About the Department Elementary Education

Build Your Future as an Educator

Start your path toward teaching with programs designed to help you grow as a skilled, reflective and equity-minded educator.

The Department of Elementary Education prepares students to teach and lead in culturally and linguistically diverse schools. Through coursework, guided field experiences and faculty support, you will build the knowledge and confidence to create caring, inclusive, and engaging classrooms. Whether you are exploring education, preparing for a credential or advancing your practice through graduate study, we can help you take the next step toward making a difference with children, families and communities.

Our Mission

The Department of Elementary Education prepares skilled, transformative educators to teach and become leaders in culturally and linguistically diverse schools. We guide and support educators to develop a pedagogy of caring and cultural responsiveness, and to teach for social justice and equity for children and their families. Our Multiple Subject Credential and Master of Arts programs provide current educational theories, innovative teaching practices and guided field experiences in diverse schools. The curriculum in the MSC and MA graduate programs reflect current Teaching Performance Expectations (TPEs), State Standards and Common Core Standards. The department’s Multiple Subject Credential, including the Bilingual Authorization Programs, certify candidates with their Preliminary Credential to teach in California schools. Our MA programs prepare educational leaders to transform learning environments to support all students’ success academically and socially.