Education Specialist – Mild to Moderate Support Needs - Credential Program

Do you have a passion for working with students with disabilities? Then, the Education Specialist Credential Program is for you!

This program prepares CI teacher candidates to gain their Preliminary Teaching Credential in Education Specialist - Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN). This credential enables you to work with TK-12 (through age 22) students with various disabilities (including dyslexia, autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and more) who have mild to moderate support needs (including academic needs, communication needs, social and emotional needs, and more).

Our program will provide support for completing all licensure requirements, including the California Teacher Performance Assessment (CalTPA). 

Our prerequisite (Phase 1) coursework can be completed in Fall, Spring, or Summer semesters, is offered in-person (typically in the evenings) and online (apart from required field hours in schools), and includes the classes below. Contact our credential advisor today to review your transcript and see what classes you need:

  • SPED 345: Individuals with Disabilities in Society (3 units)
  • SPED 410: Typical and Atypical Development (3 units)
  • EDUC 412: Equity, Diversity, and Foundations of Schooling (3 units)
  • EDUC 475: Language in Social Context (3 units)
  • EDMS 422: Creating & Managing Effective Elementary School Learning Environments OR EDSS 424: Creating & Managing Effective Secondary School Learning Environments (5 units; 45 field hours)

Our credential coursework (Phase 2) is a one- or two-year, in-person post-baccalaureate program, which includes the following classes: 

  • EDUC 538: K-12 Literacy Multicultural and Multilingual (3 units) 
  • SPED 541: Foundations of Special Education (3 units)
  • SPED 542: Managing Learning Environments (3 units) 
  • SPED 543: Curriculum and Instruction for Sp. Ed. I (3 units) 
  • SPED 544: Curriculum and Instruction for Sp. Ed. II (3 units) 
  • SPED 545: Assessments of Students with Disabilities (3 units) 
  • SPED 587: Initial Student Teaching Seminar Ed. Spec. (2 units) 
  • SPED 593: Advanced Student Teaching Seminar Ed. Spec. (2 units) 

Phase 2 also includes two semester-long student teaching clinical experiences in public schools in Ventura County: SPED 586: Initial Student Teaching (6 units) and SPED 592: Advanced Student Teaching (6 units). Candidates will complete one semester in an elementary school placement and one semester in a middle or high school placement, working with students with various disabilities and support needs across settings (e.g., Resource, Special Day Class, etc.). During the first 10 weeks of each semester of student teaching, candidates will spend three days per week learning from a mentor teacher and gaining experience planning and teaching lessons. During the last six weeks of each student teaching semester, candidates will spend five days per week gaining experience leading instruction with continued guidance and support from their mentor teacher. Candidates will complete a two-week full take-over of teaching at the end of each semester. (Candidates accepted to Residency programs may have altered or additional requirements per contracts with participating school-districts.)

Candidates in the Education Specialist program may also pursue an add-on Bilingual Authorization as part of the coursework. The details can be found on the Bilingual Authorization webpage.

Note: Undergraduate students are allowed to enroll in any professional preparation course. Full Admission to Phase II (Student Teaching and Methods Courses) of the Education Specialist Program requires successful completion of Phase I (prerequisites) and other applicable credential admission requirements.

General Information

Roadmaps

Additional Information

Contact Us

Necole Ramirez
Education Specialist Credential Counselor
805-437-8524
necole.ramirez@csuci.edu
Schedule an appointment with Necole

Administrative Office
Madera Hall 2900
805-437-8953
credential.assistant@csuci.edu

Dr. Jeanne Grier
Chair, Teacher Education Department
805-437-8987
jeanne.grier@csuci.edu

Dr. Kristopher Yeager
Assistant Professor, Special Education
805-437-3648
kristopher.yeager@csuci.edu

In taking these classes, I have learned many things to help me as a mother in addition to as a teacher, and in fact as a citizen of the world. I have discovered specific interests and strengths that I have, such as a particular interest in special education.

Kirsten Jacobsen (Summer 2017)
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