Division of Teacher Education

With an intentional focus on scholarship, faith integration, diversity, and internationalization, APU provides high-quality academic programs within a tight-knit community of disciples and scholars.

The Division of Teacher Education prepares candidates to become public school teachers who demonstrate the content, pedagogical, and professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to help all TK-12 students grow and learn. In keeping with a commitment to enhance teacher candidates’ understanding of the continuum of TK-12 education, all programs emphasize a growing knowledge across the breadth of the program from theory to practice. Master’s degree programs with credentials embedded and credential-only programs provide the training and experience needed to qualify for California’s Multiple Subject and Single Subject Teaching Credentials, as well as Mild to Moderate Support Needs and Extensive Support Needs Education Specialist Credentials.

The Division of Teacher Education offers numerous undergraduate and graduate programs. Additionally, the School of Health Sciences offers the Master of Arts in Physical Education and Single Subject Teaching Credential.

Learn more about the division below:

Mission Statement

The Division of Teacher Education produces teachers who are ethical, responsive, and informed practitioners who are faithful stewards of their time, talents, and resources. They model servanthood as a means to clarify and practice their faith and knowledge.

Professional Standards for Credential Candidates

APU credential candidates are highly desired because of the School of Education’s strong reputation for preparing highly qualified teachers who have been held to high professional standards. The Division of Teacher Education assesses candidates from admission through credential recommendation in credential standards and dispositions, including the following:

  • All credential candidates are expected to maintain a high level of professional and ethical behavior throughout the program. Failure to do so may result in expulsion from the program.
  • All credential standards and requirements for Multiple Subject and Single Subject Teaching Credentials, as well as the Mild to Moderate Support Needs and Extensive Support Needs Education Specialist Credentials, are subject to California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC), Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), and federal policy changes, as well as graduate education policies. These standards, requirements, and policies supersede catalog descriptions of prior programs and requirements.
  • The division reserves the right to change the admission process and requirements as needed, withhold credential recommendation due to a candidate’s failure to meet and/or maintain APU professional and ethical behavior standards and dispositions, and/or expel a candidate at any time in the program due to a candidate’s failure to meet and/or maintain APU professional and ethical standards and dispositions.
  • Please refer to published general application requirements for credential programs.

Intern Credential Option and Eligibility Requirements

The Multiple Subject and Single Subject Credential programs, and the Education Specialist programs, offer an Intern Credential option specifically designed for the candidate who is teaching full time in an appropriate setting in a California public TK-12 school. Candidates planning to complete their clinical experience via an Intern Credential should communicate with a credential analyst in the Office of Credentials prior to beginning the eligibility process. To become eligible for an Intern Credential, a candidate must meet the following requirements:

  1. Hold a baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
  2. Gain admittance to a School of Education preliminary teaching credential program and be a candidate in good standing.
  3. Successfully complete (grade of B- or higher in each course) at least 6 units of coursework in the School of Education preliminary teaching credential program. Candidates who already hold a California Multiple Subject, Single Subject, or Education Specialist Teaching Credential may check with the Office of Credentials for possible exemption from this requirement.
  4. Verify successful completion of the California Basic Skills Requirement via one of the options approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).
  5. Verify successful completion of U.S. Constitution requirement (course or exam).
  6. Verify successful completion of the California Subject Matter Requirement via one of the options approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).
  7. Verify successful completion of the School of Education’s approved intern pre-service.
    • Multiple Subject Preservice: TESP 501 Art of Teaching I: Foundations of Teaching, TESP 502 Science of Teaching I: How Students Learn, TEP 511 Art of Teaching II: Pedagogy and Instructional Design, and TEP 521 Methods of Teaching Reading and Writing (K-8)
    • Single Subject Preservice: TESP 501 Art of Teaching I: Foundations of Teaching, TESP 502 Science of Teaching I: How Students Learn, TEP 511 Art of Teaching II: Pedagogy and Instructional Design, and TEP 531 Methods of Teaching Reading and Writing (7-12)
    • Education Specialist Preservice: TESP 501 Art of Teaching I: Foundations of Teaching, TESP 502 Science of Teaching I: How Students Learn, SPED 517 Art of Teaching II: Pedagogy and Instructional Design for Education Specialists, and SPED 525 Methods of Teaching Reading and Writing

    Candidates may also meet intern preservice requirements via completion of Alternative Certification Training (ACT) through the Kern County Superintendent of Schools. Candidates are required to work with their credential analyst for completion of preservice requirements through ACT or documented evidence of completing another CTC-approved preservice certification program. Note: For coursework or a CTC-approved preservice certification program to be considered toward meeting intern preservice requirements, the coursework or program must be completed within five years prior to recommendation for the Intern Credential.

  8. Verify successful completion of 30 hours of early fieldwork experience via one of the following options:
    • APU fieldwork that is embedded in courses. Courses must be completed within five years prior to recommendation for the Intern Credential.
    • Current California Multiple Subject, Single Subject, or Education Specialist Teaching Credential.
    • Life Ryan Credentials, out-of-state credentials, and previous teaching experience will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
  9. Demonstrate competence in reading instruction via completion of the School of Education Methods of Teaching Reading and Writing course relevant to the candidate’s preliminary credential program. 
  10. Gain employment under a full-time public school contract at a school site located within 50 road-miles of Azusa or an APU regional campus offering School of Education preliminary teacher credential programs.
  11. Verify employment as evidenced by a letter from school or district administration on school or district letterhead fully describing the teaching assignment.
  12. Submit the credential application and Intern Credential Application Request through the Office of Credentials.

Completion of the above requirements does not guarantee recommendation for an Intern Credential; such recommendation is contingent upon the availability of university coaches/mentors. The School of Education must also have a valid Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in place with the employing Local Education Agency (LEA) extending the offer of employment. Additionally, the intern coordinator and program director for the relevant preliminary teacher credential program will review the candidate’s file to determine if the candidate demonstrates appropriate academic progress and dispositions for recommendation for an Intern Credential.

Note: The School of Education at Azusa Pacific University is not approved to offer the Bilingual Crosscultural Language and Academic Development Certificate (BCLAD). At this time, the intern programs are not designed to support individuals employed in bilingual classrooms. We are unable to recommend a candidate for an Intern credential if their intern placement is in a bilingual classroom.

Once a candidate has been recommended for an Intern Credential, he/she must comply with the following requirements to maintain eligibility for the Intern Credential:

  • Be continuously employed in a teaching assignment that requires the Intern Credential
  • Be an APU School of Education candidate in good standing
  • Be making satisfactory progress toward program completion for the duration of the Intern Credential
  • Follow his/her signed advising plan
  • Enroll in a candidate support and supervision course (SPED 500 or TEP 590) or clinical practice course each fall and spring 8-week session he/she holds an Intern Credential

Note: Once a candidate has progressed to the start of the second 8 weeks of clinical practice, the candidate has passed the point where he/she can be recommended for an Intern Credential. Upon completion of 16 weeks of clinical practice, a candidate with an Intern Credential has two 8-week sessions in which to complete the preliminary credential requirements and application and move to the preliminary credential. This includes passing the CalTPA (for all candidates) and passing the RICA or other state required literacy assessment (for those candidates working toward a preliminary Multiple Subject or Education Specialist credential). Failure to either maintain eligibility for the Intern Credential or to complete the preliminary credential requirements and application within the one semester immediately following completion of clinical practice will result in withdrawal of the Intern Credential, which could impact the candidate’s employment. If an Intern Credential is withdrawn as a result of a lapse in professional responsibility, integrity, or ethical conduct, the intern may be dismissed from the program, and the intern must meet with the division chair to discuss remediation and next steps.

Faculty

Chair, Division of Teacher Education; Program Director, Liberal Studies

Catherine Hahs Brinkley, EdD

Program Director, Multiple Subject and Single Subject Teaching Credentials

Regula Schmid, EdD

​Program Director, Special Education Credential Programs

Angela Guta, PhD

Professors

Jennifer Courduff, PhD

Paul Flores, PhD

Greg Kaiser, PhD

HeeKap Lee, PhD

Associate Professors

Tammy Bachrach, PhD

Richard Barsh, EdD

Cynthia Dollins, EdD

Ie May Freeman, EdD

Angela Guta, PhD

Regula Schmid, EdD

Assistant Professors

Catherine Hahs Brinkley, EdD

Amber Lynwood, EdD

Instructor

Susan Hall, MEd