work taken at another institution, or more than seven years ago, is subject to approval by the coordinator of the Special Education Program. No more than 15 semester units of the credential program may be transferred. Student teaching is never transferable. 

Student teaching for the credential is a full-time assignment for one semester of ESPE 6619 (concurrent with no more than two required credential courses). No concurrent course work should be taken beyond the required Preliminary Education Specialist credential courses in Early Childhood Special Education without permission of the program coordinator. Students who fail to complete any required credential program coursework will be dismissed from the program.

Recommendation for the Credential

In addition to the program admission requirements and successful completion of required credential coursework and student teaching, the candidate must successfully complete the following requirements in order to be recommended for the Preliminary Education Specialist Credential in Early Childhood Special Education:

1. Completion of the upper-division writing requirement 
2. Completion of the U.S. Constitution requirement by one of the following:
   1. Approved U.S. Constitution course successfully completed at CSUSB;
   2. Successful completion of an examination administered through the College of Extended Learning;
   3. Approved U.S. Constitution course substitution from another university
3. Verification of basic skills requirement;
4. A grade point average of 3.0 ("B") in professional education course work, with no course grade lower than "B-;" no candidate may be recommended for the credential who has received a grade lower than "B-" in professional education course work including prerequisites; in the case of a repeated class, only the highest grade the student has received will be considered for the purpose of this requirement.

Credential Requirements (32 units)

Completion of the following courses with a grade point average of 3.0 or better with no grade lower than a "B-:"

ESPE 5532	Language Development in Diverse Learners	3
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 6637	Seminar on Language and Literacy in Early Childhood Special Education	3
ESPE 6638	Practicum: Seminar on Language and Literacy in Early Childhood Education	1
ESPE 6639	Collaboration and Consultation in Special Education	3
ESPE 6672	Birth to Age Three Methods in Early Childhood Special Education	3
ESPE 6673	Preschool through Kindergarten Methods in Early Childhood Special Education	3
ESPE 6619	Supervised Student Teaching in Special Education: Early Childhood Special Education	6
Total Units		32