Special Education Program Admission

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.

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.

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.

5. Basic Skills Requirement

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

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!

COC Instruction Sheet & LiveScan Form

*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

Upload a one to two-page double spaced statement describing your interest in pursuing an MS/SPED credential at Cal Poly. Describe any personal, educational, or employment experiences that you think will contribute to your success as a graduate student in this program. 

Possess an updated resume to be uploaded with application.

1. Complete a Graduate Application - Cal State Apply

Cal State Apply by the deadline (or preferably before) to be considered for the Integrated M.S. in Special Education / Education Specialist Mild/Moderate Credential Program (MS/SPED). 

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. 

• Personal Statement
• Issuance of Certificate of Clearance
• Tuberculosis Screening
• Evidence of Subject Matter Competency
• Unofficial Transcripts for Bachelor's Degree institution as well as each institution attended.
• Name and email of 3 individuals to submit a letter of recommendation. 
• Field Experience
• CV/Resume

If applying to the Bilingual Authorization Program in Spanish, upload: 

• SABE Program Application 
• SABE Statement of Purpose 
• SABE - Spanish CSET III Test Results

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 Professional Aptitude Interview

Program Coordinators will reach out to applicants after the April 1st deadline to schedule an interview.

EDUC 427 

Theories, Methods, and Assessments of 1^st and 2^nd Language Acquisition in Schools

EDUC 427 (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.

• Approved substitute offered via UCSD Extension for non-Cal Poly applicants.
  • EDUC 31218 Language and Language Development - Send official transcripts from UCSD to Cal Poly Admissions upon course completion.

EDUC 440 

Educating Individuals with Exceptional Needs

EDUC 440 (4 units) Characteristics, incidence, and etiology of individuals with exceptional needs. Problems, assessment, and approaches toward accommodating students with exceptional needs in the regular classroom. 3 seminars, 1 activity.

• Approved substitute offered via UCSD Extension for non-Cal Poly applicants.
  • EDUC 30146 Mainstreaming the Special Child - Send official transcripts from UCSD to Cal Poly Admissions upon course completion.

HLTH 250 

Healthy Living

HLTH 250 (4 units) Personal health with emphasis on healthful behavioral practices including physical fitness, nutrition, psychosocial well-being, alcohol and other drugs, intentional and unintentional injury, reproductive health, infectious and non-infectious diseases. Not open to students with credit in HLTH/KINE 255. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. 4 lectures. Fulfills GE Area E (GE Area D4 for students on the 2017-19 or earlier catalogs).

• Approved substitute offered via UCSD Extension for non-Cal Poly applicants.
  • EDUC 30057 Health Education for the Teacher - Send official transcripts from UCSD to Cal Poly Admissions upon course completion.

Meet prerequisites through 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.