Important Dates

Summer  Deadline
Cal State Apply Deadline February 1
SSTEP Application Deadline February 1 (Upload to Cal State Apply)
Professional Aptitude Interview Orientation February 23, 9:00-9:30am
Basic Skills Completion February 1

Subject Matter Competency/CSET 

Completion

June 1
Start of program Summer Quarter 
End of program Spring Quarter 

SSTEP Program Admission Requirements and Prerequisites

There are two applications to be admitted to the credential program: Cal State Apply and the Single Subject Teacher Education Preparation (SSTEP) Program Application

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

  1. Bachelor’s degree 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. 
  2. GPA - 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.
  3. Meet with your Single Subject Content Advisor 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.
  4. Verification of Subject Matter Competency – Individuals may satisfy the subject matter competency requirement by completing one of the following methods:
    • Commission-Approved Subject Matter Waiver Program
    • California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET) - Successful passing of all the CSET subtests specific to your credential objective. See the Competency Requirements & Prep Resources page for more details. 
    • Holding a bachelor's or higher in an approved major - AB 130 expands 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. See the Competency Requirements & Prep Resources page for more details. 

    • Coursework via a Cal Poly SMC Evaluation - AB 130 allows candidates to use qualifying coursework to meet the domains of CSET subtests. 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 Social Sciences CSET Subtest I with qualifying coursework, and meet Subtests II & III by passing the exams. 

      • 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*

        • 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.eduInclude the following information in your email: full first and last name, EMPL ID (if Cal Poly undergrad), degree-granting institution, the credential program of interest, and the Cal State Apply admission deadline for the quarter you are planning to submit an application for.

  5. Basic Skills Requirement - Individuals may satisfy the basic skills requirement by mixing and matching the following methods ensuring they meet the proficiency requirement in all three areas: reading, writing, and math. Candidates should submit a Basic Skills Evaluation Request Form for review to soe@calpoly.edu
    • California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST)
    • Pass the CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP - Mathematics and English)
    • Pass the CSU Placement Examinations (ELM and EPT),
    • ACT Scores (23 or higher in Mathematics and 22 or higher in English)
    • SAT Scores (prior to 2016 - 550 or higher in Mathematics and 500 or higher in Reading, after 2016 - 570 or higher in Mathematics and 560 or higher in Reading/Writing)
    • AP Scores
    • Coursework: Courses must have been taken at a regionally accredited college or university for credit, passed with a grade of B- or better, be degree applicable, and be at least 3-semester units (or equivalent quarter units).
      • For reading proficiency: a course in critical thinking, literature, philosophy, reading, rhetoric, or textual analysis.
      • For writing proficiency: a course in composition, English, rhetoric, written communication, or writing.
      • For mathematics proficiency: a course in algebra, geometry, mathematics, quantitative reasoning, or statistics.
    • (See, Basic Skills Requirement for an explanation of options to meet BSR, also see AB-130 Coded Correspondence for additional information)
  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. *COC Instruction Sheet & LiveScan Form
  7. Two letters of recommendation - applicants will input the name and email address of two references who will complete a survey and upload a letter of recommendation
  8. Professional Aptitude Interview

PREREQUISITE COURSES:

Work with your content advisor to determine whether you need to meet the following prerequisite course requirements.

  1. An approved early field-experience course (e.g., EDUC 300 or SCM 300 or aprroved subsititution) 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.
  2. 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.
    • 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.

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School of Education
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
805.756.2126
soe@calpoly.edu