Overview
In California, Preliminary Level I Education Specialist Credentials in Mild/Moderate Disabilities and Moderate/Severe Disabilities authorize the provision of services to individuals in grades K through 12, including adults. The Mild/Moderate Disabilities credential authorizes the teaching of individuals with specific learning disabilities, mental retardation, other health impairments, and emotional disturbance. The Moderate/Severe Disabilities credential authorizes the teaching of individuals with autism, mental retardation, deaf-blindness, emotional disturbance, and multiple disabilities. The DHH?Credential authorizes services from age birth-22.
For students enrolled in the Level I Education Specialist credential with a English Learner Authorization, please note that classes have been approved as a set by the CTC. No coursework is accepted in transfer from another university for this program and no substitutions are allowed. All coursework for the English Learner Authorization must be taken at National University, which will provide a recommendation to the CTC.
Although many of the courses in this credential program are offered online, certain testing courses and fieldwork in the Advanced Specialization program must be taken on-site.
Admission Requirements
Before being accepted to the credential program, students must possess a bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited college or university and be enrolled in the University. Students with a non-U.S. degree must receive an evaluation from a CTC-approved international evaluation agency prior to admission and starting the first course. Students are admitted to the credential program when they attend the credential orientation meeting (EXC 602A or a separate National University orientation) and return the completed credential packet. (See Admission to Credential Programs in the previous section.)
National University recognizes its responsibility to exercise judgment in recommending persons for California teaching credentials. Students must submit a completed credentials packet and be interviewed by a credential advisor and a School of Education faculty member. The credentials packet is available from a credential advisor at the credential orientation (EXC 602A or a separate National University orientation) meeting and must be completed and submitted before the end of course EXC 602A, within the first 30 days of enrollment. Course equivalence is not granted for life experience.
Scheduling
All generic courses are scheduled by an admissions advisor. A member of the credential department will schedule the advanced specialization courses and student teaching when students complete the generic core exam.
Admission to Field Experiences
- Before beginning any part of the Student Teaching, students must:
- Return the completed credentials packet within 30 days of admission and orientation
- Provide proof of passing the Basic Skills Assessment *
- Demonstrate subject-matter competency*
- Provide proof of possession of a Certificate of Clearance or other valid document
- Provide verification of a negative tuberculin examination taken within the last four years
- Interview with a School of Education faculty member
- Complete all other coursework in the Education Specialist program
- Zero Account Balance
- Complete the prerequisite coursework with a 3.0 GPA. "D" and "F" grades are not accepted.
* Highly recommended prior to admission and at the first available test date after enrollment. Must be passed prior to advanced specialization classes.
Note: Detailed requirements for field experiences are listed in the Student Teaching Handbook and in the Credential Packet.
Recommendation for Preliminary Level I Education Specialist Credential
In order to be recommended for a California Preliminary Level I Education Specialist credential in Mild/Moderate, Moderate/Severe Disabilities or Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing, students must show:
- Successful completion of the admission process.
- Successful completion of the field experience activities, including Student Teaching.
- Successful completion of the program within seven years.
- Proof of passing with a grade of "C" or better coursework or an examination on the U.S. Constitution.
- Official transcripts of all colleges/universities attended on file at National University.
- Proof of passing Basic Skills Requirement.
- Proof of meeting the appropriate subject matter competence.
- Completion of 31.5 quarter units in residence.
- Valid CPR certification for Infant, Child and Adult.
- Proof of passing the U.S. Constitution exam or transcript verifying completed U.S. Constitution coursework.
- Maintenance of a GPA of 3.0 in credential program coursework; "D" and "F" grades are not accepted.
- Receipt of a Certificate of Clearance or other valid document.
- Successful completion of the generic core and advanced specialization requirements.
- Successful completion of the generic core exam.
- Successful completion of the exit process, including passing the Exit Exam.
- Proof of passing the Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA)
- Verification of passing scores (BCLAD only) on the verbal and written language proficiency examinations.
- Zero account balance prior to student teaching and completion.
- Attend exit appointment with credential advisor to receive final clearance and credential documents
- Letter of recommendation from Master Teacher (for DHH students only)
- Comprehensive Examination (for DHH students only)
See a Credential Advisor for specific information regarding any of these requirements.
Requirements
(25 courses; 109.5 quarter units)
Admission to the Program
Submit the following application documentation in ONE complete packet:
- Application for Admission to Education of the Deaf graduate program
- CD or DVD portfolio of ASL Fluency (video samples, 10 to 12 minutes maximum in length) including the following content:
1. Introduce yourself and discuss your sign language acquisition experience
2. Narrate an ASL story
3. Narrate a selected work of children's literature - Intermediate proficiency or better in American Sign Language competencies as assessed by Proficiency Interview
- Personal and professional goals essay (a writing sample, 1 full single spaced page maximum)
Send ONE complete application packet to:
DHH Lead Faculty Advisor
National University
11255 North Torrey Pines Road
La Jolla, CA 92037-1011
Prerequisites
(10 courses; 43.5 quarter units)
PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology or equivalent course
PSY 301 Child Development
PSY 427 Biological Psychology
PSY 431 Theories and Techniques of Psychological Testing
HED 602 Introductory Health Ed: K-12
EDT 608 Computer based Technology in the Classroom
EXC 603 Dev. EC Spec Needs
EXC 604 Excep & Diversity in Clsrm
EXC 602B Fld Exper: Incl Settings (3 quarter units)
CLD 627 Meth. Crosscult. Instr.
United States Constitution Requirement: pass test or submit course transcript.
Interdisciplinary Core Courses
(3 courses; 13.5 quarter units)
TED 615 The Foundations of Education
EXC 620 Positive Behavior Support
TED 621A Lang. Dev. Methods: Elem. Sch.
Generic Core Exam
Core Courses for the Education Specialist: Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Credential
(11 courses; 48 quarter units)
DHH 600 ASL-English Bilingual Education
DHH 601 ASL Acquisition & Development
DHH 602 English Acquisition & Dev
DHH 603 Assessment for DHH Learners
DHH 604 Bi-literacy Education
DHH 605 Ed of Deaf Special Needs
DHH 606 Curriculum and Instruction
DHH 607 Bilingual – Multicultural Ed
DHH 608A Student Teaching I
DHH 608B Student Teaching II
DHH 609 Student Teaching Seminar (3 quarter units)
(Must be taken concurrently with student teaching)
Exit Comprehensive Exam – Apply for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Level I Credential.
To apply for the credential please refer to "Recommendation for Preliminary Level I Education Specialist Credential"?section of the catalog.
Students seeking the Preliminary Level I Education Specialist- DHH credential must demonstrate Intermediate-high proficiency or better in American Sign Language competence as assessed by Proficiency Interview before taking:
Exit Requirements
- Pass all required coursework with a B average. No grades of D or F are accepted.
- Pass the RICA
- Valid CPR card (Infant, Child, and Adult)
- Certificate of clearance (including fingerprint clearance)
- Letter of recommendation from Master Teacher
- Comprehensive Examination
- Apply for credentia
| Degree Program Locations | |
|---|---|
| This degree is offered online |