Health Science Credential Program

A Health Science teaching credential enables you to teach middle school and high school Health Science. The credential has two major parts - content and pedagogy (or health science content & teaching). In order to demonstrate subject matter competency you must complete prescribed courses in your field. An option is to successfully pass the CSET examination in Health Science. As you look at the list of required courses, you will see that you must complete introductory level courses in each area (breadth) and upper division courses in Health Science (depth). The professional education courses will help you learn how to teach. In these courses you will explore methodology, classroom management and reading in the content field. You will also learn about today's schools and how you can most effectively impact the diversity of students you will find.

 

In order to teach Health Science in a California public school, students must earn a teaching credential in Health Science. This web page provides information about the Health Science Credential Program at ºÚÁÏÍø.

To obtain a credential to teach health science, students must fulfill the following requirements:

  1. Bachelor’s Degree

  2. Pass the CBEST

  3. Either complete the Health Science Subject Matter Program or obtain a passing grade on the CSET examinations in Health Science.  Students are encouraged to undertake the Subject Matter Program as undergraduates or as post-bac students for certification.  For information regarding how to incorporate efficiently the subject matter into their major, undergraduates should seek credential advising early in their career at ºÚÁÏÍø.  Students will find additional information about this requirement at the Subject Matter Competency link.

  4. Complete the Education Program.  Students will find information about the required sequence of Education courses here.

The Health Science Subject Matter Program aligns with the BS in Health Science - Option in School Health Education requirements. Subject matter courses may be taken concurrently with Education courses as long as the program is completed prior to the onset of student teaching.  The subject matter competency program consist of 65-70 units in addition to the required 45 units of Education coursework (only 9 units of coursework overlaps between the subject matter courses and education courses. 

EDSS 300D serves as the prerequisites for all other education courses. EDSS 300D is only offered in the Fall semester. Students may take EDSS 300D concurrently with other courses in the Health Science Subject Matter Program, but they may not enroll in any Core education courses until after the successful completion of EDSS 300D. ºÚÁÏÍø undergraduates may take EDSS 300D beginning in their junior year.  Candidates must pass EDSS 300D with a B grade or better to be admitted to the Health Science Credential Program.   

Students may take the following co-requisite classes at any time prior to or after admission to the program:

HSC 411B - Health Science for Secondary School Teachers (Health Science majors will take HSC 430)
ETEC 444 - Computer Technology in Education, Level I.  Note: This course overlaps with the subject matter competency course requirements.
EDSP 355B - Collaborative Models of Inclusive Education
EDP 301, 302, or 305 Child / Adolescent Development / Educational Psychology  Note: This course overlaps with the subject matter competency course requirements.

Note: All candidates must show basic skills proficiency via CBEST or another accepted method. In addition, candidates must have an overall GPA of 2.67 in all college courses and major or a 2.75 in their last 60 semester units or 90 quarter units. Once a candidate is admitted to the Health Science Credential Program, the following courses must be completed:

  • EDSE 435 - US Secondary Schools: Multicultural Education

  • EDSE 436 - Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment & Classroom Management

  • EDSE 457 - Reading in Secondary School

  • EDSS 450D* - Methods in Teaching Health Science - Only offered in the Spring semester

  • EDSS 472 (A, B, C) plus EDSS 473D - Student Teaching. (15 units) and S.T. Seminar (3 units)
    OR
    EDSS 572 (A, B, C) plus EDSS 473D - Intern Student Teaching (15 units) and S.T. Seminar (3 units)

* It's recommended that students take 450D just prior to Student Teaching.