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Education M.A. Credential Application Requirements

Important: Transcripts and Letters of Recommendation are required of all applicants. Read the Application Instructions page for full details.

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Below are specific requirements also needed for this program. Click to navigate to requirements:

For all Master of Arts/Credential Applicants:

  • Academic Writing Sample: 

    • Attach a sample of your writing, no more than 10 pages, double-spaced.

    • A research-based paper is preferred, such as a paper written on an educational topic or a paper written in your content area. Alternatively, you may choose to submit a formal essay or to write a brief piece specifically for this application.

  • Statement of Purpose:

    • Describe your motivation, academic preparation, and plans for your future occupation as a teacher.

    • Include: (i) an explanation of why you want to become a teacher; (ii) how your experience has contributed to your motivation and potential to be an educational leader, and (iii) a description of your experiences with youth in formal or informal educational settings, experiences with cultural and linguistic diversity and community involvement.

    • Discuss how your experiences and academic coursework have informed your decision to pursue a master's degree and teaching credential at UC Santa Cruz.

    • Please include in your statement any interest or desire to work with specific populations of students or communities (e.g. low-income, English learner) and how you might contribute to social or cultural diversity within your chosen field, as this statement may be considered for possible scholarships. Recommended length is a concise 2-4 double-spaced pages.  Include your name in the footer of each page of your Statement of Purpose.

  • Personal History Statement:

    • ​UC Santa Cruz is interested in a diverse and inclusive graduate student population. In an essay, discuss how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree and teaching credential. Include any educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey.  The Personal History Statement should not duplicate the Statement of Purpose.

    • Recommended length is a concise 2-5 double-spaced pages. Include your name in the footer of each page.

  • Résumé: 

    • ​Include on your résumé: employment history, relevant volunteer or community work (especially in schools and/or with children), and experiences in multicultural and multilingual settings. Include information on languages (other than English) in which you have competence.

  • Supplementary Documents:

    • 1A: Field Experience: 

    • ​Document field experiences in formal or informal educational settings with youth at the same age level which you aspire to teach. Experiences such as directed observation, substitute teaching, work in after-school programs, camp counseling, school tutoring, outdoor education, instructional aide, or the equivalent are acceptable experiences. List field experiences below (include field setting and dates). You must fulfill a minimum of 30 hours in an educational setting documented by at least one letter of recommendation. This page allows you to enter up to three locations.

    • 2A: California Basic Skills Requirement:

    • All admitted applicants must verify completion of the California Basic Skills Requirement by meeting one of the options A through H below. The deadline to complete this requirement: June 10th of each year (prior to official enrollment in the program). However, it is highly recommended that documentation of completion be submitted with the application. Exam registration confirmations, and/or exam score reports, or verification of meeting an alternate option for the Basic Skills Requirement must be submitted at the time of application via the online application. Applicants have several options for completing the requirement:

      • A. The California Basic Skills Test (CBEST).

      • B. The California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET): Multiple Subjects Subtests I-III plus the CSET: Writing Skills subtest #142 (passing these tests also meets the Subject Matter Competency requirement for Multiple Subject candidates).

      • C. CSU EAP (‘Ready’ in English and Math) or CSU Placement Exams (English Placement Test (EPT) and Entry Level Math (ELM)).

      • D. SAT (Math 550, English Critical Thinking 500).

      • E. ACT (Math 23, English 22).

      • F. AP English (3 or higher) and AP Calculus or AP Statistics (3 or higher).

      • G. Qualifying coursework in reading, writing, and math Courses must have been taken at a regionally-accredited college or university for credit, passed with a grade of B or better (see CTC Leaflet CL-667; upload form 41-bsr, obtained from MA/C Credential Analyst).

      • H. Coursework and Exam can be met through a combination of applicable courses and qualifying exams. 

      • For more information on these additional options please see the Basic Skills Requirement.

    • 3A: Certificate of Clearance: 

    • In accordance with Education Code Section 443210(b), each credential candidate for an initial credential, prior to admission to any credential program, must obtain a Certificate of Clearance. A Certificate of Clearance is a document that indicates that the individual has completed the fingerprint and character and identification process and has been cleared by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing to begin student teaching. To comply with this regulation the UC Santa Cruz Education Department must have on file a copy of the Certificate of Clearance before allowing a person to begin public school fieldwork or student teaching.

      • All applicants must obtain a Certificate of Clearance and submit a copy of their valid document with this application. Certificate of Clearance application instructions are located on the Commission's website. 

      • If you hold a valid (non-expired) Emergency 30-Day Substitute Teaching Permit, you are not required to apply for another Certificate of Clearance. Submit a scanned PDF of your valid Permit instead.
         

All EDUC/MA/C
Multiple bilingual

Multiple Subject & Multiple Subject Bilingual Authorization

  • Supplementary Documents 2B Subject Matter: 

    • California state law mandates that all teachers provide evidence of their subject-matter knowledge. Exam registration confirmations, exam score reports, qualifying degree major (see program website for information) or documentation of an approved waiver program must be submitted on the online application. Deadline to complete this requirement is June 10th of each year (prior to official enrollment in the program). However, it is highly recommended that documentation of meeting the subject matter requirement be submitted with the application. Please note that admission priority may be given to applicants who provide documentation at the time of application.

    • Applicants may demonstrate they have met the State Subject Matter Competence requirement by passing the appropriate CSET tests (Passing exam scores are valid for ten years), completing an approved subject matter waiver program, Subject Matter requirement satisfied with college coursework, or BA/BS degree in a subject area that is approved by CTC.

    • Admitted MA/Credential applicants must provide one of the following by June 10th in order to enroll in the program:

      • Passing status report for CSET:

        • Multiple Subjects - Subtest I, II, and III (test code 101,214, 103)

      • 2. Verification of completion of an approved Subject Matter Program, typically from applicant's undergraduate institution.

      • 3. Subject Matter requirement satisfied with college coursework. Your coursework must be a grade of C- or better in each domain. Submit Subject Matter Requirement Guidance Form (SMR Guidance Form)

      • 4. DEGREE: BA Multiple Subject credentials, the major must be in liberal studies or an interdisciplinary major that includes coursework in each of these areas: language studies, literature, mathematics, science, social studies, history, the arts, physical education, and human development. See the CTC-approved degrees.

      • 5. Combination of coursework and CSET examination(s): some combination of coursework and examinations to meet the content for all required subtests. Please submit your completed SMR Guidance Form and CSET/s. 

    • For more information on these additional options please see the CTC website: Subject Matter Requirement.
       

Single subject bilingual

All Single Subject & Single Subject Bilingual Authorization

  • Supplementary Documents 2B Subject Matter: 

    • ​California state law mandates that all teachers provide evidence of their subject-matter knowledge. Exam registration confirmations, exam score reports, or documentation of an approved waiver program may be submitted via the online application. The deadline to complete this requirement is June 10th of each year, prior to official enrollment in the program. Please note that admission priority may be given to applicants who provide documentation at the time of application, therefore it is highly recommended that documentation of meeting the subject matter requirement be submitted with the application.

    • It is strongly recommended that applicants take advanced (upper division) course work in their subject area.

    • While individuals may apply to the program without having passed the CSET exams, in order to enroll in the program, by June 10 all admitted applicants must submit verification of having passed all subtests of the appropriate CSET exams required for their credential subject area or verification of completion of an approved subject matter program. 

    • All Single Subject applicants may demonstrate they have met the State Subject Matter Competence requirement by passing the appropriate CSET tests (Passing exam scores are valid for ten years), completing an approved subject matter waiver program, Subject Matter requirement satisfied with college coursework, or BA/BS degree in a Subject area that is approved by CTC.

    • Admitted MA/Credential applicants must provide one of the following by June 10th in order to enroll in the program:


1. Passing status report for CSET

  • English Subtests I-IV

  • Math Subtests I-III

  • Social Science Subtests I-III

  • Science Subtest I for Foundational Science Credential, I-II for others (II can be in Life Science, Chemistry, Earth and Space, or Physics)

 

2. Verification of completion of an approved Subject Matter Program, typically from applicant's undergraduate institution.

3. Subject Matter requirement satisfied with college coursework. Your coursework must be a grade of C- or better in each domain. Submit Subject Matter Requirement Guidance Form (SMR Guidance Form)

4. DEGREE BA/BS is in English, Math, Social Science, or Science (Biology, Physics, Chemistry, or Geology). CTC-approved degrees.

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5. Combination of coursework and CSET examination(s): some combination of coursework and examinations to meet the content for all required subtests. Please submit your completed SMR Guidance Form and CSET/s.

For more information on these additional options please see the CTC website here Subject Matter Requirement.

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Additional bilingual

Additional Bilingual Authorization Materials

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