Exciting teaching programs prepare undergraduate students for careers in teaching or education and allow them to serve in classrooms in the Los Angeles area. Many teaching opportunities are offered in conjunction with the School of Education and Information Studies (SE&IS), which helps coordinate programs leading to various instructional credentials or to graduate study.
In the Education and Social Transformation major, Students analyze current issues in education through a social justice lens and emerge as effective advocates for positive change. See the program description.
The Education Studies minor offers a sequence of courses designed to introduce students to key issues, research, and policies in education. Students participate in a range of seminar and practicum courses to fulfill program requirements. The program office is in 1002 Moore Hall. See the program description.
The General Chemistry major is for students who want to acquire considerable chemical background in preparation for careers in secondary school chemistry teaching. The major may be appropriate for some students who plan to enter other chemistry-related careers that involve teaching chemistry to nonchemists. See the program description.
Math For LA is an effort of the Mathematics Department’s Curtis Center to improve the mathematics experiences of Los Angeles K-12 students. Its offerings include two credential pathways, a major, a minor, and a sequence of mathematics education courses (73XP, 74XP, 75XP, 105A, 105B, and 105C).
Two pathways are offered jointly with the School of Education and Information Studies. Each leads to a California Single Subject Teaching Credential in Mathematics. In the Integrated Pathway, students complete courses in education and mathematics during the junior and senior years to earn a California teaching credential upon graduation. In the Joint Math Education Pathway, students complete courses in education and mathematics during the senior year. They complete additional education courses the following summer to earn a California teaching credential. Over the following academic year, they complete graduate courses to earn a master’s degree in Education.
For more information, contact Julian Rojas, or visit The Curtis Center in 5602 Mathematical Sciences Building between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays.
The Mathematics for Teaching major is primarily designed for students preparing for careers in instruction, curriculum development, and assessment of high school mathematics. It is similar to the Mathematics major but has courses devoted to training in high school mathematics instruction. The major offers exceptional training in mathematics as well as in the pedagogy and content needed to teach high school mathematics, as recommended by the Conference Board of Mathematical Sciences. Students who complete the major also satisfy the California Subject Matter Competence requirement for a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Mathematics.
The Mathematics for Teaching minor is designed for students who are interested in K-12 mathematics education. The minor provides recognition for completion of mathematics education coursework that is essential for working in secondary school instruction, curriculum development, or assessment.
The Science Education minor offers preparation for careers where teaching is an important component, including middle and high school, community college, university, or other science-related outreach careers. Students who wish to become middle or high school science teachers or who plan to teach as graduate students in their disciplines are the primary focus. The minor supplies the broad general science background included in California state subject matter credential examinations, education coursework, field experiences in the development, management, and teaching of science laboratory instruction in grades 7 through 12, and UCLA-based teaching practicums in lower-division science laboratories.
The Science Teacher Education Program (STEP), cosponsored by the College of Letters and Science and the School of Education and Information Studies, allows science majors to observe, participate, and complete their student teaching in classrooms in schools in the Los Angeles area and to begin teacher education courses in their senior year. Seniors receive a preliminary teaching credential along with their bachelor's degree and a master's degree in education the following academic year. For details, contact Arlene Russell.
The Teacher Education Program allows students to obtain both a Master of Education degree and a preliminary multiple or single subject credential in a full-time, two-year program that supplies clinical classroom experience and a full-year urban teaching residency.
The UCLA Cal Teach program encourages and supports undergraduate students who are interested in exploring and pursuing K-12 mathematics and science teaching as a potential career. Courses include 20 hours of observation, participation, and assisting in K-12 schools, and seminars to support those field experiences for both mathematics and science: Science Education 1XP, 10XP, 15XP, 100XP, Mathematics 73XP, 74XP, and 75XP (in collaboration with the Mathematics Department). In addition, its offerings include the Science Education Minor and the Science Teacher Education Program.
The Visual and Performing Arts Education minor (VAPAE) in the School of the Arts and Architecture is an interdisciplinary and interdepartmental series of courses designed to introduce students to key issues and methodologies in the field of arts education for multiple publics and to a broad range of careers in the arts, including K-12 teaching, museum education, community arts education, creative arts therapies, and arts advocacy.
The arts education teaching sequence, an important component of the minor, consists of three courses in which selected undergraduate students explore core issues in arts education, creativity, and social justice. Students are assigned to K-12 classrooms in the Los Angeles area where they first observe and then implement an eight-week sequential arts-based lesson plan under the supervision of the guiding teacher.
Students are able to focus their studies on the following areas: strategies and methods in teaching in the arts, arts in the community, teaching the arts in non-traditional settings and with special populations, social-emotional learning in the arts, and interdisciplinary arts training.
Upon completion of the minor, students are eligible to be hired to teach in VAPAE community arts programs that take place at school and community sites in Los Angeles. The program office is in 2101 Broad Art Center. See the minor description.
