Pathway Options

The PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Credential is designed to prepare candidates for teaching in self-contained early childhood settings from preschool to grade 3. The program also allows for English learner authorization and potential to add a Bilingual Authorization in Spanish.

The program offers a traditional student teaching pathway where candidates are not contracted teachers and assigned to a mentor teacher for their supervised practicum. Courses are in-person and clinical practice must be completed at schools where CSUDH has a Memo of Understanding (MOU) with in the Los Angeles area. Candidates will have two semesters of clinical practice (one in PK/TK and one in K-3 setting). Candidates will also be able to receive up to 200 hours of clinical practice equivalency based on the guidelines set forth by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC). The program will also offer an intern option after students have completed their pre-service courses and are offered a teacher position in a school/district that has a Memo of Understanding with the College of Education.

The program is structured in 3 semesters in the traditional student teaching pathway. Students can complete their first semester during their last semester of their senior year or as a post-baccalaureate. During the last two semesters of the credential program, students will participate in practicum in a range of settings. Students can receive up to 200 hours of clinical practice equivalency (based on the criteria set by CCTC in the PK-3 Handbook). However, students will need sufficient hours to meet expectations set forth by their practicum setting and to complete both cycles of the California Teaching Performance Assessment (CalTPA). Depending on when students switch over to the intern credential, they may take up to 4 semesters.

Coursework and practicum will provide students the opportunity to apply knowledge of the Teaching Performance Expectations (TPEs) for the PK-3 credential. The program is designed to engage future PK-3 teachers to design, implement, and facilitate learning activities based on students' developmental levels. The program also prepares teachers to work in urban schools with multicultural and multilingual students with diverse needs. The program ensures candidates learn how to use state adopted student content standards and frameworks such as California's K-3 Student Content Standards and Frameworks and the Preschool Learning Foundations and Curriculum Framework to provide accessible learning for all young children.

The PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Credential is accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC, 1900 Capitol Street, Sacramento, CA 95814).

Pathways Options

There are two pathways that candidates can take in the program: Student Teaching Pathway and Intern Pathway.

• Student Teaching Pathway: The traditional Student Teaching Pathway will allow students to complete their clinical practice in two different settings (PK/TK and K-3) in a Pre-Student Teaching practicum and a Student Teaching practicum. Candidates in this option may receive up to 200 hours of clinical practice equivalency for their prior ECE teaching experience or undergraduate supervised ECE practicum (criteria set by the CCTC). Students who receive 200 hours of clinical practice equivalency do not need to complete the Pre-Student Teaching Practicum in PK/TK (200 hours), and they will complete the Student Teaching Practicum in a K-3 setting (400 hours). Candidates who receive the clinical practice equivalency are expected to complete both cycles of the CalTPA and meet all the TPE competencies.
• Intern Pathway: The Intern Pathway will allow candidates who receive an offer of employment to work as an intern teacher in PK-3 settings. Candidates will complete the Pre-Student Teaching Practicum and Seminar in one of two settings (PK/TK OR K-3) and complete their Advanced Intern Practicum in the other setting. If candidates receive 200 hours of clinical practice equivalency for an ECE setting, they will complete their Initial and Advanced Intern Practicums in a K-3 setting. Candidates who receive the clinical practice equivalency are expected to complete both cycles of the CalTPA and meet all the TPE competencies.