Supplementary Authorization in Computer Science

Supplementary Authorizations

Supplementary authorizations allow the holder to add one or more subjects to his or her teaching credential. There are two types of supplementary authorizations: introductory and specific. The introductory supplementary added to Single subject teaching credential authorizes the holder to teach at any grade level the supplementary subject matter content typically included in curriculum guidelines and textbooks for study in grades 9 and below, while added to a Multiple subject teaching credentials authorizes the holder to teach departmentalized classes related to the supplementary in grades 9 and below. The specific supplementary added to the Single subject teaching credential authorizes the holder to teach the specific subject in grades preschool, kindergarten-12, and classes organized primarily for adults.

Supplementary Authorizations may be added to:

• Single Subject Credentials
• Multiple Subject Credentials
• Standard Elementary and Secondary Credentials
• University Internship Credentials (Multiple and Single Subject only)
• Special Secondary Credentials in Academic Subject:
  • Art, Business Education, Homemaking, Industrial Arts, Music, Physical Education, Speech Arts, and Vocational Agriculture

Supplementary Authorizations may not be added to:

• General Kindergarten-Primary, Elementary, Junior High, or Secondary Credentials
• District Intern Credentials
• Special Secondary Credentials in Non-Academic Subject:
  • Aviation, Blind, Deaf, Lip Reading, Nursing Education, Partially Sighted Child, Public Safety and Accident Prevention Including Driver Education and Driver Training, Sciences Basic to Medicine, Correction of Speech Defects, and Mentally Retarded
• Special Education Credentials (current or previous)
• Adult or Vocational Credentials
• Career Technical Education Teaching Credentials

Acceptable course work must be:

1.  
   1. completed with a grade of "C" or better ("credit," "passing," or "satisfactory" is acceptable),
   2. applicable toward (elective or non-elective) a bachelor's degree or a higher degree (non- remedial),
   3. taken at a regionally accredited institution,
   4. granted regular quarter or semester unit credit, and
   5. from the subject department of the supplementary authorization being sought.

The following course work may be used if it meets the criteria listed above:

1. community college, correspondence, on-line, or extension course work, or
2. advanced placement units (requires an official transcript of the course and written verification from the college or university admission or registrar’s office that the units are applicable towards a bachelor's degree and are in the subject category of the requested supplementary authorization).

Unacceptable course work:

1. course work not applicable toward a bachelor's degree or a higher degree (remedial),
2. professional development or continuing education units,
3. in-service training or workshops,
4. education and education methodology course work unless:
   • a letter is provided from the chair of the subject area department stating that the course is equivalent to one offered by that department OR
   • the supplementary subject requested is computer science and applications and if the course work has been used to meet a requirement to earn a clear credential such as Computers in an Educational Setting, and
5. course work from a department other than that of the supplementary authorization being sought unless a letter is provided from the chair of the subject area department stating that the course is equivalent to one offered by that department.

An applicant will qualify for a supplementary authorization upon the completion of one of the following:

1. Twenty semester units or ten upper division semester units, or the equivalent quarter units, of non-remedial course work in the subject requested. For introductory subjects, it requires at least one course in each of the content areas listed; the balance of the ten or twenty units may be in any course within the subject category. For specific subjects, the same unit total is required.
2. A collegiate major from a regionally accredited college or university in a subject directly related to the subject to be listed on the credential.

Specific Supplementary Authorization in Computer Science

Specific supplementary authorizations may be added to Single Subject, Standard Secondary and Special Secondary (academic subject areas only) Teaching Credentials and authorize the holder to teach the specific subject in grades preschool, kindergarten-12, and classes organized primarily for adults.

(Specific) Computer Science

1.  
   • Computer programming: includes expertise in at least one modern, high-level programming language (e.g., Python, Java, C/C++/C#).
   • Data structures and algorithms: covers data representation, abstraction, searching and sorting in the context of solving problems using programming and computational tools.
   • Digital devices, systems and networks: covers computer and communication devices and the systems they compose, including the concepts and abstractions that enable stand-alone, networked, and mobile digital devices to operate and communicate.
   • Software design: covers the process of planning, engineering and implementing a software system to solve a problem, typically using both a design and a programming methodology, such as object-oriented and functional approaches.
   • Impacts of computing (e.g., social, ethical, legal): includes the social, ethical, and legal issues and impacts of computing, as well as the contributions of computer science to current and future innovations in the arts, business, humanities, medicine, and science. These topics may be included within courses that cover any of the other content areas.
   • The balance of the units may be in any course that falls within the academic department for that subject category. Computer classes in the Education Department may be used including a pedagogy course in computer science from either department.

Note: Any individual holding a Mathematics Single Subject credential is allowed to teach computer science classes.

For more information about CSU campuses offering Supplementary Authorization in Computer Science, please contact the specific campus.