Single Subject Program Admission

Must be in progress or completed from a regionally accredited institution. Must have a bachelor’s degree conferred prior to the program start in July. Cal Poly students cannot take ANY undergraduate courses in the summer if they are starting the credential program in the summer.

Cumulative higher education grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 for my 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 your program advisor as soon as possible.

to verify completion of prerequisite courses:

• An approved early field experience course (e.g., EDUC 300 or SCM 300) to include 25 hours of fieldwork in a K-12 public school. Complete the Verification of Early Field Experience form with your content advisor.
  • ENGL 361: Reading Instruction in Adolescent Literature (English candidates only; offered at Cal Poly spring quarter only) If you are fulfilling this requirement via a course substitution, please complete the Approval of Course Substitution form with your content advisor.

Candidates are only required to utilize one of the following options to meet the Subject Matter Competency Requirement. 

We recommend reaching out to the Credential Advisors for support in determining how you will meet Subject Matter Competence. 

Credential Office Advising

	Please email soe@calpoly.edu with questions.
	Credential Office Advising Hours Use Bookings* to schedule a virtual advising appointment.   *Alternate times are available by appointment; please email for additional times.

A candidate’s bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education will serve as demonstration of basic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics.

PROGRAM SPONSOR ALERT 24-07 - SUBJECT: BACHELOR’S DEGREE AS DEMONSTRATION OF BASIC SKILLS REQUIREMENT - 7/1/2024

Complete the two-step process including LiveScan fingerprinting and COC application on the CTC website and ensure issuance of a Certificate of Clearance.

COC Instruction Sheet & LiveScan Form

Applicants will input the name and email address of two references who will complete a survey and upload a letter of recommendation.

• SSTEP application and necessary attachments as “Supplemental Materials.”
• Issuance of Certificate of Clearance
• Evidence of Subject Matter Competency 
• Evidence of passing Basic Skills Requirement (BSR)
• Name and email of 2 individuals to submit a letter of recommendation

• Instructions on how to submit your official transcripts
• Cal Poly bachelor's degree holders do not need to provide transcripts
• Transcripts verifying Community College and/or Graduate-level coursework should also be sent to Cal Poly Admissions

• You will be contacted by your content advisor after applications close (Feb 1st) with an interview date and time. Interviews will occur following the orientation or a nearby date. 
• Download the Professional Aptitude Interview Packet and submit the required documents to your content advisor at least 1 week prior to your interview. 

(e.g., EDUC 300 or SCM 300 or approved substitution) to include 25 hours of fieldwork in a K-12 public school. Meet with your content advisor to discuss approved substitutions.

• EDUC 300  Historical, Philosophical and Social Foundations of Public Education (3 units)
  • Historical, philosophical, and social foundations of public education in relation to the 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.
• SCM 300 Early Field Experience (4 units)
  • Historical, philosophical, and social foundations of public science and mathematics education. Public school curriculum and professional education dispositions. Structured observation and participation in K-12 public schools with attention to instructional practices for diverse learners. Credit/No Credit grading only. 2 lectures, 2 activities.

(Offered at Cal Poly during spring quarter only)

If you are fulfilling this requirement via a course substitution, please complete the Approval of Course Substitution form with your content advisor.

• ENGL 361 Reading Instruction for the Teaching of Young Adult Literature (5 units)
  • Analysis and evaluation of young adult literature appropriate for classroom instruction in grades 6-12. Special attention is paid to metacognitive strategies for making sense of text with an emphasis on pedagogical approaches. Twenty hours of fieldwork in secondary schools is required. Participation in public schools requires mandated fingerprint clearance. 4 lectures, 1 activity

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.