Student Program Pathways

Undergraduate Students

You can begin coursework toward the Single Subject Credential through your major. If you wish to teach at the secondary level, you should choose the major in your selected subject area, as this program requires demonstration of subject matter competency.

Students can apply to the credential program during LEDU 301: Introduction to Teaching, which can be taken as early as your second semester of your freshman year. Once accepted into the credential program, you will take courses in sequence.

Graduate Students

The Single Subject Credential Program at the graduate level can be completed either on campus or online. It can be completed as a non-degree program or as part of a master's degree. We offer the opportunity to earn your credential and master's degree simultaneously: M.A. in Teaching or M.A. in Education.

Teacher Preparation and Pedagogy Coursework

All teacher preparation and pedagogy coursework must be completed with a grade of "B-" or higher with an overall 3.0 GPA. See point 7 of the program requirements for a list of required courses.

Field Experience

You are required to fulfill field experience hours for specific courses. Biola will arrange your placements with partnering districts. See point 9 of the program requirements for details.

Most graduate students work full time and, through permission from their employers, utilize personal or vacation time to arrange for their field experience hours in the schools. Those teaching full time may have reduced field experience hours.

Student Teaching or Teaching Under an Intern Credential

At Biola, there are two pathways to meet the clinical practice requirement.

• Student Teaching Pathway

  • The student teaching pathway — offered both online and on campus to graduate students or on campus to undergraduate students — involves successfully completing coursework and an unpaid student teaching assignment during the final semester of the program. All student teaching placements will be in WASC-accredited public schools. You will be assigned a Biola supervisor. See the Single Subject Credential Program Requirements for more details.
    
  • Details:
    • Student teaching is the final course in Biola's Single Subject Credential Program. If you complete the student teaching pathway, you will simultaneously enroll in LEDU 450 / SEED 514 and LEDU 452 / SEED 515 during your 18-week placement in a single classroom. You will be assigned master teachers and a Biola supervisor.
      • LEDU 450 / SEED 514: Secondary Student Teaching I (6)
      • LEDU 452 / SEED 515: Secondary Student Teaching II (6)
    • You may student teach in a California public school, or a private school for Phase 2. Biola will find the student teaching placement for you.
  • Student Teaching Overseas:
    • You have the opportunity to student teach overseas in a variety of countries in accredited K–12 international and private schools. An overseas assignment may be completed during Phase 2 of the student teaching placements. Phase 1 must be completed at a California public school. You can find out more information on our program requirements page.

 

• Intern Credential Pathway

  • The intern credential pathway — offered exclusively at the graduate level in the fully online program — involves successful fulfillment of prerequisites and additional requirements followed by completion of online coursework while you are employed as a full-time teacher under the intern credential. See the Single Subject Credential Program Requirements for more details. (Note: Students must find their own employment in a public school or charter school to be an intern.)
  • Details:
    • Instead of student teaching during your final semester of the Single Subject Credential Program, you can teach with an intern credential if you are eligible — allowing you to work as a paid classroom teacher while completing the program. Each semester you teach with the intern credential, you will enroll in the intern support seminars. By the end of the program, you will need to have taken all four seminar courses (12 total credits). Student teaching (SEED 514/515) is not be required in the intern credential track.
      
      • SEED 625: Secondary Intern Seminar I (3)
      • SEED 626: Secondary Intern Seminar II (3)
      • SEED 627: Secondary Intern Seminar III (3)
      • SEED 628: Secondary Intern Seminar IV (3)
    • You have the option to transition from the student teaching pathway to the intern pathway at any time if qualifications are met.
    • See the Single Subject Credential Program Requirements for more details.

What will I study as a single subject credential student?

As a single subject credential student, you will take biblically-integrated coursework in teacher preparation and pedagogy, and complete fieldwork hours with partnering districts.

As a Christian institution, Biola seeks to admit applicants whose backgrounds clearly demonstrate scholarly aptitude, a commitment to the historic Christian faith, personal character and integrity, and a positive service-oriented motivation toward their field of study. Biola does not discriminate on the basis of the applicant's race, color, sex, socio-economic status, disability, or national or ethnic origin.

1. Complete and submit the online application

2. Submit a non-refundable $65 application fee

3. Submit supplemental application materials through your online application portal:

Official Transcripts

• Submit all official transcripts from previous academic institutions.
  • Request official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
  • If enrolled at the time the application is filed, be sure to request transcripts of work finished to date and final transcripts upon completion of your course of study.
  • Transcripts will be considered official only when a) mailed directly from the institution to Biola, b) sent electronically through an approved vendor or c) physically delivered in an untampered envelope sealed by the institution. Final approval for admission is contingent on receiving an official transcript.
    • Mail transcripts to:
      Biola University Office of Graduate Admissions
      13800 Biola Avenue, La Mirada, CA 90639
• Note for International Students: All international transcripts need U.S. grade equivalencies noted (i.e. GPA on a 4.0 scale). If your transcripts do not show U.S. grade equivalencies, you must have them evaluated by a credential evaluation agency like SpanTran (Biola Discount), World Education Services (WES) or Foundation for International Services (FIS). Be sure to choose "course by course report" and have SpanTran/WES/FIS send them directly to Biola University via online portal or post (13800 Biola Ave, La Mirada, CA 90639) in order to be considered official.

Reference Letters

• Note: Additional instructions can be found in the online application.

Essays

• Note: The essay prompts can be found in the online application.
  

English Proficiency (required for non-native English speakers)

• Evidence of English proficiency is required for all students to support student success. Proficiency must be shown through one of the methods described below:
  • Minimum test score on a qualifying standardized test
    • TOEFL: minimum score of 100 iBT
    • IELTS: minimum score of 7.5
    • Duolingo: minimum score of 125
  • A degree (bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral) issued by an institution where English is the medium of instruction.
    • Official written communication from the institution (Registrar, Controller of Examinations Office, or Undergraduate College)
    • Official degree statements or transcripts may be accepted given English is stated as the medium of instruction
    • Official catalog verification
    • Note: For universities from non-Anglophone countries, further language assessment may be required.
  • Completion of the English Language Scholars (ELS) with passing status on the ELS's final exit exam, which must be approved by the ELS Director in collaboration with the academic program committee. An updated TOEFL or IELTS score may be used at the end of a term to test directly into the graduate program for the following term.
  • Qualify for English Language Scholars (ELS), which allows students who do not meet the minimum TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo scores to still enroll in their graduate degree program. Students would be taking academic English courses concurrently with the graduate degree program courses.
    • Students eligible for ELS will be assessed by the ELS Director to determine the total number of academic English courses to take while enrolled in their graduate program courses. The following are the scores needed to qualify for ELS: TOEFL iBT 90 / IELTS 7.0 / Duolingo 110–124.
    • Note: Students must be admitted to the graduate program first to be considered for ELS.

4. Complete program-specific admissions requirements:

Single Subject Credential

• Verify Certificate of Clearance — Verify possession of Certificate of Clearance from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
• Verify Subject Matter Competency — At admission, applicants will need to verify subject matter competency or demonstrate evidence of continuous progress toward meeting the subject matter competency by one of the following:
  • Present a letter verifying completion of a state-approved subject matter waiver program
  • Present evidence of an attempt of at least one subtest of CSET
  • Present proof of enrollment to take the CSET
  • Present proof of enrollment in a CSET preparation course or evidence of purchasing CSET preparation materials
• Meet Basic Skills Requirement (or attempt CBEST) — Attempt the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) or have satisfied the Basic Skills Requirement (BSR).
• Fieldwork in California — Applicants must have the ability to complete fieldwork in California.

5. Interview with a faculty member

   • After your application and all supplemental application requirements are submitted and approved, you will have an in-person or phone/video interview (if long distance or online) with a faculty member.

 

Things to Note

• Track your application status at any time. You do not have to complete the application in one sitting. You can complete a portion and finish at a later time. Your information will be saved. When you apply, to guarantee confidentiality, you will be asked to create a user name and a password, and will receive a personalized identification number. Track your application status by logging in to the online application.
• Official documents presented for admission or evaluation become part of the student’s academic file and normally cannot be returned or copied for distribution.
• International students who will be studying on campus are required to apply for an F-1 student visa. For more information, visit biola.edu/international/admitted-students.