Subject Matter Requirement

In order to receive a teaching credential, you must prove you are knowledgeable in the subject you plan to teach. There are 5 ways to meet the subject matter requirement.

OPTION 1: EARN A DEGREE IN THE SUBJECT YOU PLAN TO TEACH

Successful completion of a bachelor's degree or higher (master's or doctoral degree) from a regionally accredited college or university in the subject you plan to teach.

• For single subject credentials, a major in one of the subject areas in which the state credentials candidates. For those who want to teach History or P.E. the SMPP or CSET should be taken (see more options below).
• For multiple subject credentials, a liberal studies major or other interdisciplinary degree that includes coursework in the content areas (language studies, literature, math, science, social sciences, history, the arts, physical education and human development).
• For education specialist credentials, the options available for the single subject or the multiple subject credentials as noted above apply.

Please review our list of majors to determine if your degree meets the subject matter requirement.

OPTION 2: COMPLETION OF COURSEWORK THAT ADDRESSES EACH DOMAIN OF THE SUBJECT MATTER

Complete the coursework as noted below for the subject in which you plan to earn a credential.

Coursework option for Elementary Education pathways : this option can be used to satisfy subject matter requirements for the Multiple Subject or Education Specialist Credentials.

Additional subjects coming soon...

OPTION 3: PASS THE STATE-APPROVED SUBJECT MATTER CSET EXAM

The California Subject Exams for Teachers, CSET exams, are available for each subject in which a credential can be obtained. If you are a current CSUF student and need to take the CSET exams, you have access free test prep resources.

OPTION 4: COMBINATION OF COURSEWORK AND CSET

Use a combination of options 2 and 3 above to meet subject matter requirements. For example, you may complete coursework to satisfy the domains measured in CSET subtests 1 and 3 of the multiple subjects CSET exams and obtain a passing score on CSET subtest 2 of the multiple subject CSET exam to meet the subject matter requirement for the multiple subject credential. 

 

OPTION 5: COMPLETE A STATE-APPROVED SUBJECT MATTER PREPARATION PROGRAM (SMPP)

The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) approves university subject matter preparation programs (SMPP). Students can document subject matter competency by completing the requirements for these programs. Completing the requirements of such a program takes careful planning; in most instances, simply earning the bachelor’s degree in the subject does not automatically meet all of the requirements for the SMPP. Please note, Advance Placement (AP) credit may also be used to meet requirements on the SMPP. Please see one of our Advisors or a Subject Area Advisor for more information.

Below are the current CSUF state-approved preparation plans. If you do not see a subject listed, it is not offered at CSUF for that credential, thus the subject matter requirement would have to be met using another option (unless a state-approved subject matter preparation program was completed at another institution). 

• ELEMENTARY (TK-8)

  • The Elementary Subject Matter Waiver program is for those majoring in Child and Adolescent Studies: Elementary School Settings Concentration. You must complete each of the courses as prescribed in the course list (includes general education, major courses and credential program pre-requisties).
  • For Transfer Students: You may be able to complete the lower division requirements for the Elementary Subject Matter waiver at your community college. Please review our equivalency chart for a list of courses at our regional Community Colleges.

• English  

  • Subject Area Advisors: 
    • English Department Advisors
    • The English credential used to also include the authorization to teach Theatre courses. Effective January 1, 2022 this will no longer be the case and a Theatre credential will be required to teach Theatre courses. If you would like to teach Theatre please make an appointment with one of our advisors to learn more about how to prepare for this new option. For assistance with the Theatre major preparation, please visit the Department of Theatre and Dance. Please note: teachers who hold an English credential or have started the English credential program prior to January 1, 2022 will still be able to teach Theatre courses if they hold an English credential.
    • Some lower division coursework may be completed at the community college to meet subject matter preparation program requirements.  Articulated Courses for the CSUF English SMPP

• English Language Development  

  • Subject Area Advisors:
    • Dr. Nathan Carr, ncarr@fullerton.edu
    • Dr. Daniel Rueckert, drueckert@fullerton.edu)

• French

  • Subject Area Advisors:
    • Dr. Reyes Fidalgo, rfidalgo@fullerton.edu
    • Dr. Andre Zampaulo, azampaulo@fullerton.edu 

• Mathematics

  • Subject Area Advisors: mathcredential@fullerton.edu 
    • Alison Marzocchi
    • Cherie Ichinose
  • Some lower division coursework may be completed at the community college to meet subject matter preparation program requirements.  Articulated Courses for the CSUF Math SMPP

• Music - Choral Track

• Music - General Track

• Music - Instrumental Track

  • Subject Area Advisors for all Music tracks:
    • Dr. Dennis Siebenaler, dsiebenaler@fullerton.edu
    • Dr. Chris Peterson, cpeterson@fullerton.edu
    • Dr. Marc Dickey, mdickey@fullerton.edu 

• Physical Education

  • Subject Area Advisors:
    • Dr. Debra Patterson, dpatterson@fullerton.edu
    • Dr. Clay Sherman, csherman@fullerton.edu 
    • The Physical Education credential used to also include the authorization to teach Dance courses. Effective January 1, 2022 this will no longer be the case and a Dance credential will be required to teach Dance courses. If you plan to teach Dance please make an appointment with one of our advisors to learn more about how to prepare for this new option. For assistance with the Dance major preparation, please contact Debra Noble in the Department of Theatre and Dance, dnoble@fullerton.edu.  Please note: teachers who hold a PE credential or have started the PE credential program prior to January 1, 2022 will still be able to teach Dance courses if they hold a PE credential.

• Social Sciences

  • Subject Area Advisors:
    • Kristine Dennehy-History, kdennehy@fullerton.edu 
    • Adam Golub-American Studies, agolub@fullerton.edu
    • Sarah Hill-Political Science, shill@fullerton.edu
    • Mark Drayse-Geography, mdrayse@fullerton.edu
  • Some lower division coursework may be completed at the community college to meet subject matter preparation program requirements.  Articulated Courses for the CSUF Social Sciences SMPP

• Spanish

  • Subject Area Advisors:
    • Dr. Reyes Fidalgo,   rfidalgo@fullerton.edu
    • Dr. Andre Zampaulo,   azampaulo@fullerton.edu 

For CSUF Graduates only: After completing the subject matter preparation program, please contact the Subject Area Advisor to receive a final formal evaluation. You will submit the final evaluation with your credential program application as your proof of meeting subject matter competency.