Interested in Teaching Science and Math?
You've come to the right place. Cal Poly offers many opportunities to try teaching, to develop your skills, and to get a teaching credential (which allows you to teach in public schools).
Opportunities to try teaching and develop your skills
Classes Involving Teaching
- Teach science lessons to visiting elementary and middle-school students (LBDL)
- Design and teach ocean science lessons to any audience (COSIA)
Paid Teaching Opportunities
- Teach science, math, and engineering lessons in after-school programs (MOST)
- Tutor and assist teachers in local science and math classrooms (TEAMS)
Research Opportunities
Financial Supports
- Scholarships up to $10,000/year for aspiring math and science teachers (Noyce Scholarships)
- Reimbursement for tests required to enter the credential program (STEM Teach Scholarships)
How to become a teacher (the basics)
To Become a teacher in public schools, you need to get a teaching credential. If you want to teach junior high school or high school, then you need a Single Subject Credential. If you want to teach elementary school, then you need a Multiple Subject Credential. In some cases with extra courses, a person with a Multiple Subject Credential can teach 7th and 8th grade as well.
The basic requirements to enter a credential program across the state are:
- Having a bachelor's degree
- Passing the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST)
- Showing Subject Matter Content mastery (called Subject Matter Competency)
- this can be done with an exam or
- a waiver program
Please see the School of Education website for more specific information about the program, its requirements, and its due dates.
Interested in teaching middle school or high school? Check out the Single Subject Credential Program
Interested in teaching elementary school? Check out the Multiple Subject Credential Program