Do you enjoy sharing your passion for your area of study with others? Do you want to see if teaching is a potential calling while maintaining your intended major? 

By blending your major with the teacher education track, you can earn your California Single Subject Teaching Credential alongside your bachelor's degree while still graduating in four years! 

If you pursue one of the following majors, you have the option of choosing the 4-year credential track by fulfilling additional units alongside your undergraduate degree:

• Art Education, B.A.
• Biology, B.A.

• Cross-Disciplinary Studies, B.A.

• Exercise and Sport Science, B.A.
• French, B.A. 
• History, B.A. 
• Mathematics, B.S.
• Music Education, B.A. 
• Spanish, B.A. 

Special Education credentials are also available with additional units completed. 

After fulfilling the requirements for your undergraduate degree, you may also apply to one of the School of Education's graduate programs to fulfill remaining requirements toward the California Teaching Credential(s). 

Professional Licensure or Certification

This program is approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and meets the requirements for educator certification in the state of California, where Point Loma Nazarene University is physically located. PLNU cannot confirm whether or not specific programs meet out-of-state requirements for Professional Licensure or Certification. Information about out-of-state requirements in teacher credentialing is available on this website.

For more information on State Authorization and Program Licensure, please refer to our disclosures page.

For information about the courses required for the Blended Program: Single Subject Teaching Credential program, view the PLNU Catalog. 

Course Information

Major Map

If you’ve thought about the possibility of applying your area of study to teaching, the blended program offers the best of both worlds. This opportunity will allow you to graduate with your intended four-year degree while also earning your Single Subject California Teaching Credential.

If you desire to teach middle school, high school, or at the college level, it is best to major in your desired content area, and then partner with the School of Education to complete required credential courses through the blended program.

The blended program will help you impart your expertise and passion to students through such career avenues as:

• Secondary level teacher
• Special education teacher (with the addition of specialized coursework)

What can you do with a single subject teaching credential?

The field of education has a large variety of opportunities and specialties you can pursue. Just a few of the many positions recent PLNU education alumni have gone into are: elementary school teachers, substitute teachers, teaching assistants, preschool teachers, tutors, and childcare workers. 

The following are examples of positions people with subject area degrees and a single subject teaching credential may hold: 

Secondary Level Teachers

2020 Median annual salary $57,748

Secondary teachers work with students in grades 6-12 to teach their area of specialization. These specializations include subjects such as mathematics, history, economics, government, English, biology, chemistry, physics, music, art, and a number of foreign languages. Secondary teachers must plan their lessons based on the state curriculum and monitor students’ progress by giving tests on said curriculum. Secondary teachers work school hours and have off all federal holidays. 

What it takes to be a successful secondary level teacher: 

• Communication and collaboration skills
• Strong listening skills
• Adaptability
• Empathy
• Patience

Special Education Teachers

2020 Median annual salary $61,420 

Kindergarten and elementary special education teachers are mainly responsible for working with children who have cognitive, emotional, or physical disabilities. Their primary goal is teaching youth with exceptionalities, helping them develop life skills as well as modifying and adapting general education curriculum to meet their students’ needs.

What it takes to be a successful special education teacher: 

• Critical-thinking skills
• Patience
• Communication skills
• Innovation
• Adaptability

Making a difference in education with your degree: 

Students at PLNU spend their academic careers building strong and loving Christian character that, in turn, sparks a desire to continue to learn about and educate future generations in an abundance of ways. The future is shaped by the teachers and educators of today. By enrolling in the Blended Program: Single Subject Teaching Credential, you’re taking steps to aid the next generation in creating a world that’s ready to excel and prosper like never before. 

Apply to PLNU today or get connected with one of our counselors for additional support and answers to any questions you may have.