Subject Matter Competency
Supplemental Program Materials, Special Education Credential
To be eligible for a California teaching credential, all applicants must demonstrate subject matter competency in their credential area. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) outlines multiple ways to meet this requirement. Please refer to the CCTC Subject Matter Chart Options to understand the available pathways.
Meeting Subject Matter Competency Through Coursework
If you are considering meeting subject matter competency through completed coursework, it is your responsibility to evaluate whether your academic background aligns with the state requirements. To do so:
- Review the Subject Matter Domains for your subject area.
- Carefully compare your completed coursework to the domain expectations listed.
- Once you believe your coursework meets all the domain requirements, you may email [email protected] to request a Subject Matter Course Review Request Form.
Please note: Our admissions team does not provide preliminary transcript advising or course-matching guidance. If you are unsure whether your courses fulfill the subject matter requirements, they likely do not. It is essential that you review the domains carefully and only request a review if you are confident that your coursework meets all listed competencies. You must request an evaluation no later than January 1st for a Fall start or August 1st for a Spring start.
Early Childhood Specialization Only
Early Childhood applicants must have completed a child development course, preferably one that includes child development for young children from birth to age 6 (Please note development and learning for Adolescence/Adulthood is not acceptable).
If your undergraduate degree is in Child and Family Development, Psychology, or Social Work, you automatically meet this requirement. If your degree is in another subject area, then an early childhood course is required.
At SDSU, the approved course(s) would be CFD 375A or CFD 375B. Only one course is required.