Combined Credential and Master’s Program for Teaching
I would like more information on San Diego Christian College.
Teacher Credential and MA in Teaching Combined Program
For aspiring educators in the Golden State, a California Teaching Credential is essential to obtain employment in public schools. A master’s in teaching goes one step further, helping to expand career prospects, earning potential, and advancement opportunities while demonstrating expertise and a proactive approach to personal development.
Through its Combined Teacher Credential and Master of Arts (MA) in Teaching Program, San Diego Christian College (SDCC) empowers educators with the tools and qualifications to establish themselves among the best in their profession.
Degree holders with a bachelor’s in any major are eligible to apply for the post-graduate Teacher Credential Program (TCP), which begins with a 16-week block of prerequisite classes to provide a solid foundation in key education topics. If you complete the Block 1 prerequisite courses during your undergraduate studies or summer session, you can finish the TCP in just one year.†
Upon earning the California Teaching Credential, you can continue directly into the MA in Teaching program while working full-time in the classroom. Since the TCP covers graduate-level coursework and ground-based teaching experience, the master’s in Teaching only requires five additional classes totaling 15 credit hours. With eight-week terms^ and a choice of online courses* or campus-based evening classes, you can earn your MA in only ten months.
^ED 650 is now broken into two 8-week segments for a total of 16 weeks: 650A and 650B.
Read on for an overview of San Diego Christian College’s combined Teacher Credential and MA in Teaching program, or click below for more detailed information on each program, including learning objectives, types of teaching credentials, and more.
California Teaching Credential and MA in Teaching Requirements
BLOCK 1
Prerequisites: Education Classes
UP TO 15 CREDITS
FOR SINGLE-SUBJECT TCP
UP TO 20 CREDITS
FOR MULTIPLE-SUBJECT TCP
ONLINE*
OR
ON CAMPUS
BLOCK 2
Teacher Credential Coursework
15 CREDIT HOURS
FOR SINGLE-SUBJECT TCP
16 CREDIT HOURS
FOR MULTIPLE-SUBJECT TCP
SANTEE CAMPUS
(EVENINGS/WEEKENDS)
+
SCHOOL OBSERVATION
(DAYTIME/WEEKDAYS)
BLOCK 3
Student Teaching
+ Seminar
15 CREDIT HOURS
FOR BOTH TCP OPTIONS
PUBLIC SCHOOL
(WEEKDAYS/SCHOOL HOURS: 16–18 WEEKS OF FULL-TIME CLINICAL CLASSROOM PLACEMENT)
BLOCK 4
MA in Teaching Degree
15 CREDIT HOURS
(MASTER’S DEGREE CANDIDATES MUST HOLD CALIFORNIA TEACHING CREDENTIAL OR OTHER APPROVED CREDENTIALS)
ONLINE*
OR
CAMPUS-BASED
EVENING CLASSES
Combined Teacher Credential and MA in Teaching Curriculum
Refer to the listing below for the courses and credit hours associated with both Teacher Credential programs and the master’s in Teaching. Course descriptions and other relevant information can be found in SDCC’s Course Catalog.
Block 1: Prerequisite Courses | ||
---|---|---|
Course # | Course Name | Credits |
Courses Required for Both Single- and Multiple-Subject TCP | ||
BIO 300 | Biological Health Education | 3 |
ED 300 | Introduction to Education | 3 |
EN 316 | Introduction to Linguistics | 3 |
SS 205 | Introduction to American Government/Constitution | 3 |
Additional Courses Required for Single-Subject TCP | ||
CIS 141 | Introduction to Computers | 3 |
Credit Hours for Single-Subject TCP | 15 | |
Additional Courses Required for Multiple-Subject TCP | ||
ED 312 | Science Methods for Educators | 1 |
ED 313 | Integration of Visual and Performing Arts | 1 |
ED 315 | Instructional and Educational Technology | 3 |
MA 303 | Mathematics for Educators | 3 |
Credit Hours for Multiple-Subject TCP | 20 |
Block 2: Teaching Credential Coursework | ||
---|---|---|
Course # | Course Name | Credits |
Courses Required for Both Single- and Multiple-Subject TCP | ||
ED 503 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
ED 506 | TESOL in the Multicultural Classroom | 3 |
ED 5016 | Inclusion, Collaboration, and the Exceptional Child | 1 |
Additional Courses Required for Single-Subject TCP | ||
ED 504 | Adolescent Literacy | 3 |
ED 506 | Curriculum and Instruction in Secondary Education | 3 |
ED 508 | Secondary Teaching Methods | 2 |
Credit Hours for Single-Subject TCP | 15 | |
Additional Courses Required for Multiple-Subject TCP | ||
ED 501A | Teaching of Reading: Learning to Read | 1 |
ED 501B | Teaching of Reading: Reading to Learn | 1 |
ED 505 | Curriculum and Instruction in Elementary Education | 3 |
Credit Hours for Multiple-Subject TCP | 16 |
Block 3: Student Teaching | ||
---|---|---|
Course # | Course Name | Credits |
Courses Required for Single-Subject TCP | ||
ED 548 | Student Teaching in Secondary School | 12 |
ED 552 | Seminar in Directed Secondary Teaching | 3 |
Credit Hours for Single-Subject TCP | 15 | |
Courses Required for Multiple-Subject TCP | ||
ED 547 | Student Teaching in Elementary School | 12 |
ED 551 | Seminar in Directed Elementary Teaching | 3 |
Credit Hours for Multiple-Subject TCP | 15 |
Block 4: Required Courses for Evening or Online* MA in Teaching Degree | ||
---|---|---|
Course # | Course Name | Credits |
ED 601 | Ethical Dispositions and Decision-Making in Classroom Leadership | 3 |
ED 602 | Community Partnerships in Multicultural Education | 3 |
ED 603 | Qualitative Methods in Educational Research | 3 |
ED 650A* | Seminar A: Capstone Project | 3 |
ED 650B* | Seminar B: Capstone Project | 3 |
15 |
*ED 650 is now broken into two 8-week segments for a total of 16 weeks: 650A and 650B.
“This program prepared me for real-world classroom experience within a close community of educators. Faculty created a positive culture that fostered independent, reflective thinking about pedagogical practice that integrated methods for promoting Christian values in the classroom.”
– Katy
FACULTY
All instructors in the Teacher Credential Program are experienced educators and subject-matter experts with a passion for Christ-centered learning. Meet TCP instructor Katie Musser:
Katie Musser
Adjunct Lecturer, English and Teacher Credential Program
- BA English
San Diego Christian College - MA, TESOL
Azusa Pacific University

Why Choose SDCC for Your Teacher Credential and Master’s in Teaching? Top Reasons to Start Today
As you work toward your California Teaching Credential and MA in Teaching degree, you’ll learn from expert faculty with years of experience. The TCP covers all of the courses and student teaching experience required to earn a California Teaching Credential; and you can earn a master’s with just four more classes. Other reasons to choose SDC:
- On Campus and Online: Most TCP prerequisite courses and MA classes are available 100% online.* Required Block 2 courses are held on campus during evenings and/or weekends, and MA courses are also offered as campus-based evening classes. (Fieldwork and student teaching take place on school days.)
- Affordable: Graduate courses are just $570 per credit, and SDCC accepts many forms of financial aid, including federal student aid, military tuition assistance, veterans’ benefits, and employer tuition reimbursement.
- No Application Fee: It costs nothing to apply to SDCC, so you’ve got nothing to lose. Apply for free today, and you could begin your first classes in a matter of weeks!
* Most of the Block 1 prerequisite courses are available 100% online; however, MA 303 (required for the Multiple-Subject TCP) is only offered on campus. In addition, the ED 650 capstone course for the MA in Teaching involves an action research project in an educational setting.
† Students may finish the TCP in as little as one year if the Block 1 prerequisite courses are completed during undergraduate studies or summer term. Those who enroll in Block 1 during the Fall or Spring semester will take longer to finish the program, as Block 2 school observation and Block 3 student teaching are scheduled when K–12 schools are in session.
I WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
CONTACT INFORMATION
San Diego Christian College
Riverview Parkway
Santee, CA 92071
Website Developed By: SociumDigital
