Subject Matter Competency in Science: Physics

In addition to having earned a bachelor's degree, teacher candidates in California are required to demonstrate competence in the subject matter they will be authorized to teach. Candidates have two options available for satisfying this requirement: (I) achieving a passing score in the appropriate Commission-adopted subject matter examinations or (II) by completing a Commission-approved subject-matter program, the so-called waiver program. The Department of Physics and Astronomy at CSUN has a Commission-accredited subject matter preparation program.

(I) The Commission-approved subject-matter program is now called the California Subject Examination for Teachers, CSET. In the past, you were required to take SSAT Physics (#008), Praxis II Physics: Content Essays (#30262), and Praxis II General Science: Content Essays (#30433). However, the CSET is the only available set of examinations at this time. The specific CSET exams you need to take and the score required to pass are listed at: www.cset.nesinc.com

Other useful general information about the California Commission on Teaching Credentialing can be found at www.ctc.ca.gov/credentialinfo/leaflets/cl560c.html and at www.ctc.ca.gov/credentialinfo/leaflets_by_name.html

(II) If you have earned a bachelor's degree that closely matches the Commission-approved single subject-matter program in Science: Physics Concentration listed below, you may qualify for a waiver. Even when you closely match our waiver program, the Department may require that you take additional courses and/or exams. The B.A. degree in Physics at CSUN closely matches the required 65 units in the concentration and requires no further assessment. You need at least 120 units to earn a bachelor's degree in the CSU system.

Breadth (38 units)
Course Number		Course Name	Units
ASTR 301		The Dynamical Universe -or-
ASTR 312		Exploring the Solar System	3
BIOL 106/L		Biological Principles I/L	4
BIOL 107/L		Biological Principles II/L	4
CHEM 101/L		General Chemistry I/L	5
CHEM 102/L		General Chemistry II/L	5
GEOL 101/102		Geology of Planet Earth/L or GEOL 110/112 Earth History/L	4
MATH 150A		Mathematical Analysis I	5
PHYS 220A/L		Mechanics/L	4
PHYS 220B/L		Electricity & Magnetism/L	4
Depth (27 units)
Course Number		Course Name	Units
MATH 150B		Mathematical Analysis II	5
MATH 250		Mathematical Analysis III	3
MATH 280		Applied Differential Equations	3
PHYS 220C/L		Light, Heat & Sound/L	4
PHYS 301		Analytical Mechanics	4
PHYS 362A		Advanced Measurements I	1
PHYS 362B		Advanced Measurements II	1
PHYS 370		Modern Physics I	3
PHYS 490		Computer Applications in Physics	3

Single subject-matter competency in physics questions, the waiver-program, can be addressed by email to: say.peng.lim@csun.edu

The Department of Physics and Astronomy does not administer the credential program at CSUN. The Department only assists you with meeting the subject matter competency in the Physics concentration. Normally, you are expected to be enrolled in a credential program before you seek subject matter competency advice. Information on the California State University Credential Program can be found at: www.csun.edu/~sch_educ/cred/index.html