ACT - Frequently Asked Questions
How does ACT differ from the traditional program?
Is the ACT Program an approved program of study toward the preliminary credential?
How long is the ACT Program, and when is it offered?
How do I apply to the ACT Program?
Once I have completed and submitted all required applications for admission to the ACT Program, what happens next?
How do I register for classes in the ACT Program?
Where can I get information on credential requirements?
Can I substitute a course I have already taken for a course in the credential program?
Can I complete coursework leading towards the Professional Clear Credential while I am in the ACT Program?
What do I need to have completed in order to qualify to student teach?
What are the criteria for admission to the ACT Program?
What are additional requirements for the preliminary credential?
How will I know which of these requirements I have met prior to beginning the program?
What does a typical weekly schedule for a teacher candidate in the ACT Program look like?
Can I work while I am in the ACT Program?
Is Financial Aid available through the university?
Do I have to find my own placements for field experiences and student teaching?
Are there extra costs for participating in the ACT Program?
Do I get paid while I am student teaching in the program?
I am an on-the-job teacher teaching on an emergency permit. Can I enter the ACT Program?
Where are ACT Program classes held?
I will need to relocate to participate in the ACT Program. Where might I look for housing close to CSUN and District 2?
How does ACT differ from
the traditional program?
ACT was designed as a one-year full time program. Students enrolled
in the ACT Program are guaranteed courses that are scheduled to
be completed in one year, progressing through the program as a
cohort. The ACT Program is offered in collaboration with local
District 2 in LAUSD, with many classes offered at the District
2 Professional Development Center at Polytechnic High School.
Courses in the ACT Program are taught collaboratively by university
faculty across disciplines and with K-12 teachers, administrators,
and parents. Throughout the program candidates work with experienced
teachers, trained as coaches, learning to teach in classrooms
serving students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
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Is the ACT Program an
approved program of study toward the preliminary credential?
Absolutely. The ACT Program is a recognized and fully-approved
credential program at CSUN and as one of several routes to the
preliminary credential, recently received full state and national
accreditation from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
(CCTC) and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher
Educators (NCATE).
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How long is the ACT Program,
and when is it offered?
The ACT Program is a full-time, two-semester program offered each
year, beginning in the fall semester and extending into the late
spring or early summer, depending on the candidate’s specific
program and student teaching assignments. For certain credential
programs within the special education option, the ACT program
includes an additional summer of study.
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How do I apply to the
ACT Program?
To be considered for the ACT Program, three applications are necessary:
1. Apply to CSUN for entrance into the graduate
program (application available online at www.csun.edu).
2. Apply to the Credential Program (call the Credential Office
at 818/677-2586, contact through email at credprep@csun.edu,
or visit the Credential Program Office located in E 100 adjacent
to the Michael D. Eisner College of Education).
3. Apply to the ACT Preparation Program (call the ACT Office at
818/677-2567 for a brochure and application or download from the
ACT Program website.
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Once I have completed and submitted all
required applications for admission to the ACT Program, what happens
next?
Once the Credential Office determines that you have submitted
a complete application to the credential program, you will be
notified and instructed to call the ACT Program Office to schedule
an interview appointment. At the time of the interview, applicants
should bring a copy of the notification of complete application
to the credential program as well as a photocopy of the statement
of objectives, letters of recommendation, and college transcripts
that the applicant submitted as part of their application to the
credential program. Decisions regarding acceptance of an applicant
into the ACT Program are determined according to application materials,
results of the interview, progress towards meeting additional
program requirements, and grade point average. The ACT Program
will begin to notify applicants of their status in regards to
admission to the ACT Program within a two-week period following
the deadline for application to the credential program.
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How do I register for
classes in the ACT Program?
Students participating in the ACT Program will receive a registration
packet from the university that contains general information and
a PIN number needed for the registration process. In addition,
the ACT Coordinator for your specialization area will provide
specific information regarding class and permission numbers. Touch-tone
and on-line registration are the systems used by the university.
You will be able to register for classes by calling (818) 677-3000
on any touch-tone telephone or by accessing http://www.csun.edu and clicking on the “Campus Portal” menu under Quick
Links. In the packet of registration materials you will receive
from the university, you will be provided a PIN number and registration
appointment time. Whether using touch-tone or on-line registration,
the system will guide you through the process. Following registration
for classes, you will receive instructions for paying tuition
and fees according to your academic standing (graduate level)
and the number of units in which you enroll.
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Where can I get information
on credential requirements?
The Credential Office manages all information related to requirements
for the preliminary credential. Visit the Credential Office on
line at: http://www.csun.edu/~sch_educ/information/index.html.
Your ACT Coordinator can also provide information regarding specific
requirements for successful completion of the ACT Program.
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Can I substitute a course
I have already taken for a course in the credential program?
If you have taken a course that you believe serves as a substitute
for a course in the credential program, you may petition to have
the course reviewed by an analyst in the Credential Office. Contact
the Credential Office for a “Course Substitution Request
Form,” complete the form, and submit it with appropriate
documentation that supports your request (e.g., course outline,
syllabus, catalog copy of the course description).
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Can I complete coursework
leading towards the Professional Clear Credential while I am in
the ACT Program?
No. Requirements for the Professional Clear or Level II Credential
must be met during a five year period following the award of the
Preliminary Credential.
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What do I need to have
completed in order to qualify to student teach?
All ACT Program teacher candidates must complete the following
requirements prior to student teaching:
-
CBEST
-
CSET in appropriate subject matter area
-
Writing proficiency requirement
-
Fingerprint clearance
- Tuberculosis screening
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What are the criteria
for admission to the ACT Program?
All applicants to the ACT Program must meet the minimum requirements
for entrance to the Credential Program. However, due to limited
space available, applicants to the ACT Program are evaluated against
additional criteria, including progression toward meeting additional
program requirements (i.e., CBEST, writing proficiency requirement)
and GPA.
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What are additional
requirements for the preliminary credential?
As part of the requirements for the preliminary credential,
ACT Program candidates must also complete:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.
- Appropriate subject matter examination (CSET)
- Knowledge of the U.S. Constitution demonstrated through successful completion of an appropriate course or examination.
- CPR certification (Infant/Child/Adult or Community Certification)
- Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA)
Individuals who are interested in applying to
the ACT Program are strongly encouraged to meet additional program
requirements prior to applying to the Credential and ACT Preparation
Programs.
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How will I know which
of these requirements I have met prior to beginning the program?
Following a review of transcripts and other documents submitted
at the time of application to the credential program, you will
receive a program plan that lists requirements that you have and
have not met. The program plan serves the credential office as
an evaluation instrument and you as a guide as you progress through
the program.
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What does a typical
weekly schedule for a teacher candidate in the ACT Program look
like?
The schedule for a teacher candidate participating in the ACT
Program will be determined in large part by the schedule designed
for students in that credential option. As a general rule, classes
in the ACT Program are offered in the late afternoon and evening
beginning at 4:00 PM. This schedule leaves time for ACT candidates
to complete fieldwork and student teaching during the daytime
hours when schools are in session. Please see the sample schedule
corresponding to your specialization area:
- Elementary Education
- Secondary Education
- Special Education – Mild/Moderate Specialization
- Special Education – Moderate Severe Specialization
- Special Education – Deaf/Hard of Hearing Specialization (See Advisor for sample schedule)
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Can I work while I
am in the ACT Program?
While some students do hold part-time positions while enrolled
in the ACT Program, it is not recommended. The ACT Program is
a full-time, one-year, accelerated program with intensive coursework
and extensive field experiences. ACT candidates who do work MUST
be able to arrange their work schedules to enable them to participate
fully in the ACT Program.
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Is Financial Aid available
through the university?
Financial aid is available to all students in the ACT Program
who qualify. Financial aid opportunities include mini-grants,
regular grants, forgivable loans, and student loans. Visit the
Financial Aid Office located in the Student Services Building,
Room 130 or online at www.csun.edu/finaid.
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Do I have to find my
own placements for field experiences and student teaching?
No. The ACT Program Coordinators place each teacher candidate
with a qualified teacher in a participating school in District
2, LAUSD or other approved site. See a listing of District
2 schools.
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Are there extra costs
for participating in the ACT Program?
No. Participants in the ACT Program pay the usual tuition and
fees as a full-time, graduate level student at CSUN. Students
bear the costs of tuition and fees and any books and supplies
required by individual instructors and courses in the program.
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Do I get paid while
I am student teaching in the program?
Sounds like a good idea, but no. ACT candidates complete their
field experiences and student teaching under a traditional model
of clinical practice and are placed with veteran teachers who
guide and mentor teacher candidates during the experience.
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I am an on-the-job teacher
teaching on an emergency permit. Can I enter the ACT Program?
The ACT Program is designed for teacher candidates who are not
yet teaching and who can devote full-time to their studies. Individuals
teaching on an emergency permit and who seek a structured credential
program should contact the appropriate CSUN University Intern
Program at either (818) 677-2573 (Multiple Subject), (818) 677-2224
(Single Subject) or (818) 677-4972 (Special Education).
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Where are ACT Program
classes held?
The ACT Program is a field-based program offered in collaboration
between the Michael D. Eisner College of Education and Local District
2, LAUSD. Classes in the program are offered at CSUN and through
District 2 Professional Development Center (PDC) located on the
campus of Francis Polytechnic High School in Sun Valley. Classes
held in the field take place at Polytechnic High School and other
school sites in District 2.
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I will need to relocate
to participate in the ACT Program. Where might I look for housing
close to CSUN and District 2?
CSUN has some housing available for students on campus. Visit
the CSUN Housing website at: http://housing.csun.edu.
Apartment housing is available around the CSUN campus and also
in the various communities within the District 2 boundaries. Click
here for a map of the District 2 boundaries in helping you locate
a suitable neighborhood and residence during your tenure in the
ACT Program:
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