Education

This pathway focuses on students interested in teaching young children in preschools, childcare centers, and after-school programs.

Consider these certificate and degree options: 

• Skills certificate in Associate Teacher, Infant Toddler, and Site Supervisor
• Childhood Development Pre-Service Elementary Teacher (AA Degree), which is designed to help you transfer into CSU Sacramento’s fast-track teaching credential program
• Early Childhood Education for Transfer Degree (AS-T Degree)

Note that Head Start Teachers are required to have a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE)/Child Development.

This pathway focuses on students interested in becoming an elementary school teacher (TK-6) and earning a Multiple Subject Credential. As an elementary teacher, you will need to teach many subjects, including health, history/social science, visual and performing arts, and world languages. It is best to major in a subject that will encompass all of these areas, such as Liberal Arts or Early Childhood Education.

Consider these degree options: 

• Elementary Teacher Education for Transfer Degree (AA-T)*
• Liberal Studies-Elementary Education (AA)*
• Child Development Pre-Service Elementary Teacher Degree (AA), which is designed to help you transfer into CSU Sacramento’s fast-track teaching credential program.

* Students can choose a Liberal Arts or Human Development route to teaching

Further education to become an elementary teacher includes earning a bachelor’s degree and a Teaching Credential.

This pathway focuses on students interested in teaching at the junior high school or high school level in any subject area.

Consider this degree option: 

• AA/AS degree in the subject you want to teach. For example, a future high school math teacher would major in mathematics.

Further education to become a Secondary Teacher includes earning a bachelor’s degree in the subject area you plan to teach and a teaching credential.

This pathway is for students who want to teach at the high school level but who would also like to teach community college courses in a high school setting. Teachers are employed by the school district but must also meet the minimum qualifications to teach college courses.

Consider this degree option: 

• AA/AS degree in the subject that you want to teach. For example, a future high school biology teacher would major in biology.

Further education to become a Dual Enrollment Teacher includes earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree in a single subject, as well as a teaching credential.

This pathway is for students who want to teach Special Education to children with moderate to severe disabilities in all age groups K-12.

Consider this degree option: 

• AA/AS degree in any subject, although a degree in Education is a common path (or recommended)

Further education to become a Special Education teacher includes a bachelor’s degree, plus a Special Education teaching credential.

This pathway is for students who want to teach at the community college or university level.

Consider this degree option: 

• Earn an AA/AS degree in the subject that you want to teach. For example, a Chemistry professor would earn degrees in Chemistry, or a similar science.

Further education to become a Professor includes a bachelor’s and master’s degree in the subject area.

To see the minimum qualifications to become a community college professor, see the California Community College’s Minimum Qualifications.

This pathway is for students who want to teach Career Technical Education (CTE) classes to help prepare students to become skilled professionals for the 21st century while helping to fulfill California’s workforce needs. CTEs may include teaching Agriculture, Welding, Fire Technology, or Digital Design at the community college level, or teaching dual enrollment courses at the high school level.

Consider these degree options: 

• Earn a AA/AS degree paired with a combination of at least 6 years of full-time work experience in the industry to meet the prerequisites for teaching CTE.

CTE instructors may also have either a bachelor’s degree paired with two years’ work experience or a master’s degree to meet the prerequisites for teaching CTE.

High school teachers who want to teach dual enrollment CTE courses should also have a CTE credential.