Requirements (61 units)
Completion of this credential certifies teachers to work with children from birth through six years of age who have disabilities or who are at risk of acquiring disabilities.
Admission to the Program
In addition to meeting the general requirements of the university for admission as a postbaccalaureate student, admission to the Preliminary Level I Education Specialist Credential: Early Childhood Special Education Program requires the following:
1. Official admission to the university;
2. Application for admission to the College of Education for the Preliminary Level I Education Specialist Credential: Early Childhood Special Education;
3. Documentation of a minimum of 45 hours of experience in an Early Childhood Special Education Program setting;
4. Written verification of passing score on the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST);
5. Original verification of a negative tuberculin examination within the last four years;
6. Establishment of competency in early childhood by the completion of the following courses or their equivalent. Some course requirements may be substituted by work experience if approved by the department chair.
HD 270. Infant and Toddler Development (5)
HD 280. Early Childhood Development (5)
HD 281. Guidance of Young Children (4)
HD 291. Interactions with Young Children: Laboratory (2)
HD 282. Early Childhood Curriculum and Programs (4)
HD 292. Curriculum and Programs: Laboratory (2)
7. Application for a certificate of clearance or evidence of a credential or permit authorizing public school teaching in California;
8. Attendance at a mandatory Special Education group advising session;
9. Consultation with assigned faculty advisor to complete Advising Confirmation form.
Recommendation for the Credential
In addition to the program admission requirements and Level I credential course work, the candidate must successfully complete the following requirements in order to be recommended for the Preliminary Level I Education Specialist Credential: Early Childhood Special Education.
1. Completion of the upper division writing requirement by one of the following:
A. Completion, with a grade of "B" (3.0) or better, in one of the upper division writing courses taken at this university:
EDUC 306. Expository Writing for Education (4)
ENG 306. Expository Writing (4)
HUM 306. Expository Writing for the Humanities (4)
MGMT 306. Expository Writing for Administration (4)
NSCI 306. Expository Writing for the Natural Sciences (4)
SSCI 306. Expository Writing for the Social Sciences (4)
B. Completion, with a grade of "B" (3.0) or better, of an equivalent advanced expository writing course at another college or university;
C. Satisfactory completion of the Writing Requirement Exemption Examination (WREE) offered at this university;
D. A passing score on the written portion of the CBEST;
Note: CBEST exam does not meet the graduate writing requirement for the Master of Arts degree.
2. Completion of the U.S. Constitution requirement by one of the following:
A. HIST 146. American Civilization (4)
B. HIST 200. United States History to 1877 (4)
C. HIST 540. Constitutional History of the United States (4)
D. PSCI 203. American Government (4)
E. PSCI 410. American Constitutional Law (4)
F. PSCI 411. The Bill of Rights (4)
G. Successful completion of an examination administered through the College of Extended Learning;
H. Approved U.S. Constitution course substitution from another university;
3. Original verification of passing status and scores on the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST);
4. A grade point average of 3.0 ("B") in professional education course work, with no course grade lower than "B-;"
5. Verification of Employment as an Education Specialist form (CL-777.1) from the employing school district and signed by an authorized district personnel officer.
Note: Candidates who do not provide form CL-777.1 will be issued a Certificate of Eligibility which will authorize the candidate to seek initial employment as an Education Specialist but will not authorize teaching service.
Credential Requirements
Level I Credential Courses
Completion of the following courses with a grade point average of 3.0 ("B") or better and no grade lower than "B-:"
1. EELB 315. Reading/Language Arts Curriculum and Pedagogy (3)
2. EELB 317. Educational Psychology for a Diverse Society (4)
3. ESPE 515. Language and Literacy for Children Under Five With Special Needs (4)
4. ESPE 529. Introductory Methods for Special Education (4) (with a grade of "B" or better)
5. ESPE 530. Psychology and Education of Exceptional Individuals (4) (with a grade of "B" or better)
6. ESPE 637. Assessment and Evaluation (4)
7. ESPE 650. Development and Assessment of Young Children with Disabilities (4)
8. ESPE 651. Curricular Strategies for Students with Moderate/Severe Disabilities (4)
9. ESPE 660. Instructional Planning for Culturally and Ethnically Diverse Students with Special Needs (4)
10. ESPE 665. Curriculum and Methods in Special Education: Early Childhood Special Education (4)
11. ESPE 679F. Special Education Fieldwork: Early Childhood Special Education I (4) for a total of (8)
12. HD 240. Introduction to Child Development (4) and an appropriate observation course (HD 245, 246 or 247) (2)
13. One four-unit HD course with approval of advisor
14. PSYC 305. Psycholinguistics (4)
Upon completion of competency in early childhood content area, U.S. Constitution, and Level I Special Education program requirements, students need to apply for a Preliminary Level I Education Specialist Credential or Certificate of Eligibility. Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended other than California State University, San Bernardino, must be submitted to C.A.S.E. along with the application for the Education Specialist Credential or Certificate of Eligibility.
The State of California requires students to enroll in the Professional Clear Level II Education Specialist Credential program within 120 working days of completion of the preliminary credential program requirements and issuance of the Preliminary Level I Education Specialist Credential. Within five years of issuance of the preliminary credential, students must complete Level II Education Specialist Program requirements in order to obtain the Professional Clear Level II Education Specialist Credential.