The new format means that anyone in California who meets eligibility requirements can earn a California single subject preliminary teaching credential through HSU.
“We’re particularly excited for the opportunity this provides to potential applicants in the small rural communities we have in Humboldt County,” Fieldwork Coordinator Anna Thaler Petersen said. “It’s going to increase the diversity of our applicant pool and the diversity of our school site placements, allowing students to teach in urban as well as rural communities around the state.”
Through a combination of online instruction and classroom training, the one-year program prepares students to receive a preliminary teaching credential to teach a single subject in grades 7 through 12. Humboldt offers eights areas of specialization: art, English, social science, music, math, physical education, science and world languages.
The 38-credit program consists of 20 courses, spread over two semesters. The fall semester focuses on classroom observation and building a theoretical understanding of the teaching profession. Classes include Educational Psychology (2.5 units); Classroom Management (1 unit) and Multicultural Issues in Education (2 units).
The second semester focuses on solo teaching at a local middle or high school, with videotaped assessments and guidance from a mentor teacher and university supervisor. Out-of-area students are placed in public schools in their area of residence and receive feedback remotely from HSU faculty.
In addition to holding a college degree, program applicants are expected to have earned a CPR certificate and passed the California Basic Education Skills Test (CBEST), among other requirements.
The preliminary teaching credential is issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) and valid for five years. During that time, candidates who wish to continue teaching in California must earn a professional clear credential by completing a CCTC approved Induction Program.
The Secondary Education Credential Program is the latest program at HSU to go online. This fall, the Office of Extended Education launched an online certificate in faculty preparation for graduate students, faculty members and working professionals interested in teaching in higher education. And the university offers several certificates and other courses either partially or fully online.
The new credential program broadens the scope of the student teaching experience and widens the applicant pool to include out-of-county residents, Thaler Petersen said.
“With the new program, you can enroll in classes, complete fieldwork and interact with professors from anywhere in California, as long as you have easy access to reliable and high-speed Internet.”
Offered through the School of Education in the College of Professional Studies, the Secondary Education Credential Program enrolls about 50 candidates annually. Over 90 percent of graduates report positive career placement.
For more information on the new credential program or the Dec. 13 in-person orientation session, click here. To sign up for the Jan. 5 online orientation session, visit here.