PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Credential
PK-3 ECE Specialist Credential Program Overview
The PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Credential Program is housed in the Department of Early Childhood Studies. This program prepares knowledgeable, caring, and justice-minded teachers who will transform classrooms for all of California’s youngest learners. You will become competent in designing anti-racist and justice-based curriculum that invites children to play, actively engage with their worlds, explore their interests, and develop compassion and understanding of others. You will learn the most recent theory and research-based methods for teaching children literacy, language, math, science, social studies, art, and creative movement. You will complete student teaching in a preschool or transitional kindergarten classroom and in an early elementary classroom (K-3). The program is designed as a residency, which allows candidates to receive stipend for working full-time in a school district while completing the credential program.
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Length of Program
This PK-3 ECE Specialist Credential program is a two-semester program with additional prerequisites. Students complete 19 units in the first semester, and 17 units in the second semester.
Credential Authorization Statement
A PK-3 ECE Specialist Credential authorizes the holder to teach all subjects in a self-contained general education classroom setting and to team teach or to regroup students across classrooms, in preschool through grade three. The credential includes the California English learner (EL) authorization.
PK-3 Credential Program Information
EDEC 110, EDEC 450, and EDEC 410
EDEC 410: Language Development (Pre-req) (3 units)
EDEC/MS 463: Integrated Language and Literacy Curriculum PK–Grade 3 (4 units)
EDEC 470: Decolonial Approaches to Social Studies with Children PK–Grade 3 (3 units)
EDEC/MS 474: Integrated Mathematics Curriculum PK–Grade 6 (3 units)
EDEC/MS 475: Integrated Science Curriculum PK–6 (3 units)
EDEC 477S: Preschool Teaching Seminar (2 units Fall + 2 units Spring)
EDEC 479: Learning and Development PK–3 (2 units)
EDEC 481F: Elementary Student Teaching (taken by PK–3 Credential Candidates during both semesters) (2 units Fall + 2 units Spring)
EDEC/MS 482F: Preschool Student Teaching (taken by PK–3 Credential Candidates during both semesters) (5 units)
EDEC/MS 482S: Elementary Student Teaching Seminar (2 units Fall + 2 units Spring)
EDEC 484: Creative Arts and Movement PK–3 (2 units)
The PK–3 Credential Program prepares future educators to teach effectively in California public preschools and elementary schools through a balanced combination of coursework and hands-on field experiences. Candidates develop a strong foundation in child development, teaching and learning, curriculum, and classroom practice while gaining experience in preschool through third-grade settings. Fieldwork is integrated throughout the program to connect educational theory with real-world teaching, culminating in a full-time student teaching placement. The PK–3 Early Childhood Instruction Specialist Credential provides diverse clinical experiences in Sonoma County preschools and elementary schools within the Roseland and Cotati-Rohnert Park school districts.
As part of the PK–3 Credential Program, all candidates are required to successfully complete the PK-3 California Teaching Performance Assessment (CalTPA) in order to be recommended for a teaching credential. The CalTPA process is introduced and supported through required workshops and courses offered during both semesters of the program, ensuring candidates are well prepared for each assessment cycle. Additional information and assessment resources are available through the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) CalTPA website. Before recording any classroom videos for the assessment, candidates must obtain signed video release forms from students' families and submit them to the CalTPA Coordinator.
