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Program Summary 

The Urban Dual Credential Program is a blended Multiple Subject and Education Specialist Credential Program.  The Preliminary Urban Dual Credential Program (UDCP) at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ prepares candidates to teach both in the elementary general education classroom as well as the elementary/middle school special education setting.  Candidates will earn both a Preliminary Multiple Subject and Preliminary Education Specialist Credential in 2 years. 

ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ enter the Urban Dual Credential Program either as post-baccalaureate (post-bac) students or as Integrated Teacher Education Program (ITEP) students. 

In both the UDCP post-baccalaureate pathway and UDCP ITEP pathway, students earn a Preliminary Multiple Subject Credential and Preliminary Education Specialist Credential in two years of full-time study. Because the program is a cohort model, students follow a set schedule of courses with a fall-only start date. During Semester 1 and Semester 2, students participate in Clinical 2/Early Fieldwork in a classroom while also taking university courses. During Semester 3 and Semester 4, students complete Clinical 3/Student Teaching both semesters while taking university courses in the afternoons/evenings. ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ complete one semester of Clinical 3/Student Teaching in special education and one semester of Clinical 3/Student Teaching in general education. 

UDCP is a residency program, meaning that the program provides an integrated, clinically based program where students can learn and apply best practices immediately during their residential student teaching experience. Teaching methods courses are held at district school sites. Both the clinical 2/early fieldwork and the clinical 3/student teaching are conducted in the same school district under the guidance of district mentor teachers and university faculty. UDCP has maintained partnerships with local school districts, including the Little Lake City School District, Garden Grove Unified School District and Long Beach Unified School District. 

The Urban Dual Credential Program Coordinator leads program activities and reports to the Liberal Studies Department Chair. The program coordinator and the department chair have faculty appointments. The Department Chair of Liberal Studies collaborates in providing leadership to the program and represents the interests of the program in the college.  

Faculty and instructors, as well as relevant stakeholders, are actively involved in the organization, coordination, and governance of all professional preparation programs. The Associate Dean, Chair of Liberal Studies, and Program Coordinator serve on the college Initial Teacher Preparation Program Committee to keep abreast of policy and procedural updates. 

Faculty and staff in the College Assessment Office provide on-going training and meaningful support to all program faculty to ensure candidates who are recommended for credentials have met all stated requirements. The Teacher Preparation Advising Center (TPAC) actively supports the Urban Dual Credential Program by providing information to the community, managing the application process, and organizing interviews. The Credential Center office further ensures that the process for candidate application for their final credentials is well implemented and monitored so that all candidates have demonstrated that they have met all requirements. 

Over the past two years, the program has continuously made modifications based on stakeholder feedback. Based on master teacher feedback about the lack of planning time with student teachers, the program was modified to include more full-time days for student teachers. Additionally, based on recommendations from university supervisors in moderate/severe special education, the methods class for moderate/severe special education was moved from spring to fall of the student teaching year to provide better background knowledge for student teachers. 

Stakeholders are consulted at various points during the residency program. In the first year of the program, teachers complete a survey evaluating the professional dispositions of their teacher candidates. Teachers are also invited to a master teacher training and are asked to complete a feedback survey at the end of the training. The program also meets with the partner district administrators periodically to gather feedback. 

Course of Study (Curriculum and Field Experience)

Program Options 

Student Teaching is the culminating field experience in the Urban Dual Credential Program.  It is completed during the final 2 semesters of the program where UDCP candidates apply and integrate the pedagogy they have learned in their other course work to actual classroom experience.  The student teaching year consists of two 16-week, 6-unit assignments under the guidance of a Master Teacher and a University Supervisor. One assignment is in the classroom of an elementary, general education Master Teacher and the other in a classroom of special education (M/M or ESN) Master Teacher.  At least one of the placements must be in a classroom in which the students are from a diverse cultural, linguistic, racial, ethnic, or socio-economic background, different from that of the Student Teacher.  

Student teachers also have the support of a University Supervisor who observes and conferences with the student on a regular basis.  

UDCP Post-Bac Program 

Candidates entering this program have either received a bachelor's degree or will receive a bachelor's degree prior to the end of their Credential Program (including ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Liberal Studies majors). Through this pathway candidates will earn a Preliminary Multiple Subject Credential and Preliminary Education Specialist Credential in 2 years. 

Liberal Studies ITEP Urban Dual Credential Program (UDCP) 

Candidates entering this program are in the third year of the Liberal Studies program and have completed most Liberal Studies core requirements. These students will apply for the ITEP pathway with an ITEP credential program by Senior Year. Through this ITEP pathway, candidates will earn their Liberal Studies Bachelor's Degree, Preliminary Multiple Subject Credential and Preliminary Education Specialist Credential all in 5 years. 

Assessment of Candidates 

UDCP coursework and fieldwork is assessed by candidates’ completion of course-specific TPEs. Professional preparation coursework and field experiences are evaluated by multiple assessment strategies, such as exams, papers, journals, reflections, course projects, and participation in class discussion and activities. Each pedagogy course utilizes a signature assignment to assess student learning in individual courses, while providing the program with feedback about student progress across the program. Clinical 2/Early Fieldwork includes fieldwork verification forms as well as surveys of professional dispositions completed by teachers. During Clinical 3/Student Teaching, university supervisors and master teachers provide regular feedback through direct observation forms aligned to the Teacher Performance Expectations. In addition, the mid-semester and final evaluations are also aligned to the Teacher Performance Expectations and the ÃÛÌÒÓ°ÏñStandards for the Teaching Profession. 

Candidates attend a student teaching boot camp where they receive information about how they will be assessed in the program and informed of the results of those assessments.  

During the mid-semester evaluation in student teaching, candidates are advised of their progress and are informed by their university supervisor and program coordinator if there are any concerns at the time or if they are at risk for not receiving credit in the student teaching course. Interventions are discussed and implemented, as needed, with the support of the university supervisor, master teacher, and program coordinator. 

In addition, candidates complete both cycles of the CalTPA during their student teaching placements. ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ are guided and supported in understanding and completing the CalTPA through ongoing program workshops. ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ who do not pass a cycle of the CalTPA are offered one-on-one coaching services from a university TPA coach.  

Candidates who are having difficulties at any point in the program will be placed on an Action Plan and Remediation Contract (if necessary) that is monitored on a weekly basis by the master teacher, university supervisor and the program coordinator. 

1.1.1 Table Depicting Location, Delivery Models, and Pathways

Candidates in the Urban Dual Credential Program receive initial and ongoing advising from the program coordinator and advisors in the Teacher Preparation Advising Center.  Candidates can monitor their own program progress through the MyÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Student Center Academic Requirements Report.  Each candidate will also establish a file in the ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Credential Center and submit all supporting documentation including CTC fingerprint clearance, Basic Skills, and Subject Matter Verification.  Candidates receive a credential program evaluation, completed by a credential analyst, indicating their current program status and requirements that are outstanding and required prior to credential recommendation.   

Individual Development Plan (IDP) Transition Plan:   

Candidates in the Urban Dual Credential Program complete an Individual Development Plan (IDP) with the guidance of their university supervisor and master teacher. The IDP is shared at the final evaluation meeting and signed by the candidate, the university supervisor and the master teacher at the final evaluation meeting. The university supervisor retains a copy and the candidate retains the original document.  

At the completion of their final semester, the program coordinator provides an individual clearance form to the Credential Center indicating that the candidate has completed all program requirements.  A credential analyst will complete a final evaluation and confirm that all program and state requirements have been met prior to credential recommendation.  A credential analyst ensures that only qualified candidates are recommended for their Preliminary Multiple Subject and Preliminary Education Specialist Credential.   

7.1.1 Candidate Progress Monitoring Documents

Urban Dual Credential Program Credential Evaluation - Traditional Pathway (PDF)

Urban Dual Credential Program Credential Evaluation - ITEP Pathway (PDF)

7.1.2 Individual Development Plan (IDP) Form

Urban Dual Credential Program Individual Development Plan (IDP) Form (PDF)

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