Subject Matter Competency Information
California Education Code requires that all candidates for a teaching credential demonstrate they are proficient in the subject matter area of their intended credential (meet the SMC requirement) in order to be intern-eligible and/or be given daily whole-class instructional responsibilities in a TK-12 school.
See the following link from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) website for options to meet Subject Matter Competency (SMC).
- California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET)
- (CTC) approved Subject Matter Program
- Demonstrate Subject Matter Competency (SMC) through coursework or a combination of coursework and exams (CSET)
- Meet SMC by Academic Degree Major (Bachelor's Degree or higher)
Meeting Subject Matter Competency requirement by Degree Major
In order to meet subject matter by degree major, the degree major must be aligned with one of the acceptable majors for the Multiple Subject or Single Subject Credential. The degree major listed on your transcript must correspond to the authorization listed on a Single Subject credential. The current statutory language does not provide flexibility in the acceptance of closely related terms/subjects; the degree major must be an exact match. If you have a degree major in the exact subject of the credential you are seeking, you need to upload your unofficial transcript to your Department Application showing your degree major and conferral date.
Please see Acceptable Majors for Single Subject (SS) and Multiple Subject (MS) Credentials and See PSA 23-04
To verify you have met Subject Matter Competency by your degree major you can (not required) complete this form SMC by Degree form and submit it with your unofficial degree bearing transcripts to credentials@csueastbay.edu with your $25 Department Application receipt and write SMC degree major request in the subject line.
If the degree major listed on your transcript IS NOT an exact match to the credential you are pursuing but in a similar major or subject (e.g. Kinesiology for Physical Education, History for Social Science, Performance for Music) you can request an SMC evaluation of coursework to determine if you have met Subject Matter Competency (SMC) by coursework or coursework and exams (CSETs). See PSA 23-04
Summer 2024 Prospective Students who have a Department Application in progress/submitted may submit a Subject Matter Competency Coursework Evaluation Request after December 1, 2023.
The deadline to request an SMC Coursework Evaluation is May 1, 2024. Evaluation results may take up to sixty business days. It is recommended to register and take CSETs if your degree major is not an exact match to the credential you are seeking-See PSA 23-04
Enrolled students may submit an SMC request from 12/1/2023 to 5/1/2024.
You need to follow the instructions below, complete the forms, and attach the required documents to be evaluated for Subject Matter Competency (SMC) based on coursework.
Subject Matter Competency Coursework Evaluation Request Information
To request an evaluation of coursework, you will need to submit a completed Content Knowledge form and all transcripts (foreign transcript evaluation) and follow the instructions below to demonstrate that you completed undergraduate or graduate coursework that fulfills the Domains of the Subject Matter Requirements set by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).
- You need to have all your transcripts and course descriptions or syllabi for reference.
- Using the Content Knowledge form listed below for the subject/credential you are seeking, read the domains listed on the left.
- In the right-hand column, list the Course Number, title, and catalog description in which you think the domain outlined was covered. It must be a course that is listed on your transcript.
- Acceptable coursework for any credential must meet all of the following criteria:
- 1) Has been completed with a grade of “C” or higher, “Pass”, “Credit” or another designation deemed by the institution of higher education to be equivalent to a grade of “C” or higher.
- 2) Is degree-applicable to an Associate or higher degree and credit-bearing. Remedial or professional development coursework is not acceptable.
- 3) Completed at a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
- You will likely need to list more than one course for each domain. It is possible that one course may fulfill several domains.
To Submit Your SMC Coursework Evaluation Request
- You need to complete the Content Knowledge form below for the subject/credential you are seeking, provide copies of all your transcripts (unofficial are acceptable), have a Department Application in progress/submitted, and include your $25 Department Application fee receipt with your emailed request. Copies of course descriptions or syllabi will provide the evaluator with more information.
- Name your transcripts with last name, first name, and school name.
- When the Content Knowledge form is complete, save the document titled (last name)(first name)(Content area)(net id)2024 and send it with the required documents listed above to smc@csueastbay.edu .
- The Subject Line of the email should be “Content Knowledge-Subject-Last Name” Be sure all documents are titled and are in pdf format with no passcodes or permission requirements to open. These conventions must be followed for your submission to be reviewed and evaluated.
Please see the link for more information-Subject Matter Requirements
Mathematics (foundational level) Content Knowledge
Mathematics (full) Content Knowledge
Multiple Subject Content Knowledge
Physical Education Content Knowledge
Science_ Biology Content Knowledge
Science_ Chemistry Content Knowledge
Science_ Earth and Space Science
Science_ Foundational level Content Knowledge
Science_ Physics Content Knowledge
Social Science Content Knowledge
World Languages Content Knowledge
World Languages: American Sign Language Content Knowledge
Multiple and Single Subject and Education Specialist 2024 Applicants or enrolled students may submit an SMC Coursework Evaluation Request with the required documents. Incomplete forms will be delayed and may be returned for resubmission. Requests submitted after the May 1, 2024 date will not be reviewed.
- SMC Evaluations will start in late January and typically take 6-8 weeks to complete.
- SMC Evaluation requests submitted before 12/1/2023 will be returned for re-submission or deleted.
The deadline to submit the Subject Matter Competency (SMC) Coursework Evaluation Request is May 1, 2024.
Evaluation Requests submitted after May 1 will not be reviewed.
Make sure you read the following:
https://www.ctc.ca.gov/educator-prep/subject-matter-requirements
The Department only reviews (Subject Matter Competency) SMC evaluation requests for prospective or enrolled students at CSU East Bay.