Education Specialist Internship Program

DEFINITION AND PURPOSE OF INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS (California Commission on Teacher Credentialing)
The primary purpose of internship programs is to enable candidates to provide a full range of professional services while they pursue preparation that is planned and comprehensive. Internships are particularly suitable for specialties in which shortages exist, and for individuals who are capable of assuming complex responsibilities at an accelerated pace.

The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing defines an intern as a person who (1) is enrolled in an internship program accredited by the Committee on Accreditation, and (2) is serving with an Internship Credential that has been issued on the recommendation of the institution that offers the accredited internship program. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing has the following policies regarding Internship programs:

• Because increased responsibilities and accelerated pace are encountered in internships, these programs include appropriate admission criteria for identifying and selecting those applicants who can assume complex responsibilities relatively quickly.
• Private schools are not legally eligible to participate in internship programs.*

*From Standards of Quality and Effectiveness for Education Specialist Credentials.

CSUF EDUCATION SPECIALIST INTERNSHIP PROGRAM  (INTEGRATED LEVEL I AND LEVEL II): a collaborative venture with 63 school districts across four counties

The Education Specialist Internship Program is a rigorous two-year program that results in a Clear Education Specialist Credential with the option of a MSE with Concentration in Special Education with completion of three additional classes (nine units).

The Internship Program is designed for persons who are already working or about to be working in the field as educators at a public school. Often, when persons in our credential programs receive a job offer from a School District, they choose to become an intern.  Others enroll as Interns when they have been placed in an environment where they already work with children in a special education setting.

The Internship Program offers specific supports for teachers in the field, including a 24/7 Help Hotline, classroom assistance from trained faculty, an on-site support buddy, paid substitute days to use for professional development, and special support seminars. 

In the Education Specialist Internship program, candidates do not receive a preliminary clear credential. Instead, they bypass that step and finish the program with both a clear credential and graduate degree.  The Intern program is very intense and it is recommended that candidates earn as many units as possible before applying for the program.

Admission to Teacher Education Office
Admission requirements for the Education Specialist Credential Programs are found at the Admissions to Teacher Education Office. Contact this office for your admissions application needs.

Intern Qualifications:
To be eligible for admission to the Education Specialist Internship Program, candidates must meet the following criteria:

1. Be enrolled and in good standing with both the University and the Education Specialist Credential program.
2. Have a full-time teaching position or a job offer from a school setting that has an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the CSUF College of Education. 
3. Have a Letter of Intent to the Department of Special Education from your employing district that indicates either a start date or intent to hire date and indicates that you will be employed as an Intern.
4. Have earned a Bachelor's degree.
5. Have completed all Education Specialist Credential Program prerequisites:
1. SPED 371 The Exceptional Individual
2. Early Fieldwork (EDEL 315 or EDSC 310)
3. child development (CAS 312, CAS 325A/B, or EDSC 320)
6. Have completed all pre-service courses:
1. SPED 462, Practices & Procedures;
2. SPED 421 Working with Families of Students with Disabilities, and
3. SPED 430, Foundations of Elementary Education
4. SPED 434, Methods and Inquiry for Teaching English Learners
7. Have passed all portions of the CSET and CBEST.
8. Have met requirements for the United States Government and Constitution.
9. Have provided documentation in your credential file as having met these requirements.

INTERN CREDENTIAL 2-YEAR LIMITATION:
Upon admission to the Education Specialist Internship Program, you will be granted an Intern Credential from the State of California which entitles you to teach.  The Intern credential expires in two years after conferral. The Education Specialist Internship Program plan includes the Level I Preliminary Credential and the Level II professional clear.  All courses must be completed within the two years of the life of the credential.

ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION:
Prerequisite Internship applications can be picked up in the Credentialing Department Office located in College Park, Room 740. The candidate is responsible for submitting the completed application with the following materials by the appropriate deadlines:

• Acceptance Letter from both the University Admissions Office and the Education Specialist Credential Program.
• Have a Letter of Intent to the Department of Special Education from your employing district that indicates either a start date or intent to hire date and indicates that you will be employed as an Intern.
• Evidence of mastering Subject Matter Competency.
• Evidence of passing the California Basic Education Skills Test.
• Proof of completion of all pre-requisite coursework and pre-service courses for the Education Specialist Intern Program. 

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS PLAN FOR EDUCATION SPECIALIST INTERNSHIP
Below are the Program Requirements Plans for the Education Specialist Intern Program. You must meet with your faculty advisor to review your plan.

Program Requirements Plan for Education Specialist Credential Internship Program for Mild/Moderate and Moderate/Severe (Integrated Level I and II with English Learner Authorization) (pdf AND MS Word)

Program Requirements Plan for Education Specialist Credential Internship Program for Early Childhood Special Education (Integrated Level I and II with English Learner Authorization) (pdf AND MS Word)

STUDENT ADVISEMENT POLICY:

• Special Education students should not self-advise nor should they rely on peer advisement.
• Every student must have an advisor-approved PRP on file in order to apply for a California credential!
• New students admitted to an Education Specialist Credential Program will receive a letter that identifies their assigned faculty advisor.  Students should meet with their advisor during the first semester of their credential program, if not before.
• Every student should obtain advisement from their assigned faculty advisor every semester until they fulfill all program requirements.

CREDENTIAL PREPARATION CENTER
The Credential Preparation Center at California State University, Fullerton acts as the liaison between the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and the credential applicant. The Credential Preparation Center provides quality advisement and certification services to all professional educators it serves.   Contact the center for your credential preparation needs.

PROGRAM FACULTY
Education Specialist Internship Program faculty include:

1. Internship Program Coordinator:  Dr. Belinda Karge, Professor, Special Education (bkarge@fullerton.edu)
2. Dr. Barbara Glaeser, Associate Professor, Special Education (bglaeser@fullerton.edu)
3. Dr. Joan Levine, Lecturer, Special Education (jlevine@fullerton.edu)
4. Dr. Jan Weiner, Associate Professor, Special Education (jweiner@fullerton.edu)