Liberal Studies for Education
Path to TeachersCHOICE program at the Shirley M. Hufstedler School of Education,br>The Liberal Studies for Education program prepares students to be teachers in elementary (grades K-6) and middle school (grades 7-8) settings. It offers the subject-matter preparation necessary for students who anticipate entering a teacher certification program for a Multiple-Subjects Teaching Credential after graduation. For students wanting to teach in a middle school setting, it provides the coursework required for an Introductory Subject-Matter Authorization in English or mathematics. Along with the general core of required courses, students do a five-course concentration in one content area.

Following Alliant’s professional practice model, the program includes courses designed for professional development. These courses provide a mixture of theory and practical application and examine topics related to learning theory, methods of instruction, physical and emotional development, and culturally diverse and exceptional children. Particular emphasis is given to teaching students with limited English proficiency. In addition to their coursework, students have opportunities to observe effective teachers and develop their own teaching skills by working as tutors or assistants in after-school programs. They are also required to do an internship where they work as an aide or teaching assistant in a classroom. Course content also provides students with the competencies needed to pass the California Subject-Matter Examination for Teachers-Multiple Subjects (CSET-MS) required by the State of California for anyone wanting to teach in a public elementary school.

The degree completion time for a full-time student in the program is generally four semesters. An Introductory Subject-Matter Authorization normally requires only one additional semester of coursework.

TeachersCHOICE at the Shirley M. Hufstedler School of Education
TeachersCHOICE, which is comprised of three different teacher credentialing programs designed to serve different candidate profiles and preferences. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) is responsible for ensuring that our youth are safely entrusted to the care of qualified teachers. All three routes to a teaching credential share many of the same requirements, including a bachelor’s degree, passage of the California Basic Education Skills Test (CBEST), proof of subject matter competence (by approved program or exam), fingerprinting clearance, and more.

Traditional Teacher Preparation
Students attend evening classes, and they can choose a part-time or full-time course load. After successfully completing all state-mandated exams and about 37 units of coursework, including a semester of student teaching (1 year), candidates can earn a California teaching credential and a master’s degree. Graduates are ready to enter the classroom with full salary and benefits.

Standard Intern Program
Candidates find a paid teaching position, and while teaching, they simultaneously complete requirements toward a California credential and a master’s degree. This includes about 35 units of Alliant graduate education coursework, completed in the evening and online (1-2 years). This intensive route with significant time demands, is often the preferred route for highly motivated candidates who prefer an approach that combines real-life experience and the theoretical foundation provided by graduate education coursework.

Intern Early Completion Option (ECO)
This accelerated intern program, often called ECO, makes it possible to waive mosttraditionally required teacher education coursework. It is for the high achiever andthose with some teaching or education knowledge who crave a hands-on experienceand a high degree of support. This support helps ensure their success in the classroom.ECO candidates must also find a paid teaching position and complete other requirementstoward their California credential. Qualifications for this expedited program (9 months)are especially stringent. Among other requirements, candidates will have to prove theirreadiness by passing a state test called the Teaching Foundations Exam.

Path to TeachersCHOICE
Students who enroll in the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies for Education Program and who have met the following requirements by the end of the last semester of their senior year will be conditionally admitted into the Shirley M. Hufstedler School of Education.

A minimum GPA of 2.5
A successfully completed interview with the Shirley M. Hufstedler School of Education

After completing the following requirements, students will be fully admitted.

Completion of the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies for Education from Alliant
Submission of Two Letters of Recommendation
Submission of a Personal Narrative

Core Competencies
Upon graduation, students will:
-have the ability to write and speak effectively using appropriate rhetorical techniques and modes of discourse
-be able to solve problems through critical and creative thinking
-have the ability to produce projects requiring understanding of both qualititative and quantitative measures
-demonstrate a worldview that reflects an appreciation and understanding of cultural differences, a growing development of intercultural sensitivity and a sense of equality and social justice
-identify instances where knowledge from different disciplines interconnects
-demonstrate competence in the liberal studies for education subject matter areas
-use technology effectively for communication learning and research
-demonstrate understanding of issues relevant to teaching in the applied liberal arts.