Subject Matter Competency 

According to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC), teacher candidates must demonstrate Subject Matter Competency in their respective subject areas. Subject matter competency must be met prior to applying for fieldwork, as well as prior to receiving a recommendation for an Intern Teaching Credential or a Preliminary Teaching Credential.


Options To Meet The Subject Matter Competency Requirement

Examination

The California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET) is a series of subject matter examinations for prospective teachers who choose to meet the subject matter competence requirement by taking examinations. Computer-based CSET exams are available year-round by appointment. See scheduling CSET information
 
Passing Standards
To pass the CSET in a given subject area, a minimum scaled score of 220 must be achieved on each subtest. CSET website
 

CSET Examinations for Multiple Subjects

CSET Examinations for Single Subject

CSET Examinations for Education Specialists

Teacher candidates earning an Education Specialist credential can demonstrate subject-matter competence in either Multiple Subjects or a Single Subject area. 

College Degree

Subject matter competency can be met through the successful completion of a bachelor’s degree or higher in the respective subject area if the following conditions are met:

  • The degree must have been earned at a regionally-accredited institution of higher education.
  • The degree major is one of the acceptable degree majors in the credential subject area being sought.

For candidates who have degree majors in areas that are in the unacceptable column, this means that these majors are not acceptable under the college degree option. However, some of the college-level coursework taken for the completion of the degree may satisfy some subject matter requirements through the coursework review process. Please see the College-Level Coursework accordion below for more information on the coursework reivew process.

Education Specialist

For Education Specialist credentials, the major must align with one of the acceptable degree majors for the Multiple Subject credential area or one of the Single Subject credential areas listed on the charts below.

In addition, while the University of Redlands is not accredited for the Dance and Theater Single Subject credential areas, Education Specialist candidates may meet subject matter competency through the acceptable degree majors for those credential areas as listed on the Single Subject chart below.

Multiple Subject

For Multiple Subject credentials, the major must be one of the acceptable degree majors listed on the chart below. 

Subject Area Acceptable Degree Majors Unacceptable Degree Majors
Multiple Subject
  • Liberal Studies
  • Liberal Studies: Urban Education
  • Liberal Studies: Elementary Education
  • Liberal Arts
  • Elementary Education
  • Child Development
  • Early Childhood Education

Single Subject

For Single Subject credentials, the major must be one of the acceptable degree majors for the credential subject area being sought as listed on the chart below.

Please note that the University of Redlands is not accredited for the Dance and Theater Single Subject credential areas. Only Education Specialist credential candidates may meet subject matter competency through the acceptable degree majors for those credential areas as listed on the chart below.

At this time, the CTC will also accept applied majors in the single subject credential areas (e.g., Applied Mathematics, Applied Physics) and exact majors in one of the single subject areas that may have additional modifiers (e.g., Biology: Environmental Biology; Art: Art History; and Physical Education: Kinesiology).

Subject Area Acceptable Degree Majors Unacceptable Degree Majors
Agriculture
  • Agriculture
  • Agricultural Management
  • Agricultural Mechanics
  • Agricultural Science
  • Animal Science
  • Forestry
  • Horticulture
  • Landscaping
  • Plant Science
Art
  • Art
  • Art: Art History
  • Art: Fine Arts
  • Art: Ceramics
  • Studio Art
  • Art History
  • Art Appreciation
  • Art Theory
  • Commercial Art
  • Fine Arts
  • Animation
  • Ceramics
  • Costume Design
  • Design
  • Drawing
  • Film Studies
  • Humanities
  • Illustration
  • Interior Decoration
  • Leathermaking
  • Painting
  • Photography
  • Sculpture
  • Stagecraft
Business
  • Business 
  • Business Administration
  • Business Communications
  • Business Mathematics
  • Business Management
  • Business Marketing
  • Accounting
  • Consumer Education
  • Economics
  • Marketing
  • Sports Management

 

Dance

Not offered as a Single Subject credential area option at the University of Redlands

 

  • Dance
  • Folk/Traditional Dance
  • Modern Dance
  • Composition and Production
  • Hip Hop
  • Ballet
  • Jazz
  • World Music
English
  • English
  • English Literature
  • Composition
  • Creative Writing
  • Forensics
  • Humanities
  • Journalism
  • Literature
  • Philosophy
  • Poetry
  • Public Speaking
  • Speech
Health
  • Health Science
  • Child Development
  • Family Life
  • Human Sexuality
  • Nutrition
Home Economics
  • Home Economics
  • Family and Consumer Science
  • Child Development
  • Consumer Education
  • Family Life
  • Human Development
  • Interior Design
  • Nutrition
  • Parenting
  • Textiles
Industrial and Technology Education
  • Industrial and Technology Education
  • Automotive Mechanics
  • Carpentry
  • Computer Technology
  • Construction
  • Drafting
  • Electricity
  • Electronics
  • Film Studies
  • Industrial Design
  • Millwork
  • Photography
  • Radio and Television
  • Technical Science/Power Mechanics
  • Welding
Mathematics
  • Mathematics
  • Statistics
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Basic or General Mathematics
  • Consumer Mathematics
  • Mathematical Analysis
  • Algebra
  • Calculus
  • Computer Science
  • Geometry
  • Trigonometry
Foundation-Level Mathematics
  • Mathematics
  • Statistics
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Basic or General Mathematics
  • Consumer Mathematics
  • Mathematical Analysis
 
Music
  • Music
  • Instrumental Music
  • Music Appreciation
  • Music Composition
  • Music Theory
  • Musical Theater
  • Vocal Music
 
Physical Education
  • Physical Education
  • Physical Education: Kinesiology
  • Aquatics
  • Gymnastics
  • Interscholastic Sports
  • Kinesiology
  • Motor Development
  • Nutrition
  • Physical Conditioning
  • Weightlifting
Science: Biological Science
  • Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Biological Engineering
  • Biological Science
  • Anatomy
  • Botany
  • Ecology
  • Environmental Science
  • Evolution
  • Genetics
  • Physiology
  • Zoology
Science: Chemistry
  • Chemistry
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Biochemistry
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Qualitative Analysis
  • Quantitative Analysis
  • Structure and Stability
Science: Geosciences
  • Geology
  • Earth Science
  • Geoscience
  • Astronomy
  • Cosmology
  • Forestry
  • Meteorology
  • Oceanography
  • Paleontology
Science: Physics
  • Physics
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Structural Engineering
  • Applied Physics
  • Energy
  • Mechanics
  • Thermodynamics
Foundational-Level General Science
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
  • Geology
  • Engineering (any type)
  • Other degree major offered by a college or university science department
 
Social Science
  • Social Science
  • American Democracy
  • American Government
  • Anthropology
  • California History
  • Criminal Justice
  • Cultural Studies
  • Economics
  • Ethnic Studies
  • Geography
  • Government
  • History
  • Humanities
  • International Relations
  • Law
  • Military Science
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Social Work
  • Sociology
  • US History
  • World History

Theater

Not offered as a Single Subject credential area option at the University of Redlands

  • Theater
  • Drama
  • Theater Arts
  • Arts in Theater
  • Musical Theater
  • Acting
  • Directing
  • Performance and Production
  • Improvisation
  • Playwriting
  • Stagecraft
  • Costume Design
World Languages
  • Baccalaureate Degree in a World Language matching the Single Subject World Language of the credential being sought
 

 

Subject Matter Program

Institutions of higher education may be approved by CTC to offer undergraduate subject matter preparation programs. Completion of a subject matter program offered by a Commission-approved institution satisfies the subject matter requirement necessary to earn a teaching credential. 

Students who wish to meet subject matter competency by the subject matter program option must request a letter from their undergraduate subject matter program.

The University of Redlands has a CTC approved subject matter program for Music. Learn more about the University of Redlands' Subject Matter Music program.

College-Level Coursework

Teacher candidates can meet Subject Matter Competency through college-level coursework that they successfully completed at one or more regionally accredited institutions of higher education which addresses each of the subject matter domains adopted by CTC in the content area of the credential.  

Within their first semester, teacher candidates must fill out a Subject Matter Domain Chart for their credential area and submit to the Office of Licensures and Credentialing (OLC) for review. 

Please allow 5-6 weeks for review.


Instructions

  1. Review the Example Domain Chart and watch our Video Tutorial to learn how to fill out a Domain Chart for a coursework review.
  2. Download the Domain Chart for your subject matter area.*
  3. Review the domain areas on the Domain Chart and compare them to your college-level coursework. One course can be used to meet multiple domains. Multiple courses can be combined to meet one domain. You can use coursework from any regionally accredited institution of higher education as long as you earned a grade of C or higher,  "Pass," or "Credit." Courses must be degree-applicable to an Associate or higher degree and credit bearing. Remedial or professional development coursework is not accepted by the CTC.
  4. Locate the course descriptions for the courses you will include on your Domain Chart in the institution's archived course catalogs. The course description must be from the year the course was taken. Most archived course catalogs can be found on an institution's website (see example here). If a course catalog year is not available, please contact the institution's registrar's office for a copy of the course description to provide.
  5. Fill in the course number, title, institution name, course description (copied from course catalog), final grade, and link to the course catalog for each course you include on the Domain Chart. The catalog link must be to the archived course catalog from the year the course was taken. For example, if a course was taken in Fall 2021, the 2021-2022 catalog link must be provided.
  6. We need the official transcripts for all coursework documented on the Domain Chart. Request any official transcripts that the University of Redlands may not have be sent to olc@redlands.edu. This step does not need to be repeated if you have already provided the official transcripts as part of your admissions application.
  7. Submit the Domain Chart via the Etrieve File Upload Form. It will be added to the queue for a formal review by the Office of Licensures and Credentialing. This process takes 5-6 weeks. Once the review is completed, you will be notified via email.

​​​​​​​*Please note that teacher candidates earning an Education Specialist credential can submit a domain chart to meet subject matter competence in either Multiple Subjects or a Single Subject area. 


Subject Matter Domain Charts

Click to download a fillable Word document:

See information from CTC here: 

Domains of the Subject Matter Requirements Adopted by CTC

Subject Matter and CSET Examination by CSET

Combination

Subject matter competency can be met through a combination of examination, subject matter program, and college-level coursework in whole or in part, which meet or exceeds each of the subject matter domains adopted by the commission in the content area of the credential. 

Within their first semester, teacher candidates must fill out a Subject Matter Domain Chart for their credential area and submit to the Office of Licensures and Credentialing (OLC) for review.

Please allow 5-6 weeks for review.


Instructions

  1. Review the Example Domain Chart and watch our Video Tutorial to learn how to fill out a Domain Chart for a coursework review.

  2. Download the Domain Chart for your subject matter area.*

  3. Review the domain areas on the Domain Chart and compare them to your college-level coursework. One course can be used to meet multiple domains. Multiple courses can be combined to meet one domain. You can use coursework from any regionally accredited institution of higher education as long as you earned a grade of C or higher,  "Pass," or "Credit." Courses must be degree-applicable to an Associate or higher degree and credit bearing. Remedial or professional development coursework is not accepted by the CTC.
  4. Locate the course descriptions for the courses you will include on your Domain Chart in the institution's archived course catalogs. The course description must be from the year the course was taken. Most archived course catalogs can be found on an institution's website (see example here). If a course catalog year is not available, please contact the institution's registrar's office for a copy of the course description to provide.
  5. Fill in the course number, title, institution name, course description (copied from course catalog), final grade, and link to the course catalog for each course you include on the Domain Chart. The catalog link must be to the archived course catalog from the year the course was taken. For example, if a course was taken in Fall 2021, the 2021-2022 catalog link must be provided.
  6. We need the official transcripts for all coursework documented on the Domain Chart. Request any official transcripts that the University of Redlands may not have be sent to olc@redlands.edu. This step does not need to be repeated if you have already provided the official transcripts as part of your admissions application.
  7. Submit the Domain Chart via the Etrieve File Upload Form. It will be added to the queue for a formal review by the Office of Licensures and Credentialing. This process takes 5-6 weeks. Once the review is completed, you will be notified via email.
  8. Attach your passing CSET exams scores and/or partial program waiver letter to the same Etrieve File Upload Form for review.

​​​​​​​*Please note that teacher candidates earning an Education Specialist credential can submit a domain chart to meet subject matter competence in either Multiple Subjects or a Single Subject area. 


Subject Matter Domain Charts

Click to download a fillable Word document:

See information from CTC here: 

Domains of the Subject Matter Requirements Adopted by CTC

Subject Matter and CSET Examination by CSET


Submitting Evidence of Meeting Requirement

Each student must submit evidence of meeting subject matter competency. To submit evidence, follow the steps below:

Step 1:

Identify how you will meet the Subject Matter Competency requirement according to the options listed above.

Step 2:

Obtain official test results, program waiver letter, or official transcripts. Official transcripts must be received by the University of Redlands directly from the accrediting institution. Transcripts provided by students are not considered official. Official transcripts can be sent to registrar@redlands.edu

Step 3:

Complete the Verification of Subject Matter Competency Form.

Step 4:

Current Students (or recent Graduates who still have MyRedlands access): Upload completed Verification of Subject Matter Competency Form and any supporting documentation to the File Upload Form in Etrieve. Select “Subject Matter Competency” as the document title.
Graduates/Alumni (who no longer have MyRedlands access): Email the completed Verification of Subject Matter Competency Form and any supporting documentation to the Office of Licensures and Credentialing
Applicants/Potential Students: Upload completed Verification of Subject Matter Competency Form to your admissions application portal. If you have questions on how to complete the form, please contact your designated assistant director of enrollment.
  • Please Note: Transcript review will occur in the first semester of the program. Admission to the program does not imply that subject-matter competency has been met. Students will be asked to resubmit the Verification of Subject Matter Competency Form during their orientation for additional verification. 

Fieldwork Eligibility

Subject matter competency must be met prior to applying for student teaching, internship eligibility, or Teacher Residency. Proof of meeting Subject Matter Competency must be submitted to the student teaching application and teaching internship eligibility application.
 
For students taking the CSET exams, they should schedule exams accordingly to ensure test scores are received prior to the designated application deadlines