Program Overview

Transitional Kindergarten Certificate (TK)

The Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Certificate is designed to provide preliminary and credentialed K-8 teachers with upper division units that cover the knowledge, skills, and strategies to teach effectively in a transitional kindergarten classroom. The program is based on the California Learning System, which includes Foundations and Framework, and the alignment of the California preschool Learning Foundations with California Content and Common Core State Standards.

Program Overview

The TK Certificate will fulfill the child development units required for the newly passed law based on Transitional Kindergarten Senate Bill 837. The law states that a credentialed (or preliminary credentialed) teacher must have 24 units of early childhood education or child development to teach transitional kindergarten in a California school district.

Program Requirements

• Candidates must have a valid Preliminary or Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential.
• The program is comprised of 6 courses (24 units) delivered fully online for California residents.
• The term for each course is 8 weeks, and it is possible to complete the TK certificate in as little as one year.
• Each course is four (4) upper-division, transferable units delivered through the Child Development Program of the Education and Teacher Development Department.

Required Courses

• 24 semester hours
  • Course List Code | Title | Semester Hours
    • EDUC 480TK | Development of the Young Child | 4
    • EDUC 481TK | Transitional Kindergarten Observation and Assessment | 4
    • EDUC 482TK | TK Childhood, Family, and Community Relationships | 4
    • EDUC 483TK | TK Childhood Language and Literacy Development | 4
    • EDUC 484TK | TK Childhood Math and Science Development | 4
    • EDUC 485TK | TK Childhood Social-Emotional Learning and Development | 4
  • Total Semester Hours | 24

Program Dismissal

Students may be dismissed from the program under several circumstances, including but not limited to:

• Academic dishonesty
• Academic disqualification
• Failure to maintain minimum academic standards
• Failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress
• Removal from a fieldwork placement
• Unethical or unprofessional conduct
• Failure of program activities measuring student competencies/or dispositions
• Circumstances interfering with training or well-being of others
• Felony conviction Students dismissed from the program may not apply for readmission.

Transfer Units

Upon completion of the TK certificate, students may exercise an option to transfer 21 certificate units to a Master's degree.