Single Subject
Applications and Requirements are the same for both the Single Subject Online Program and the Single Subject Campus Program.
Summer 2025 Department and University Applications will be posted on this page
A Single Subject Teaching Credential authorizes the holder to teach the specific subject(s) named on the credential in departmentalized classes such as those in most middle schools and high schools. However, a teacher authorized for single subject instruction may be assigned to teach any subject in his or her authorized fields at any grade level: preschool, grades K–12, or in classes organized primarily for adults. NOTE: You need to apply to and be accepted to BOTH the Department and to the University to be accepted to the program. Review the Credential Application Requirements listed below and start early Summer Application Dates.
For more detailed information attend a Virtual Credential Information Session
AVÀÇ offers credentials in the following subjects:
East Bay CredentialSome courses on the Hayward or Concord campus and some in an online format-synchronous or asynchronous |
Format |
Math (all areas) or Foundational Mathematics | Hybrid |
Foundational Science | Hybrid |
Science (Biology, Chemistry, Geological Sciences, or Physics) | Hybrid |
Physical Education-Alameda/Contra Costa residents | Hybrid |
English-Alameda/Contra Costa residents | Online |
Social Science-Alameda/Contra Costa residents | Online |
East Bay Extension-OnlineAll classes online are synchronous and/or asynchronous. |
Format |
Art | Online |
Dance | Online |
Music | Online |
Physical Education-outside Alameda/Contra Costa residents | Online |
Theater | Online |
World Languages e.g. French, Mandarin, American Sign Language, Spanish, German, Hindi, Japanese, or other | Online |
English-outside Alameda/Contra Costa residents | Online |
Social Science-outside Alameda/Contra Costa residents | Online |
Math and Sciences are NOT offered in East Bay Extension Online Program
Art, Music, Dance, Theater, and World Languages only offered in East Bay Extension Online Program
The program is a full-time
The department also offers an alternate route to certification (Intern Program*). This application process is the same for both the Traditional and Intern programs. Application and acceptance into the Intern* program
Applicants are encouraged to attend a Credential Information Session prior to submitting an application. The schedule for Information Sessions can be found at the following link CREDENTIAL INFORMATION SESSIONS.
Application Dates for Summer 2025
Department Application
|
University Application
Applications open: February 1, 2025
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Please note: Not all application checklist items may apply to your application option.
Application Process
- Review Information Before Applying: Attend a Credential Information Session . Admission to the program is a two-step process: Department Application and review process and University Application and review process. Review the Credential Application Requirements
- Apply to the Program with the Department Application: Review Credential Application Requirements, instructions, and deadlines. Start the Department Application early, save progress, upload documents, and submit by the deadline. There is a nonrefundable $25.00 fee for this application. This Department Application cannot be submitted until after February 1 when you apply to the University. The University Application confirmation page is part of the Department Application requirement.
- Apply to the University through . Visit How to Apply. There is a $70.00 non-refundable application fee. Please review the application to make sure you are applying to the correct term, campus, and program.
- Only after you submit the University Application through and get an email with your net id: Order official transcripts from ALL SCHOOLS attended to be sent electronically to AVÀÇ Admissions or electronictranscripts@csueastbay.edu if an email address is requested.
- Both Graduate Admissions and the Credentials Office will have access to your electronic transcripts, so no duplicates are needed. Please do not send identical, duplicate electronic and paper transcripts.
Click on the following link for a Cal State Apply Demo for Summer 2023-Summer 2025 will be similar:
You need to apply and be admitted to BOTH the Department and to the University to be admitted to the program.
Important: Email is our primary form of communication to keep in contact with you throughout the application and admission process. Please add credentials@csueastbay.edu and admissions@csueastbay.edu to your contacts and check for CSU East Bay correspondence sent to your personal email and horizon email. Check and clear your spam folder if needed.
APPLY EARLY- Your submitted Department Application with the required documents for your Department Application file will be processed and reviewed.
Your Department Application status will be noted regarding any missing requirements-including but not limited to if you have met Subject Matter Competency (SMC).
Please send updated documents for your submitted Department Application to csscdocuments@csueastbay.edu with your full name, program name, and application term in the subject line.
It is your responsibility to submit the required documents by the deadlines.
University Application status and requirements will be listed on your To-Do List on your MyCSUEB. .
Credential Application Requirements
Complete the online Department Application with uploaded required documents and the $25 non-refundable application fee receipt. Please be sure to check the Save my progress and resume later box at the top of the application, so that you can update your application before it is submitted. Please use the same email to save and submit your Department Application.
Once you start the Department Application and save your progress, your application will be in our system for review. Please name and upload all documents and screenshots as saved PDFs. This Department Application cannot be submitted until after February 1 when you apply to the University. The University Application confirmation page is part of the Department Application requirement.
If you submitted your Department Application without the required documents, it is INCOMPLETE. Send updated documents for your submitted Department Application file to csscdocuments@csueastbay.edu with your full name, program name, and start term in the subject line.
Your submitted Department Application with the required documents your Department file will be processed and reviewed.
Your Department Application status will be noted regarding any missing requirements-including but not limited to if you have met Subject Matter Competency (SMC).
Please see additional detailed information about Subject Matter Competency (SMC) below.
Please send updated documents for your submitted Department Application to csscdocuments@csueastbay.edu with your full name, program name, and application term in the subject line.
It is your responsibility to submit the required documents by the deadlines.
The Statement of Purpose should respond to both of the following questions in one 300-500 word essay:
- Why do you want to be a teacher and work with groups of students between the ages of twelve (12) to seventeen (17)?
- How does your background and/or experience inform your decision to pursue a license that authorizes you to work with socially,
culturally, and economically diverse groups of children in California? - Statement of Purpose for Teaching Credential Program Application
Provide two forms/letters of recommendation that demonstrate a suitable disposition for teaching in public schools.
- At least one of the forms/letters should come from a person who has observed you working with school-age students within the last 5 years. Preferably with ages 11-18.
- The other form/letter can be from an Academic professor or professional supervisor.
Letter of Recommendation Form: Please send this form to two recommenders and have them complete it and send the saved form/letter back to you for your Department Application.
Examples of acceptable recommenders are teachers, principals, job supervisors, employers, etc. who have observed you working with groups of children and/or can recommend your potential as a teacher. Family members are not acceptable.
- Submit two forms or letters of recommendation on official letterhead, signed, and dated, with email and phone number.
- The recommendation forms/letters must be related to your experience working with groups of children related to the credential sought.
Documented field experience of at least 45 hours in a K-12 classroom or a documented field experience from the past five years. Pre-professional experience must be in a classroom or classroom-like setting with groups (5 or more) of students, preferably ages eleven (11) to eighteen (18) for the Single Subject program.
- At least 15 hours must be in a public or private school classroom setting. An acceptable public school experience includes work as a substitute teacher, para-educator, instructional aide, or classroom volunteer.
- The remaining 30 of the 45 minimum hours may be completed in public or private school settings; in community-based venues such as the YMCA, park, recreation center, structured summer camp, after-school, or
other formally organized programs . - Submit Early Field Experience Verification Form. Use as many forms as needed to verify the total hours.
Must have a Bachelor's Degree conferred before the program begins. Your Bachelor's Degree must have been awarded by a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
Applicants with international transcripts with a foreign degree must provide an official evaluation of that coursework by a CTC-approved agency of US Bachelor Degree equivalency, for a list of approved agencies visit
Applicants must meet the university admission requirements of at least 2.5 to be considered for admission. /admissions/graduate-apply.html
If your GPA is below the minimum required: You may be required to complete a "Petition to Waive GPA Requirement" form after your file has been reviewed and we have determined your GPA is below the minimum. The requirement for the program is an overall undergraduate GPA of 2.67 or a 2.75 GPA in the last 60 semester or 90-quarter units attempted baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate. The form will be emailed to you if it is required to evaluate program and University eligibility. Please see the University Graduate Requirements.
Complete the online University application at There is a $70 non-refundable application fee.
Applications open from February 1. For the optimum experience, we recommend using the most current version of Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome. The application is not compatible with Internet Explorer or Safari.
Be sure to save a copy of the confirmation page, to upload to the Department Application. For more information on how to apply to the University, visit: How to Apply
If you are not seeing the credential program you are applying for you will need to check your profile. Go to Extended Profile (top right). Set Degree Goal to "Second Bachelors Degree and Beyond and Teaching and Service Credential Only (e.g. Single or Multiple Subject, Special Education)."
Then click on "Add Program" and select one of the following:
Under East Bay Credential listing: Single Subject Credential Main Campus for Hayward or Concord Campus-Math, Science, PE, English, Social Science.
Under East Bay Extension: Single Subject Credential Online for all Art, Music, World Languages, Dance, Theater, PE, English, or Social Science applicants.
Click on the following link for reference for a Cal State Apply Demo for Summer 2023 application which will be similar for 2025.
Application Transcript Requirement
Do NOT order/submit transcripts until you have submitted your University Application and receive an email confirmation with your netid. HOW TO SUBMIT DOCUMENTS
Transcripts due April 15, 2025
*Official transcripts are required directly from ALL colleges/universities attended. The Office of Admissions does not accept composite transcripts. Courses that appear on one transcript but taken at another institution will need to have transcripts sent from that original institution.
Order official transcripts from all schools attended to be sent electronically to AVÀÇ Admissions or electronictranscripts@csueastbay.edu if an email address is requested.
If currently a AVÀÇ student or a AVÀÇ graduate, transcripts may not need to be submitted unless you have completed
Please note: If you are in the process of completing a Bachelor’s degree at a school other than AVÀÇ you must submit an official transcript showing coursework in progress for Spring, and one additional official transcript after your degree has been awarded showing conferral date.
Your Bachelor's Degree must have been awarded by a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
Foreign transcripts (if applicable) -
For your University Application: The University may require a evaluation of your international transcripts.
Contact the International Office of Admissions iao@csueastbay.edu
For your Department Application: Applicants with international transcripts with a foreign degree must provide an official evaluation of that coursework by a CTC-approved agency, for a list of approved agencies visit
is accepted by the University and the CTC.
Once you start your Department Application: Have an official evaluation electronically sent from the agency to csscdocuments@csueastbay.edu
Submit a
- You must maintain current TB test results throughout your entire program. If your results expire during the program, you will need to retake the test. TB skin and blood tests are valid for 3 years and chest x-rays are valid for 5 years.
- You may also be required to have more recent results for the fieldwork site.
The TB requirement is separate from the CSUEB “Immunization Requirement” which is due by the end of your first semester in the program and is submitted to the University’s Student Health Center.
A TB Risk Assessment (TBRA) is not acceptable and does not meet the requirement. It needs to be an actual negative TB test indicating the date performed and the date read.
The Certificate of Clearance serves as evidence of having undergone the fingerprint, character, and identification process required by the You must obtain a or hold a valid CTC-issued document in order to be accepted to a credential program.
Examples of documents include but are not limited to Emergency 30-Day Substitute Teaching Permits, Short-Term Staff Permits, Child Development Permits, and other CTC documents for which a fingerprint clearance is required for issuance.Getting the Certificate of Clearance is a two-part process.
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Complete and print the and take to a location offering Live Scan services to have your fingerprints rolled or scanned.
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Go to and apply for the Certificate of Clearance. For more details, visit .
Once the Certificate of Clearance is issued, you can access the document from the website that displays the document name, issuance date, and expiration date. The document must remain valid while in the program.
Detailed application instructions can be found . A video tutorial on the CTC website can be found .
Do NOT Submit the LiveScan form. LiveScan forms will not be accepted.
You must submit a or a valid -issued document to be admitted to the credential program.
BASIC SKILLS REQUIREMENT (BSR)
A Bachelor's Degree or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution meets the Basic Skills Requirement.
For more information, visit
California Education Code requires that all candidates for a teaching credential demonstrate they are proficient in the subject matter area of their intended credential (meet the SMC requirement) in order to be intern-eligible and/or be given daily whole-class instructional responsibilities in a TK-12 school.
See the following link from the website for options to meet (SMC).
You will be notified with a Department Status email from credentials@csueastbay.edu with your Subject Matter Competency (SMC) status if you are considered for admission.
Options for meeting the Subject Matter Competency (SMC) requirement:
- California Subject Examinations for Teachers (): passing the appropriate CSET for the credential sought- For more information regarding CSET, visit .
- Commission on Teacher Credentialing () approved Subject Matter Program: A Subject Matter Preparation Program is an organized course of undergraduate study that meets the Commission on Teacher Credentialing standards for subject matter preparation. Subject Matter Waiver Letter from a Subject Matter Preparation Program signed by an authorized person in the education department of a California college or university with an approved program.
- Meeting Subject Matter Competency (SMC) requirement by Degree Major: Verification of completion of an academic degree major in the subject area of the credential. To meet SMC by degree major, the degree major listed on your transcript must be an exact match to the authorization listed on the teaching credential named in the Education Code {Art, Dance, English, World Languages, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Science, Social Science, and Theater}. The current statutory language does not provide flexibility in the acceptance of closely related subjects; the degree major must be an exact match.
- Please see
- SMC full Coursework evaluation or Combination of coursework and Exams: You can request a transcript course evaluation to meet SMC only after you have started the Department Application and paid the $25 Department Application fee. Reviews for those who are applying for Summer 2025 will begin after December 1, 2024. Follow the instructions listed at the link SUBJECT MATTER COMPETENCY INFORMATION
Subject Matter Competency Coursework Evaluation Request Information
To request an evaluation of coursework, you will need to submit completed forms and transcripts (including foreign transcript evaluation if applicable) to demonstrate that you completed undergraduate or graduate coursework that fulfills the Domains of the Subject Matter Requirements set by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).
Follow the instructions listed at the link SUBJECT MATTER COMPETENCY INFORMATION
Prospective Students who have a Department Application in progress/submitted may submit a Subject Matter Competency Coursework Evaluation Request after December 1, 2024.
- SMC Evaluations will start in late January and typically take 6-8 weeks to complete.
- The deadline to submit the Subject Matter Competency (SMC) Coursework Evaluation Request is March 1, 2025.
- Evaluation Requests submitted after March 1, 2025, may not be reviewed.
- There is no guarantee your course evaluation will be approved.
- It is recommended you take CSETS for the credential subject you are seeking if your degree major is not an exact match.
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Please see and See
- Bachelor’s degree earned from a AVÀÇ (CSU) in any major
- One college-level course (two-semester units or three-quarter units) in the provisions and principles of the U.S. Constitution. The course should include content such as the Bill of Rights, federalism, the separation of powers, and checks and balances. Include the course name, course description, and where taken, and upload the unofficial transcript showing the course listed. Please note the course grade(s) must be a “C” or better; please see link of
- Passage of U.S. Constitution examinations verified by a regionally accredited college or university will be acceptable for certification purposes. Upload the official score report showing the
passage of the U.S. Constitution exam.
After a review of the Department and University applications, program applicants may be invited for a group interview with the Teacher Education faculty.
After the interview, the program faculty may conduct a reference check or request additional information.
Interview scheduling will begin in January/February.
Priority admission may be offered to applicants who have met all requirements including Subject Matter Competency.