ADMISSION DEADLINES:
| ADMIT QUARTER |
APPLICATION DEADLINE |
|---|
| Fall |
March 1st |
| Winter |
October 1st |
| Spring |
Prerequisite coursework only*, February 1st |
*Spring admission is open for prerequisite course registration only. Contact soe@calpoly.edu to schedule an advising appointment and receive a permission code to access the application.
The FAFSA application deadline for all program starts is June 30th. For more information about the FAFSA and Financial Aid, please reach out to the Cal Poly Financial Aid office at financialaid@calpoly.edu.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
1. Bachelor’s degree
Must be in progress or completed from a regionally accredited institution. Must have a bachelor’s degree conferred prior to the program start.
2. GPA
Cumulative higher education grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 for the last 90 quarter units (or 60 semester units) OR have a Higher Education cumulative GPA of 2.67.
If below the required GPA for both categories, contact the Credential Office as soon as possible.
3. Prerequisite Coursework
See approved coursework below.
4. Subject Matter Competency
Candidates are only required to utilize one of the following options to meet the Subject Matter Competency Requirement.
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
AB 130 expanded the available options to allow candidates to meet the Subject Matter Requirement through successful completion of an academic major in the subject they will teach. Utilize the table below to determine eligibility.
| Multiple Subject Approved degrees |
|---|
| -Liberal Studies |
| -Liberal Arts |
| -Elementary Education |
| - Interdisciplinary major that includes coursework in the content areas identified in subdivision (b) of California Education Code section 44282. Interdisciplinary majors will require an evaluation. |
AB 130 also allows for a candidate to meet the subject matter requirement for the Multiple Subject Credential with a bachelor’s degree or higher in a major that includes all of the subject areas identified in Education Code §44282(b): language studies, literature, mathematics, science, social studies, history, arts, physical education, and human development.
Please email soe@calpoly.edu if you would like additional clarification of approved degrees.
Coursework
AB 130 allows candidates to use qualifying coursework to meet the domains of the CSET subtests. Candidates can determine if they are eligible for this option by requesting a SMC Evaluation.
*We are unable to accept requests from Cal Poly undergrads who are not attending a Cal Poly credential program.
Exams + Coursework
This option allows for some subtests to be met by coursework and some to be met by passing the CSET. For example, a candidate may meet Multiple Subjects CSET Subtest I with qualifying coursework, and meet Subtests II & III by passing the exams. Candidates should start by requesting a SMC Evaluation of their coursework to determine which subtests they meet with coursework. The Credential Office will then provide them with instructions on which subtests the candidate needs to take.
-
Candidates are only eligible to request Cal Poly SMC Evaluations if they are affiliated with Cal Poly, including candidates who:
-
Completed an undergraduate degree at Cal Poly and are applying to enroll in an Educator Preparation Program at Cal Poly* OR,
-
Completed an undergraduate degree at another institution and are applying to enroll in an Educator Preparation Program at Cal Poly
-
Cal Poly SMC Evaluations can be requested by emailing the SOE Credential Office at soe@calpoly.edu.
*We are unable to accept requests from Cal Poly undergrads who are not attending a Cal Poly credential program.
Subject Matter Preparation Program
Completion of a subject matter program approved by the commission.
| content area |
Cal Poly Prep program offered? |
|---|
| Agriculture |
Yes - Agriculture |
| English |
Yes - English |
| Mathematics |
Yes - Mathematics |
| Multiple Subject |
No |
| Music (Credential Not Offered @ Cal Poly) |
Yes - Music |
| Science |
No |
| Social Science |
Yes - Social Science |
| Spanish |
No |
We recommend reaching out to the Credential Advisors for support in determining how you will meet Subject Matter Competence.
Credential Office Advising
 |
|
Credential Office Advising Hours
Use Bookings* to schedule a virtual advising appointment.
*Alternate times are available by appointment; please email for additional times.
|
5. Basic Skills Requirement
6. Certificate of Clearance (CoC)
Complete the two-step process including LiveScan fingerprinting and COC application on the CTC website and ensure issuance of a Certificate of Clearance.
Important Notes for Completing the COC:
- Ensure SSN on your LiveScan form matches your CTC Educator Profile.
- Ensure name on your LiveScan & CTC Educator Profile matches exactly what is on your ID or Driver's License.
- Fingerprints are valid for 18 months, you must complete the application on the CTC website within that time for them to be matched up.
- Be sure to answer the Professional Fitness Questions accurately and honestly!
*If you have a valid Sub Permit, you do not need to obtain a Certificate of Clearance. The Sub Permit will need to remain valid for the entire credential program.
7. Proof of Tuberculosis Clearance
A current (within 4 years) Tuberculosis Test or Screening is required for Clinical Practice Placement.
8. Letters of Recommendation
- Name and email of 2 individuals to submit a letter of recommendation
- Academic - attest to your ability to be successful in a professional education program.
- Experience with Children - addresses your relevant experience in an educational setting, such as tutoring or working with school-age youth.
- Letters should be typed on professional letterhead with original signatures. The above letters will not be considered if they are from a close relative.
9. Personal Statement
Write a one to two-page, single spaced statement describing your reason for pursuing post-baccalaureate study in a professional teacher credential program. Include a background of your education, a description of experiences teaching and/or working with school age youth (also experiences you may have had working with diverse learners), areas of expertise/specialty, and your hobbies and interests as they relate to working with children in schools.
HOW TO APPLY:
1. Submit a Graduate application to Cal Poly as "Credential Only"
Applications are for either Fall or Winter Term via Cal State Apply by the deadline for Fall or Winter start.
Visit the Cal State Apply Help Center for more information.
Please note there is a $70 application fee for Cal State Apply.
Cal Poly Undergrads: Be sure your Extended Profile matches the image below.
2. Upload the following requirements (within Cal State Apply)
Documents will be uploaded in the "Documents" section of the Cal State Apply application.
If applying to the Bilingual Authorization Program in Spanish, upload:
Optional Documents to upload:
- Field Experience
- CV/Resume
3. Send official transcripts to the Cal Poly Admissions Office
Transcripts must be sent directly from the degree-granting institution by the Cal State Apply deadline.
- Instructions on how to submit your official transcripts
- Cal Poly bachelor's degree holders do not need to provide these transcripts
- Transcripts verifying Community College and/or Graduate-level coursework should also be sent to Cal Poly Admissions
4. Complete a Professional Aptitude Interview (PAI)
Upon submission of your application, you will be contacted by the SOE via email with instructions for completing the Professional Aptitude Interview (PAI). You will need to record your answers to specified interview questions via an online platform called FlipGrid.
Please prepare for the PAI as you would for a job interview. All applicants must complete a PAI interview to be admitted into the program.
If the interviewers decide that the applicant has not passed the PAI interview, the applicant will be contacted by the Multiple Subject Program Coordinator to discuss the specifics of further interviews.
Further interviews may be led by the Program Coordinators or if necessary, by the Multiple Subject Committee.
| Program application Office Hours |
|---|
 |
These office hours will be held on Zoom and are open to anyone
who would like support with credential applications. Pop in and
ask your questions without having to schedule an appointment.
Thursdays in February (6, 13, 20, 27) 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
|
| Program Application Q&A Sessions |
|---|
 |
These sessions are designed for those with in-progress Cal State
Apply applications for the upcoming application cycle. This
session will not cover general program info.
Multiple Subject Fall 2025 - Application deadline is February 1, 2025
|
PREREQUISITE COURSES:
Prospective students may submit a Cal State Apply application for post-baccalaureate admission to the university to complete prerequisite courses. Prerequisite students will apply to the MSTEP program along with their Cal State Apply and will be conditionally admitted pending prerequisite course completion.
Successful completion (grade of "C" or better) of the following courses is required for admission into the MSTEP program:
EDUC 207
Children's Learning and Development in Educational Settings
(4 units) Study of theories and research about the development and learning of children and young adolescents within diverse backgrounds, and application to teaching in public school settings. Observations/interactions with children in school settings. 3 lectures, 1 activity. Participation in public schools requires mandated fingerprint clearance. Crosslisted as CD/EDUC 207.
- Cal Poly Child Development majors meet this course requirement by degree.
EDUC 300
Historical, Philosophical and Social Foundations of Public Education
(3 units) or for Cal Poly LS Majors only, LS 230 Field Experience in the Elementary Classroom I (2 units) and LS 250 Field Experience in the Elementary Classroom II (2 units) Historical, philosophical, and social foundations of public education in relation to school curriculum, instruction, and dispositions of effective teachers. Structured observation and participation in K-12 public schools with attention to instructional practices for diverse learners. 2 lectures, 1 activity. Participation in public schools requires mandated fingerprint clearance.
EDUC 427
Theories, Methods, and Assessments of 1st and 2nd Language Acquisition in Schools
(4 units) Theories, methods, materials and assessment involved in the instruction of emergent bilingual students. Bilingual, transitional, and English only programs compared across a historical framework. Emphasis on an integrated language arts approach; theories of language acquisition. 3 seminars, 1 activity. Participation in public schools requires mandated fingerprint clearance.
EDUC 428
Foundations of K-8 Literacy Teaching and Learning in Schools with Diverse Populations
(4 units) Introduction of foundational topics in literacy teaching and learning in K-8 schools with diverse populations. Examination of concepts and theories underlying literacy learning and instruction, and relating research-based patterns of reading and writing development to features of the learner and learning environments. Participation in public schools requires mandated fingerprint clearance. 3 seminars, 1 activity.
Transfer Coursework
Transfer coursework can be reviewed for approval as substitutions for the above prerequisite courses by completing the steps below. *
Provide the following supporting documents via email to soe@calpoly.edu:
(1) An unofficial transcript** highlighting the course to be substituted; AND
(2) A copy of the course catalog description from the college you attended; AND
(3) A copy of your course syllabus
* Course substitutions are not guaranteed and requests can be denied if the transfer coursework does not meet the necessary requirements.
** For credential program courses, we will only consider substitutions if you received a grade of “C” or better.
