The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Education and California Teaching Credential Program prepares prospective teachers to work with California’s culturally and linguistically diverse student population. Students in this program earn a master’s degree and are eligible to apply for a Preliminary California Credential upon completing a 12-month, five-quarter program comprised of two summers and one academic year. Graduates of the program are prepared to teach English language learners enrolled in K–12 public schools. The program also offers the Bilingual Authorization (in Spanish) for primary language instruction or dual language immersion instruction in a K–12 setting.

Please note that we do not offer a stand-alone Master of Arts in Education nor a stand-alone credential program. Additionally, holders of a previously issued California or out-of-state credential are not eligible for admission to the program.

Students who complete the program are eligible to apply for a California Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential or a California Preliminary Single Subject Teaching Credential. The Multiple Subject Teaching Credential authorizes the holder to teach in a K—12, self-contained public school classroom, where two or more subjects are taught by the same teacher. The Single Subject Teaching Credential authorizes the holder to teach in his/her credential subject area in a 6-12 departmentalized classroom setting within a public school system.

The UC Santa Cruz Single Subject Teacher-Credential Program offers the following subject areas: mathematics, English, social science, and science. Programs of study are subject to change.

Because program requirements are authorized by statutes and regulated by a state entity, the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing program requirements must be responsive to new legislation and regulatory policies. Admission requirements and programs of study referred to are subject to change to comply with regulatory mandates.