Education Specialist: Mild/Moderate Disabilities and Moderate/Severe Disabilities

I. General Requirements

1. Applying for admission to CSU Stanislaus Graduate School and to the Credential Program requires separate applications and fees.  
   1. CSU Stanislaus Graduate application - apply online at www.csumentor.edu  Application to the University requires official transcripts and separate fees.  If students graduate with a B.A./B.S. while in the credential program, they must reapply to the University in a timely manner (about six months prior to graduating) and be readmitted as a graduate student to continue in the program.
   2. Application to the Credential Program is available online at www.csustan.edu/Credentials, or you can stop by Credential Services, DBH 303, (209) 667-3534.  A fee is required when submitting the application. 
2. Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement
   The required GPA is 2.67 in all baccalaureate and postbaccalaureate coursework or GPA of at least 2.75 in the last 60 units.  Students with a minimum 2.5 GPA in the last 60 units will be considered for “Special Admission.”

II. Admission Requirements

Applicants may apply before completing the prerequisites; however, the prerequisites must be completed before being accepted to program.

1. Tuberculosis Clearance
   Students must show proof of having completed a screening for tuberculosis within the last 4 years
2. CCTC Certificate of Clearance
   Students must submit fingerprints via “Livescan” when they apply for the program.  The “Livescan” form (fingerprints) is available in the Credential Services office or on their website at www.csustan.edu/Credentials and will be electronically forwarded to CCTC.  The clearance is processed through the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) and is completed online at www.ctc.ca.gov.  Background checks are conducted by the California Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  When “cleared”, a student will receive an email from the Commission verifying the “Certificate of Clearance.”
3. Subject Matter Competency
   Students will complete one of the following:
   1.    Elementary level:  Pass 3 sections of CSET Multiple Subject.
   2.    Middle and Secondary Level:  Pass CSET Single Subject exam or complete a subject matter preparation program (in the areas of Art, English, Foreign   Language, Mathematics, Music, Social Science, or Science only).
4. Basic Skills Requirements (BSR)
   This requirement can be met through one of the following ways:
   1.    Pass 3 sections of CBEST (www.cbest.nesinc.com).
   2.    Pass CSET Writing Skills (Elementary Level Only) (www.ctcexams.nesinc.com).
   3.    Pass CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP English and Mathematics sections taken in spring of 11th grade with a “College Ready” or “Exempt” score.
   4.    CSU Placement Examinations (EPT and ELM) with English score of 151 or above and Math score of 50 or above.  Candidates using only the CSU examinations to meet the BSR can combine scores from EAP and EPT/ELM.
   5.    College Board SAT examination - with an English score of 500 or above and Math score of 550 or above.
   6.    ACT Examination - with an English score of 22 or above and Math score of 23 or above.
   7.    College Board Advanced Placement Examinations (AP) with English score of 3 or above in either AP English Language and Composition or AP English Literature and Composition; AND a Math score of 3 or above in either AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC or AP Statistics.
   8.    Pass a Basic Skills Examination from another State.  (The list of Basic Skills Examinations from other states accepted by CCTC can be found at http://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/leaflets/c1667.pdf  Parts of different options may not be combined to meet the Basic Skills Requirement, except the EAP and EPT/ELM as stated in #4.
5. Early Field Experience
   All candidates must complete 45 hours of documented field experience in K-12 classrooms.
6. English Composition
   All CSU graduates will have met this requirement as part of their BA/BS degree.
   1.    Complete a CSU upper-division writing course (listed as WP in the catalog).
   2.    Submit a verifiable score of 41 or higher on the writing portion on CBEST.
   3.    Completing an upper division composition coruse with a grade of C or better.
7. American Government/Constitution
   Complete
   PSCI 1201 - American Government
     or an equivalent course that fulfills the U.S. Constitution requirement.

III. Corequisite Course

This corequisite course should be completed prior to admittance to the credential program, but may be taken concurrently.

• EDSE 4310 - Introduction to Special Education Programs

IV. Prerequisite Course

One of the following courses must be taken and/or in progress prior to applying to the program

Human Development:  (3 units)

• CDEV 3140 - Human Development I: Childhood

• or

• CDEV 3240 - Human Development II: Adolescence

V. Education Specialist Program Requirements

VI. Exit Requirements

A. Reading instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) Credential candidates should take this exam only after completing the program courses on how to teach reading. www.rica.nesinc.com RICA is an exit requirement for the Education Specialist Credential.  Before candidates are recommended for the credential, verification of passing is required.

B. Particpate in an exit interview.

C. CPR Certification - In “infant/child and adult” that meets the criteria for the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross.

TOTAL UNITS FOR THE EDUCATION SPECIALIST CREDENTIALS: 44 UNITS

(3 corequisites, 3 prerequisites + 38 program units)

Concurrent Enrollment in Multiple and Single Subject Credential Programs

There is an option to receive dual credentials with concurrent enrollment in the Multiple Subjects Credential Program or the Single Subject Credential Program.  See information sheets regarding the options on our Special Education website at https://www.csustan.edu/teacher-education/special-education-forms-and-documents