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CA Preliminary Teaching Credential and MA in Education
Claremont Graduate University’s Joint MA and Teaching Credential Program has been identified as one of the most effective teacher education programs in California. It combines rigorous, research-driven preparation with real-world classroom experience to meet the needs of today’s diverse students and schools.
Candidates gain a deep understanding of the dynamics of teaching while learning to create inclusive, humanizing classroom environments. With strong support from faculty and district partners, you’ll graduate confident, adaptable, and ready to make a lasting impact.
All candidates complete a full-time, year-long clinical residency in a partner school within 30 miles of Claremont. Modeled after medical residencies, this in-person experience offers hands-on, mentored preparation that builds strong, sustainable teaching practices, especially for those new to the profession. In addition to the standard residency, CGU offers several district partnership residencies that combine classroom teaching with financial and professional support.
Please note that this list is not comprehensive and only represents a part of all the residency partners available to CGU students.
Critical social justice is core to who we are, what we do, and what we value in CGU’s Teacher Education program. The act of teaching alone is not social justice if we are not teaching in ways that honor our students and communities. For us, critical social justice is not an empty gesture or a checklist, but rather a challenging, humbling, love-soaked, reflective practice that takes practice. We operate from the premise that schools are not neutral because they contain and reflect the inequities deeply and structurally embedded within our nation. Therefore, we support our students in understanding this landscape so they can:
To enact our values, we developed Critical Social Justice Competencies that guide our faculty’s and students’ teaching practices, we elevate scholarship and experiences of diverse voices, and we center collective wellness and community in everything we do.
All students earn an MA in Education alongside one of the following California Preliminary Teaching Credentials:
Haseya means “to rise up” in Navajo! Empowering Native Americans to rise up as future educators. CGU and the Navajo Nation partnered to help earn your California teaching credential and master’s degree with full financial support and mentorship, then make an impact teaching in Native communities. Join a community committed to culturally responsive teaching and the success of Indigenous learners.
36-38 units
required units
CA Preliminary Teaching Credential and MA in Education
degree awarded
Online
modality
Spring, Summer
program start
12-24 months | full time*
estimated completion time
Parenting Now
Parent Educator
Epic Games
Senior Operations Partner
STEM4Real
Executive Director
California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
Program Consultant
Cisco Secure
Learning & Development Lead
Diocese of San Diego
Superintendent
Taipei American School
Upper School Math Teacher
Dean, School of Educational Studies
Professor of Education
Research Interests
Culturally relevant education; resiliency and achievement of marginalized populations; intersection of families, community, and school; language acquisition; social capital theory; systems theory
Clinical Assistant Professor
Preliminary Program Coordinator
Department of Teacher Education
Research Interests
Bermúdez's research and teaching interests explore the significance of healthy classroom ecologies and the tension between critical social justice teaching and subtractive schooling. Her work spans PK-12 to higher education, with an emphasis on antiracist, antibias and culturally sustaining pedagogies; the intersection of class/race in education; the value of testimonios y pláticas in qualitative research; linguistic justice and translanguaging; and critically socially just leadership.
Clinical Assistant Professor
Assistant Director of Department of Teacher Education.
Research Interests
Indigenous research methodologies; the Indigenous art of storytelling as a high-impact practice in K-16 classrooms; Intersectionality of Dis/ability Research and Critical Social Justice; Role of Relationships as a Foundation for Creating Positive Classroom and School Ecologies; the intersectionality of race and athletics w/in K-16 systems; College Choice for historically minoritized communities; Impact of Colonization on the Educational Trajectory of Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders (NHPIs); Critical Social Justice in K-16 Education; Anti Racist/Anti Bias Pedagogy in K-16 classrooms
Special Education Coordinator & Advisor
Research Interests
Inclusive Education, Anti-bias Curriculum, Differentiated Instruction and Supporting families and students with disabilities. I am an advocate for implementing developmentally appropriate practices and providing rigorous classroom lessons to promote skills students can apply into their daily lives.
The Teacher Education program is an online program that may not meet student visa requirements. Additionally, the program is designed to prepare California K12 school teachers. Graduates without U.S. work visas will likely find it difficult to find employment opportunities in California K12 schools.
Typically, classes meet 5:00-8:00PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Spring SPED class on Wednesdays. Monthly Critical Practicum on Monday evenings. We have optional “Spicy Saturdays” to gather in person on campus twice a semester.
| University Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | $80 (fee is non-refundable) |
| Official Transcripts | Undergraduate/graduate Applicants must submit a sealed, official transcript from every undergraduate and graduate institution that has granted the applicant a degree. Electronic transcripts sent to admissions@cgu.edu are also accepted. For undergraduate coursework, applicants are required to submit proof of a completed bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Unofficial copies of transcripts are accepted for review purposes, but official copies will be required upon admission. Applicants currently earning a degree that will be completed prior to attending CGU are required to submit a transcript showing work in progress for evaluation purposes. Once the degree has been granted, a final official transcript documenting the degree conferred must be submitted to CGU. International applicants are advised to review the International Transcript Guidelines for additional information on submitting international transcripts. |
| English Proficiency Exam | Required (international applicants only) A valid score on one of the following examinations TOEFL, IELTS, Pearson PTE, Duolingo English Test is required of all non-native English-speaking applicants. The examination is not required for the following applicants:
CGU’s school code for the TOEFL exam is 4053. International applicants are encouraged to visit our International Applicants page for more information, including score requirements. |
| Resume | Applicants must submit an up-to-date copy of their resume. |
| Program Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Statement of Purpose | In three pages maximum (typed, double‐spaced, 12 point font), respond to the following prompts. 1. Describe how your personal and educational background has shaped your desire to be a teacher. |
| Academic Prerequisites | Completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, ideally with a minimum 3.0 GPA. If GPA is below 3.0, please address why in your personal statement. |
| Letter of Recommendation | 2 letters required When filling out the online application, please enter references acquainted with your potential for success as a teacher who will submit a written recommendation on your behalf. References from those who can speak to your experience with children, your credential area, teaching in any context, etc. are preferred. Please do not enter family members as references. For programs requiring two letters of recommendation, you are welcome to enter an optional third reference. If you are struggling to secure two letters of recommendation, please reach out to an admissions representative. |
| Standardized Test Scores | CBEST and CSET Basic Skills & Subject Competency Requirements If you have not graduated from a regionally accredited university with a BA/BS, please enter your CBEST scores in the online application, and send a copy of your test scores with your application or upload documents demonstrating proof of meeting the basic skills requirement in another CTC approved way. If you are using the CSET to show your subject matter proficiency but have yet to pass it, you must submit proof of registration for an upcoming CSET examination. If you are using another CTC approved method, please upload supporting documents. You may upload score reports, proof of CSET registration, and any other relevant documents in the “Upload Supporting Documents” section of the online application (upload under “Additional Documents”). If you receive your test scores after submitting your application (or if you have more score reports than you are permitted to upload) please send them to the Teacher Education Office (925 N. Dartmouth Ave., Claremont, CA, 91711) or email an electronic copy to admissions@cgu.edu. |
| Interview | You will go through a central interview and reference check process before being admitted. Invitations to interview are extended once basic eligibility requirements are confirmed. |
CGU operates on a priority deadline cycle. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit complete applications by the priority dates in order to assure maximum consideration for both admission and fellowships.
Once the priority deadlines have passed, the University will continue to review applications for qualified candidates on a competitive, space-available basis. The final deadlines listed are the last date the University can accept an application in order to allow sufficient time to complete the admissions, financial aid, and other enrollment processes.
Spring 2026
Priority Deadline – November 1, 2025
Final Deadline – January 1, 2026
Classes begin – January 20, 2026
Summer 2026
Priority Deadline: February 1, 2026
Final Deadline: June 1, 2026
Classes Begin: July 1, 2026
CGU has demonstrated its strong commitment to the Teacher Education program by reducing tuition by 50% starting in 2022.
Estimated Tuition
(California Residents, Non-Residents, International)
Program: 36-38 units
Tuition per unit: $1,000*
*Discounted rate effective for new students starting Spring 2022 or later.
Student Fees (Per Semester)
For estimates on room & board, books, and more, download CGU’s Cost of Attendance 2025–2026.
Our district partner programs are designed to be financially accessible. The combination of competitive tuition rates, substantial grants, loans, and a generous living stipend significantly reduces the financial barriers typically associated with graduate education.
| Question | Residency |
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| How do I qualify for this opportunity? |
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| How long does it take to complete the program? |
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| When can I start? |
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| Is this a paid opportunity? |
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| What are the time requirements of this program? |
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| What are the typical working hours at the school site? |
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| What credentials can I earn at CGU? |
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| What are the academic prerequisites? |
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| What documentation is required to start? |
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| Can I earn an MA in Education simultaneously? |
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| Can I transfer units from another graduate program? |
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• Standard Residency: You complete about 20 hours per week of student teaching in a mentor teacher’s classroom. These placements focus solely on the training experience. • District (Partner-Hosted) Residency: In addition to the same student-teaching requirement, you’re hired into a dual role (such as substitute or interventionist support) and receive a living stipend (typically $25k+). These residencies are tied to specific district needs, so eligibility can depend on credential area and whether you’re already employed in that district.
• Standard residency: CGU places candidates for a full year in the classroom of a mentor teacher in a public or charter school, usually within a 30-mile radius of CGU • District residency: Candidates are placed with local partners . Locations may vary based . • Residency placements are only in public or charter schools.
• When starting in spring, 18 months minimum. • When starting in summer, 12 months minimum.
• Spring or Summer. • You can complete the program in 12 months, starting in late July and ending in July the following year
• Standard Residency: No, but you can often substitute for your mentor teacher. • District Residency: Includes a living stipend, typically around $25K.
• At least 20 hours weekly at the clinical site plus graduate and credential coursework.
• Full-time • 20+ hours/week on campus + evening coursework • Standard Residency = ~3 days/week • District Residency = 4 – 5 days • Flexible part-time work possible on off-days
• Standard Residency: 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM on three to five days a week, depending on your chosen pathway. • District Residency: 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday – Friday
Each semester offers different opportunities. The spring term offers a more manageable pace and smoother transition into the program. Candidates complete their first required course over 16 weeks, meeting once per week, allowing more time to absorb content, complete early assignments, and begin preparing for subject matter requirements (such as CSET or coursework verification). In contrast, summer term is accelerated. Candidates take the same first course as they would in the spring but condensed into 5 weeks (meeting three times per week) while also beginning their second course concurrently. We recommend most candidates start in spring, if possible, as it provides a more intentional and grounded experience with more time to complete graduate coursework and credential prerequisites ahead of clinical residency placement.
• Multiple-Subject General Education (elementary). • Single-Subject General Education in Math, Science, Social Studies, English, or World Languages. • Mild/Moderate orExtensive Support Needs in Special Education.
Yes. In many cases, dding a credential within the same area — such as Special Education to another SPED credential, or Single Subject to another Single Subject — is possible. However, earning an additional credential across different areas (e.g., from SPED to Single Subject) can be more complex. We recommend you speak with your academic advisor to explore your options and requirements.
• Candidates must meet the CA Subject Matter Proficiency Requirement or register for the CSET before beginning their first course in the program; fulfilling the Subject Matter Proficiency Requirement by March of Residency year.
• LiveScan & DOJ clearance. • Proof of TB negative status. • Mandated reporter certification. • U.S. Constitution requirement fulfillment. • Credential analyst will advise upon admission.
• Yes. All CGU candidates earn their credentials and MA in Education at the same time.. • Math candidates can opt for an additional MS in Mathematics. • An MA/MS with a credential generally results in a higher entry level pay.
• No. They are integrated.
• General Education Residents can transfer in up to 2 elective units (subject to change). • Special Education Residents are not eligible to apply transfer units toward their degree.
Yes, but it depends on your residency model. District Partnership Pathways (Embedded Dual-Role Residencies): These placements require you to serve in a dual role, such as a substitute teacher, interventionist, or paraeducator. These roles are part of your paid placement and provide valuable classroom experience while fulfilling residency requirements. Standard Residency Placements: In standard residencies, you’ll be in the classroom with your mentor teacher either 3 full days per week or 5 half days per week. During your remaining availability, we encourage you to become a regular substitute teacher at your school site. You may also take on part-time work, as long as it does not conflict with your residency hours or coursework. Keep in mind that your residency and online coursework are top priorities, so any additional work should remain flexible and secondary.
Some of our partner districts require a drug test as part of their onboarding process. When we’re aware, we’ll inform you in advance if this applies to your placement and always help you navigate the process.
• 36–38 units at $1,000/unit = $36,000–$38,000 • $245 student fee. • $150 technology fee.
• CGU 50% tuition reduction, automatic • CGU financial aid, eligibility determined by FAFSA • Golden State Teachers Grant (up to $10,000), eligibility determined by FAFSA • TEACH Grant ($4,000), eligibility determined by FAFSA • Classified Educator Grant (up to $4,300/year), eligible to anyone who has worked as a classified staff member in CAFederal unsubsidized loan ($20,500/year), eligibility determined by FAFSA • Loan forgiveness programs • District residency stipends ($25,000 – $37,000), eligibility determined by credential area, employment history, and/or admissions date.
Our program follows a hybrid model: your coursework is delivered synchronously online, and you’ll also participate in an in-person clinical teaching residency. To fully engage in both components, you’ll need: • A reliable computer or tablet with a working keyboard, camera, and microphone. • Stable, high-speed internet access to support video conferencing and file uploads. • Fluency using digital platforms such as: Zoom (for live online classes, coaching, and meetings), Google Suite (Docs, Drive, Calendar, etc.). • Access to additional digital platforms such as: CGU’s learning management system, Canvas (where coursework is accessed and submitted), GoReact (to film and upload your teaching for feedback and assessment), Padlet and Canva (used for collaborative activities and creative assignments).