Because American Studies is interdisciplinary, the major provides a particularly fine background for elementary school teaching and for secondary school teaching in the social sciences.

The Center for Careers in Teaching (CCT) web site provides a wealth of information for students contemplating a career in teaching. You should plan to attend one of their 90 minute general information seminars to learn about credential program prerequisites, credential requirements, majors, general education, and how to blend these requirements in the most efficient way. You may also want to visit the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing web site for additional information.

To earn a teaching credential, you must:

The Multiple-Subject Credential is required for elementary school teaching. The rules for pursuing that credential have recently changed, to conform to the No Child Left Behind Act.

Multiple subject candidates who enroll in a teacher preparation program on or after July 1, 2004 will be required to demonstrate subject matter competency by passing all three subtests of the California Subject Examination for Teachers: Multiple Subjects (CSET). Multiple subject candidates will no longer be eligible to complete a multiple subject matter preparation program in lieu of taking a Commission-approved subject matter examination. CSUF has a recommended curriculum to prepare students for the CSET. Visit the Center for Careers in Teaching web site and select "American Studies" from the list of majors for more information or stop by the CCT office in H-113.

If you are planning to apply to the CSUF credential program (the fifth year program), in addition to passing the CSET, you will need to pass the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST), complete the following prerequisite courses, meet grade point average, total unit, and experience requirements. For more information, see the Center for Careers in Teaching site's discussion of credential program admission requirements.

Multiple-Subject Credential program prerequisite courses:

• Human Development: CAS 312 (Human Growth and Development), CAS 315 (Child Development), or 325A & B (Conception through Age 7 & Age 9 through Adolescence), or PSYC 361 (Developmental Psychology) or community college equivalent 

• EDEL 315A (Intro to Elementary Classroom Teaching-Lecture) & 315B (Intro to Elementary Classroom Teaching-Fieldwork) (A & B should be taken simultaneously)

• EDEL 325 (Cultural Pluralism in Elementary Schools)

If you are a community college student contemplating a transfer to CSUF to prepare for a career as an elementary school teacher, the CCT has prepared a list of community college courses that will help prepare you for the CSET while simultaneously fulfilling CSU transferable lower-division General Education requirements. You can also find a helpful list of courses for your first semester at CSUF as an American Studies major. Go to the CCT's Community College Information page and click on "American Studies" and your community college in the drop-down lists at the bottom on the page.

A Single-Subject Credential is required for secondary school teaching. You may qualify for the subject-matter preparation portion of the credential by completing a prescribed course of study (called the Subject Matter Preparation Program in Social Science (SMPP). Currently, there are two versions of this program: SMPP for students who will complete the program by July 1, 2009; SMPP for students who will complete the program after July 1, 2009. Individuals may also satisfy the subject matter competency for the credential by passing the CSET: Social Science (or visit the CSET web site).

The CCT has prepared a helpful 8-semester sample course of study for American Studies majors pursuing the secondary school social science credential.

If you are planning to apply to the CSUF credential program (the fifth year program), you will need to pass the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) and satisfy the following prerequisites. In addition, see information on the credential program prepared by the College of Education.

Single-Subject Credential program prerequisite courses:
EDSC 304/307;MUED 404; or FLED 304 -- integrating technology across the curriculum
EDSC 310 The Secondary Teaching Experience: Participation (3)
EDSC 320 Adolescence (3)  (formerly EDSC 386)
EDSC 330 Literacy Development in Secondary Schools  (3) (formerly EDSC 440R)
EDSC 340 Teaching Diverse Populations in Secondary Schools (3) (formerly EDSC 440M)

If you are a community college student contemplating a transfer to CSUF to prepare for a career as a secondary school teacher, the CCT has prepared a list of community college courses that will meet Social Science Subject Matter Preparation Program requirements (scroll to "Social Science" and choose your community college from the drop-down list).

The CCT has also prepared a helpful list of courses for your first semester at CSUF. This list has been designed to avoid duplicating courses you have already taken at the community college, to help you begin to satisfy American Studies major requirements, upper-division General Education requirements, CSUF single-subject credential program prerequisites, and the required subject-matter preparation courses. Choose "American Studies" from the drop-down list.

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