BE A UCI HUMANITIES MAJOR
BE A TEACHER

If you are thinking about becoming a schoolteacher, the UCI School of Humanities is the place to be. If you are wondering how a major in the School of Humanities can prepare you for a teaching career, keep in mind that you will receive a well-rounded, liberal arts education with a strong foundation in critical and analytical thinking, writing, and communication skills.

These skills will enable you to analyze, understand, and describe the world around you. You, in turn, will be equipped to pass these skills on to students you teach, challenging and inspiring them to become critically thinking citizens. You will learn the basic subject content for what you will teach through breadth (general education) and major course work as a School of Humanities major. Then, you will learn how to teach through the UCI Teacher Credential Program.

Any of the majors in the School of Humanities provide the flexibility for you to complete prerequisites for a teaching credential program. In addition, the School offers you an opportunity for field experience working with children in public school classrooms through Humanities Out There (HOT). With early planning and careful selection of breadth and major courses, you can easily be a well-qualified applicant for the UCI Teacher Credential Program. And, in some cases, it is possible to begin credential course work while you are completing the final phase of your baccalaureate program.

Additionally, completion of the minor in Educational Studies offered by the UCI Department of Education will enhance your admissibility to the Teacher Credential Program, and some required course work meets program prerequisites.

California public school teachers must be credentialed by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC). Credentials are earned after completion of a bachelor's degree. UCI's Department of Education offers programs that lead to the following teaching credentials:

Multiple Subject Credential-authorizes teachers to teach all subjects, typically in an elementary school.

Single Subject Credential-authorizes teachers to teach in a specific content area (e.g., English, French, History, Spanish) typically at the middle/ intermediate or senior high school level.

Since there is no specific undergraduate major required for a teaching career, you can enter the UCI Teacher Credential Program with any major in the School of Humanities. If you are leaning toward teaching a single subject, majoring in that subject can be advantageous.

HOW HUMANITIES MAJORS CAN PREPARE FOR A TEACHING CAREER

• Meet regularly with your UCI Academic Counselor and Faculty Advisor to plan a program of study that will allow you to complete major degree requirements and credential program prerequisites.
• Attend a Department of Education Information Session and visit the Resource Center.
• Consider joining the UCI Teachers of Tomorrow Club.
• Consider earning a minor in Educational Studies.
• If you are interested in teaching elementary school, consider taking Education 122A-B-C -Foundations of Elementary School Mathematics
• If you are interested in middle/high school teaching History, consider taking Education 170A, B (Secondary History-Social Studies).
• Get some experience working with children through HOT (Humanities Out There) or Education 100, 124.
• Take the CBEST (California Basic Educational Skills Test) in your junior year.
• Complete UCI Teaching Credential Program prerequisite, Education 173 (cognition and Learning in Educational Settings).
• Apply for the UCI Credential Program in your senior year- December 1 for the Intern Program; February 15 for the Student Teaching Program.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

School of Humanities
University of California
Irvine, CA 92697-3380
www.humanities.uci.edu

• Undergraduate Counseling Office (949) 824-5132
• Humanities Out There (HOT) (949) 824-9735

Department of Education
University of California
Irvine, CA 92697-5500
www.gse.uci.edu
(949) 824-5117

CalTeach
www.calteach.com
(888) Cal-Teach

School of Humanities | UCI Home