Program & Track Selection

UTEC offers four-, five- and six-year programs.

Incoming First Years: Must choose program and track by the end of 3rd semester.
Incoming Transfers and Continuing USF students: Must choose program and track upon acceptance into UTEC programs or before beginning second semester of sophomore year.

Multiple Subjects

4-Year Credential/BA program

Students planning to teach elementary school will follow the Multiple Subjects (MS) track and declare the Education: Liberal Studies (EDLS) major (overseen by UTEC). Participants will be enrolled in credential coursework during their undergraduate years; they do not earn graduate level credit for these classes. Students in this program earn a Bachelor’s degree in Education: Liberal Studies, and also earn a Preliminary California Teaching Credential. No other majors are eligible for the MS 4-year track.

Student Teaching in this program is done during the senior year. Students must fulfill the Basic Skills Requirement (BSR) and Subject Matter Requirement (SMR) BEFORE entering the first student teaching course. The Education: Liberal Studies major fulfills the state SMR, therefore Multiple Subjects candidates on the 4-year track can bypass the MS state exams (known as CSETs).

Dual Degree program

Students planning to teach elementary school will follow the Multiple Subjects (MS) track. During the undergraduate portion of the program, MS candidates typically complete twenty-five units of graduate coursework required for the MAT/Credential program at the USF School of Education (SOE). Students earn a Bachelor’s degree in the College of Arts and Sciences major of their choice. During the undergraduate portion of the program, MS candidates will also have the opportunity to take classes designed to support passage of the required CSETS and/or fulfill the SMR.

Student Teaching in this program is done during the graduate (or 5th) year. Students must fulfill the Basic Skills Requirement (BSR) and SMR BEFORE entering the first student teaching course. Detailed information about BSR and SMR can be found in the BSR/SMR section of this handbook.

IMPORTANT: The University’s language requirement is waived for MS candidates only.

Single Subject

Credential/BA program

Students planning to teach Middle School or High School will follow the Single Subject (SS) track. The SS 4-year track is only open to students majoring in History or English. Participants will be enrolled in credential coursework during their undergraduate years; they do not earn graduate level credit for these classes. Students in this program earn a BA degree in History or English, and earn the Single Subject Credential in either Social Science or English.

Student Teaching in this program is done during the senior year. Students must fulfill the Basic Skills Requirement (BSR) and SMR BEFORE entering the first student teaching course. Detailed information about BSR and SMR can be found in the BSR/SMR section of this handbook.

Dual Degree program

Students planning to teach at the secondary level will follow the Single Subject (SS) track. During the undergraduate portion of the program, SS candidates typically complete twenty-five units of the graduate coursework required for the MAT/Credential program at the USF School of Education (SOE). The University offers certification in four Single Subject areas: Math, Science (Biology, Chemistry, or Physics), English or Social Science (History). Students pursuing a SS certification are strongly advised to major in the subject area in which they plan to earn their SS credential. If majoring in a subject area in which a SS credential is not available at USF, students must minor in one of the SS credential subject areas.

Multiple Subjects/Single Subject

Students wishing to earn both MS and SS credentials will complete the MS track. To add the SS credential, they will take one Curriculum and Instruction course in the SS subject area they plan to teach. Additionally, they need to take and pass the SS CSET exams in the subject area or fulfill the SMR through coursework.

Bilingual Authorization

UTEC students possessing Spanish language proficiency are able to add the Bilingual Authorization to their credential by taking two additional courses, either in senior year or in the final year of their program. Language skills will be assessed via an interview prior to beginning coursework.

Special Education

Students interested in both general education and special education will follow the Multiple Subjects or Single Subject track through the Credential/BA or Dual Degree program. In an additional year, students will add 30 units of special education curriculum. During this year, students will work as paid intern teachers within a local school district. The Master’s earned through this path is a Master of Arts in Special Education. Once the student completes the Special Education program, they will have a BA/BS, a MS or SS preliminary teaching credential, a Masters of Arts in Teaching, a Mild/Moderate Support Needs Education Specialist preliminary teaching credential, and a Master of Arts in Special Education (i.e., two teaching credentials and two Masters).

Multiple Subject students who are interested in earning only a Mild/Moderate Support Needs Education Specialist Preliminary Teaching Credential and Masters of Arts in Special Education, can pursue a special 4+2 track. This track allows students to complete certain teacher credential classes on the undergraduate level, leaving them with fewer credits to take during the 2-year Special Education program. During the two years they are in the Special Education program, students will work as paid intern teachers within a local school district.