Q. What pathways are available to teaching in the Sacramento Region?

Traditional teacher preparation programs require that you obtain a bachelor's degree and then apply to a teacher credential program, which will take an additional 2-3 semesters of coursework and student teaching to obtain your teaching credential. In addition to BA in any subject, completion of subject matter competency, CBEST, 2.67 GPA, experience with target population. Time for full-time student: 5+ years.

Blended programs combine the requirements for a BA and teacher preparation so that you graduate with a BA degree and a teaching credential at the same time. Time for full-time student: 4.5+ years

All lower division coursework can be completed at a Los Rios college. In the blended program at a Los Rios college, you begin your teacher preparation coursework during your first year of college and then transfer to a four-year college to complete your teacher preparation program. The teacher preparation program at the Los Rios colleges is designed to provide for seamless transfer to California State University Sacramento (CSUS).

Q: What are the advantages of the "blended" program over the traditional one?

• At the community college, the blended program provides you early field experience working with children in public schools so you will know if teaching is the right career for you.
• When you enter the Blended Program, you work as a cohort with a group of like minded future teachers. This sense of community can be very helpful.
• CSUS sets up your schedule for you, and you don’t have to worry about getting into the classes you need. The schedule is all arranged for you.
• Besides taking less time to complete than the traditional program, the "blended" program integrates the teacher preparation courses with the content courses, so they are more relevant. When students take a math class, for example, they will also in effect be taking a "How to Teach Math" class. This approach makes teacher preparation more meaningful because students are focusing on how to teach the content they are learning.
  

Q: Can I participate in the CSUS Blended Liberal Studies Program as a part-time student?

The Blended Liberal Studies Credential program includes a full set of courses that students will take in a prescribed sequence. To participate in this program, students need to be able to attend as full-time students. If you are unable to attend college full-time, then you should consider one of the other pathways to teaching, realizing that when you do actually start the credential phase, you will have to be able to attend full time.

Q: Is the traditional CSUS Liberal Studies option still available?

Yes. If you have some coursework already completed at a Los Rios college and you are interested in becoming a teacher, see a counselor to determine which pathway to teaching option is best for you.

Q: What if I already have a college degree? Do I then need to enter this program to earn my credential?

If you already have a degree, the traditional 5th year of education and student teaching through CSUS or another four-year college or university is the best path for you to follow. Contact a counselor at CSUS or another credentialing for more information.

Q: How do I apply for financial aid at Los Rios or CSUS? 

All colleges have financial aid offices that offer support for students. Many students qualify for financial aid who never even apply. The deadline dates are very early, however, and students need to have all forms submitted by March 1 for the following school year. See your financial aid officer for details well in advance of March 1.

Q: What about transferring to another CSU Blended Program? 

CSU’s all over the state have Blended programs, and some of the work you do at the community college would transfer, but each university has some specific requirements. Before you assume that the courses for CSU Sacramento will work at another institution, inquire at that school’s School of Education for complete information.

Q: Is CSUS changing their Blended Program? 

The rules will change for the Blended cadre groups that start their professional phase after the Fall of 2005. Make sure if you are going to start after that date, make sure you know the new requirements. A brief synopsis:

•  Econ 302 will no longer be a requirement.
•  The History/Humanities pair requirement will no longer be required. History 307 will be the sole requirement remaining from that area.
•  CSUS’s History 132 will articulate with a new course to be developed in Los Rios which has not been named or numbered yet.

Q: Are there any other courses I can take while I am attending a Los Rios Community College ? 

As part of every credential program, students take four courses in an “area of concentration.” The most common ones are Human Development, Social Sciences, Math, and English. You may be able to take one or more of those courses at a LRCC. Check with your advisor at CSUS before assuming a course will work and signing up for it.

Q: What are the requirements to begin the Professional Phase (Credential Program) of the Blended Program at CSUS? 

1. At least a 2.67 GPA in your transfer course work.
2. Verification of two approved field experience courses (your transcript of passing the courses at Los Rios colleges is sufficient)
3. 2 letters of recommendation, one from a field experience teacher or supervisor, and another from a faculty member.
4. Professional goal statement.
5. Official transcripts (1 CSUS and 2 non-CSUS)
6. Interview
7. Pass the CBEST
8. Pass the Writing Proficiency Exam (WPE) at CSUS.

Q: When will I do my student teaching and how does it work? 

You will do your student teaching at the end of your Blended Program, and it lasts for two semesters. You will be assigned to an elementary school, and you will work extensively with a master teacher who will encourage and guide you.

Q: What are all the tests I have to take before I can get a credential? 

Besides the normal exams you take as part of every class, you can expect to take a number of exams before you earn your credential through CSUS, whether you pursue the traditional liberal studies approach or the new Blended Program:

•  Math IAD, the Mathematics Intermediate Algebra Diagnostic. This exam is required by CSUS before you can take any of the math courses at CSUS that you will need in the Blended program. You should take this (in the college testing center) as soon as you have passed the Intermediate Algebra course.
•  CBEST, the California Educational Basic Skills Test. This exam can be taken at any time (no later than the October prior to your spring CSUS transfer), and your scores remain in effect forever. You can take it as many times as you need, but you should take it as soon as you pass the lower division Math and Writing classes, well before you apply to the Blended Program. For information:
•  WPE, the Writing Proficiency Exam. This is a CSUS graduation requirement, and you should take it soon after you finish your lower division writing course work (no later than the September prior to your spring CSUS transfer).
•  CSET, the California Subject Examination for Teachers. This exam must be passed before you can begin student teaching, and the Blended Program will provide you the coursework you will need to be successful on this exam. This exam does not need to be taken all at once; you can take it part by part.

Q: What do I do if I decide that I want to teach at a high school instead of elementary?

Once you have a credential it is easy to add on a second credential by taking additional credential course work. High school teachers have a single subject credential as opposed to the multiple subject credential that elementary teachers have. To earn this kind of credential, you must pass the subject matter examination in the subject area you wish to teach, such as math, English, history or Spanish.

Q: I have heard that many new teachers drop out of the profession during the first 5 years. Why?

This phenomenon was a severe problem for the teaching profession a few years ago, and many changes have been enacted to counteract it:

• Credentialing schools now require early field experience so that students have a better idea that teaching is the career they really want.
• School districts have implemented much better new teacher support programs so that new teachers have the connections and help they need to enter and successfully remain in the profession.

Q: Can I teach with an emergency credential?

A few years ago, when the teacher shortage was especially severe, many districts were hiring people without credentials to teach in their schools. Now, however, with an increase in the supply of teachers, such practices are becoming very rare. For example, Elk Grove Unified School District, one of the 5 largest districts in the state, does not have any teachers on emergency credentials.

Q: Do I have to take geometry before I can take Math 310?

If you did not take and pass geometry in high school, you will have to take it in college. If you can show a high school transcript with geometry, you do not have to take it.

Q: Does everybody have to take the Intermediate Algebra class before taking Math 310?

No, some students do not have to take Intermediate Algebra. If you have a very strong math background, do well on the math placement test, you can bypass the prerequisite and move directly on to Math 310. Talk to your counselor if you think you qualify.