A core principle of the University of California, Davis Teacher Education Program is to prepare highly qualified teachers who are advocates for equity in learning for all students. Our programs are particularly effective in preparing our candidates to work with K-12 students who come from culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Course includes methods of teaching a second language and developing academic literacy in all discipline areas.
The design, implementation, and assessment of the UC Davis credential program is guided by its mission to prepare teacher-leaders who can assume four key roles in ethnically and linguistically diverse school communities. These roles are:
Collaborative professionals who work with students, colleagues, and parents to forge effective teaching practices;
Advocates for educational equity who champion high learning expectations for all students;
Investigative teachers who continuously use inquiry examine, define, and refine their teaching practice to promote student learning, targeting underachieving students as a particular focus; and
Reflective practitioners who employ classroom inquiry to improve teaching practice and create effective classroom communities
Our credential program offers an integrated model of coursework and year-long student teaching experience. Our location allows us to place students in diverse school settings in urban, suburban, and rural school districts.
The M.A. program is designed to develop teacher leaders who are (1) skilled at approaches for viewing student achievement through the lens of classroom-based inquiry and (2) who are practiced at working collaboratively to facilitate student learning in pedagogically sound ways.
Below are resources you may find useful during your second year in the Credential/MA program. Please let us know if there is any information that would be useful but isn’t currently included.
“Why do we teach? It is an important question. One that many credential students find staring back at them after a brutal day out in the trenches, but for me the answer is simple…I teach because of the students. I teach because I am passionate about education. I teach because there is nothing more rewarding in the world than to see a light bulb go off in a young person’s mind. I teach because the smile I give to a student might be the only smile he receives all day.” –Megan Sheridan(‘05 BS, ‘08 Credential)
A great way to learn more about the UC Davis Teacher Credential/M.A. program is by attending a Credential Information Session. Sessions are typically conducted August to June. Plan to park in Parking Lot 5 for Information Sessions!
We offer online information sessions from time to time for those of you who live too far from the UC Davis campus. We currently do not have a session scheduled so please email us at eduadvising@ucdavis.edu if you are interested and we can put you on a notification list.
During our information sessions we will discuss the following topics:
Credential & Masters Program
What the UC Davis Teacher Education values and how our program incorporates these values
Why you should consider the UC Davis program
How Student Teaching works
When the year starts and when you will earn your credential
The benefits of completing your Masters degree and how our program allows you to earn your teaching credential and Masters of Arts in Education in less than two years
Prerequisites and Testing Information
How to meet the requirements
Which prerequisites to prioritize
What tests to take and when
When are the deadlines to apply
How to have a class reviewed to see if it is equivalent
How to have your G.P.A. evaluated
What to do if prerequisites can’t be met by application deadline
Attend a session!
To reserve your space or request more information about the a session, please email eduadvising@ucdavis.edu. Although an RSVP is not required, the info session date, time, or location can change. For this reason, please check back on the website the morning of an information session to confirm. If you have submitted an RSVP we will notify you of any changes.
Unless otherwise noted all sessions are held in the School of Education Building Room 174.
Hands-on year long teaching experience as a student teacher in a public school, with an emphasis on regional diversity
An opportunity to earn your credential in one academic year
The ability to teach full-time while earning your masters degree in two part-time quarters
Coursework using a theoretical-practical approach to the teaching-learning process
An opportunity to obtain both a Master of Arts in Education degree AND a Multiple Subject or Single Subject Credential (optional Bilingual Cross Cultural Language and Academic Development – BCLAD – emphasis)
You can earn an elementary multiple subject credential or a secondary (7-12) single subject credential in the following subjects: English, mathematics, social science, science (biology, chemistry, geo-science, physics), and agricultural education
Coursework using a theoretical-practical approach to the teaching-learning process
An opportunity to complete a credential and masters in less than two years
Expert faculty who are experienced public school teachers
Cohorts of students moving through the program together
Small classes
Accessible faculty, staff, and administration
High passage rates for required credential assessments
Effective preparation to teach California’s diverse school-age population
Immediate application of course content through year-long student teaching
Development of professionals who collaborate with teachers and parents to improve education for all students
Focus on educational equity and high achievement for all of California’s children
Development of teacher-leaders through classroom inquiry and teacher reflection
