Education MA/Credential Pathway Starting Fall 2024!

The 4+1 pathway program streamlines application and acceptance into the Education MA by allowing Literature Majors to receive priority enrollment in impacted Education undergraduate courses, and to complete state-mandated tests and some program requirements prior to the start of the MA/Credential Program while completing the Literature Major. Upon completing these requirements and formally applying to the graduate program, graduating Literature Majors are able to complete the Education MA/Credential Program in one year (five quarters, July - July; The Education Department expects to admit all graduating Literature Majors who have met the 4+1 Pathway requirements, barring extenuating circumstances; application fees apply). 

Undergraduate students currently enrolled in the Literature Major have the opportunity, any time after the start of their junior year until December 1 of their senior year, to apply to be admitted to the 4+1 contiguous pathway leading to the Education Master’s Degree.

The requirements for admission into the 4+1 pathway are:

• Undergraduate major in Literature
• A GPA in the major of 3.0 or higher
• Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Junior or senior standing 
• 30 or more hours of experience with middle and/or high school-aged youth (classroom experience, tutoring, or coaching sports teams are just a few ways to satisfy this requirement; reach out to litdept@ucsc.edu about opportunities and with questions about whether your existing experience qualifies)
• Complete two upper-division courses selected from the following with a grade of B or higher: EDUC 120, EDUC 125, EDUC 126, EDUC 135, EDUC 141, EDUC 160, EDUC 164, EDUC 180
• Copy of unofficial transcripts
• A one-page personal statement describing (a) your motivation and academic preparation for entering the pathway, (b) your goals for the pathway, and (c) your professional goals. 

Interested students should schedule a meeting with the Literature undergraduate advisor to discuss their curriculum plan and complete the application forms. The deadline for application to the pathway is December 1 of the senior year, although students are encouraged to apply earlier.

While students in the pathway are not guaranteed admission to the MA/Credential Program, the Education Department expects to admit students who:

1. have met the requirements for admission to the 4+1, above;
2. have classroom or other instructive experience with youth (i.e. coaching sports teams, tutoring, youth groups); and
3. have a commitment to teaching in communities serving traditionally underserved populations. 

Additionally, students will be eligible for a streamlined admission process if, at the time of application, they have met the state Basic Skills and Subject Matter requirements, typically by providing passing scores on California state tests: the CBEST and the CSET (applicants must pass the required subtests for a secondary Single Subject English Language Arts credential).

CSET English Language Arts consists of four subtests:

• English Subtest I (test code 105)
• English Subtest II (test code 106)
• English Subtest III (test code 107)
• English Subtest IV (test code 108)

After entering into the Master’s/Credential Program, students from the pathway will follow the same requirements as any other students in the MA/C program with expected graduation in July of the year after their graduation from the UC Santa Cruz Literature Major.

Students who have completed one of the following undergraduate Education courses will have the course EDUC 205 waived from their MA/Credential requirements: 

• EDUC 102, Education, Media and Society,
• EDUC 128, Immigrants and Education,
• EDUC 140, Language, Diversity & Learning,
• EDUC 173, Critical Pedagogy,
• EDUC 181, Race, Class and Culture in Education.

Students intending to apply for the MA/Credential Program may also choose to complete these courses in Summer Session II between their junior and senior years, instead of during the MA/Credential Program:

• EDUC 210, Health, Safety and Community, 2 credits,                                         
• EDUC 213, Child and Adolescent Development for Educators, 2 credits,

The following State of California requirements for a California teaching credential, which must be completed before the end of the final quarter of the MA/Credential Program, can also be completed at the undergraduate stage if a student chooses:

• The US Constitution Examination, when offered by the Education Department. (Completion of any of the courses POLI 20, POLI 111A, POLI 120A or HIS 10A also satisfies this requirement.)
• The UC Santa Cruz Extension online course EDUC.XSC209 can be completed any time it is offered to satisfy the Preliminary Technology Requirement.
• A certified cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course (infant, child, and adult) must be completed before the end of the final quarter of the MA/Credential Program and be valid at the time of application for the preliminary credential in the final summer session of the MA/Credential Program. (A CPR course that will remain valid through the preliminary credential application may be taken by students in the LIT/EDUC 4+1 Pathway prior to beginning the MA/Credential Program; 12-month certifications will not be sufficient. Students must check with the CPR course provider.)

There are a number of sources of financial aid for individuals seeking a teaching credential, as well as state and federal loan forgiveness programs. Of note is the Cal Grant 5th year for individuals seeking a credential. 

For additional information, please visit the MA/Credential Program page. 

Sample LIT/EDUC 4+1 Contiguous Bachelor’s/Master’s Pathway Academic Plan

General Literature Concentration Four-Year Planner with Education Fifth-Year Planner