Admitted...Now What?

1. IF YOU ARE APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID, SUBMIT TWO FAFSAs (DUE May 1)

Please note that if you are applying for Financial Aid, you will need to complete both the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 FAFSAs on or before the May 1 deadline.

To submit your FAFSAs please go directly to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid website.

Please see the UC Santa Cruz Financial Aid Office for FAFSA requirements and instructions.

REVIEW FINANCIAL AID/COST OF ATTENDANCE INFORMATION

For important information on financial aid and cost of attendance for MA/Credential Program students, please see the following links to the UCSC Financial Aid Office website: 

  • Estimated 2023-2024 Budget for Master's Program in Education 
    • Graduate Student Costs (scroll to the linked bottom of the page.) 
    • Estimated Out-of-Pocket Expenses
      • Fees are constantly changing and beyond our control, but please plan on between $1000 and $1500 in additional out-of-pocket costs beyond your tuition and university fees. This list represents an estimate of additional costs that students will be responsible for and that are not covered by financial aid. These required costs are NOT included in the financial aid estimate, so please budget accordingly.

        Applicants

        • Graduate application fee - $135 ($150 for foreign applicants)
        • Live scan fingerprint processing fee for Certificate of Clearance Application - $22 - $120
        • Certificate of Clearance Application - $52.50
        • CBEST - (CTC is currently waiving CBEST fees) $30 per subtest for computer-based and online proctored testing; $41 per subtest for paper-based tests
        • CSET (CTC is currently waiving CSET fees)
          • MS: $99 per subtest taken separately; $247 for all subtests taken together
          • SS: $72-$99 per subtest (usually 3 total depending upon content area requirements); $297 for all subtests together

        Admitted Students

        • edTPA registration with Pearson -(CTC is currently waiving TPA fees) $300
        • RICA Test -(CTC is currently waiving RICA fees) $57 per computer-based subtest (3 subtests)
        • TB Test - $35 to $99
        • CPR Course - $90 to $134 (Must be Adult, Infant, Child, with in-person skills check)
        • Technology Course - $410 to $480; by exam $267 (CSET tests 133 & 134)
        • Credential application - $102.50
  • Financial Aid for MA/Credential Students  

Education Department Scholarship Opportunities for MA/Credential Program Students

Financial Aid Resources

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

University of California, Santa Cruz Federal School Code: 001321

UCSC Financial Aid Office

    Financial Aid Application Instructions MA/C Brochure 

TEACH Grant Program [PDF]

CAL Grant for Teaching Credential (only available if you received Cal Grant benefits in the last 15 months) Extension

University of California, Santa Cruz, Graduation Divison Financial Aid Information. 


2. VERIFY BASIC SKILLS AND SUBJECT MATTER COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS (DUE June 10th; Please note: May 10th is the final available test date to obtain results by June 10th)

June 10th is the deadline to submit verification of meeting Basic Skills (e.g. coursework, CBEST,  or other of the alternative options) and Subject Matter (e.g. CSET, college degree, or other option) state requirements.

Options for Meeting the Basic Skills Requirement

The California Education Code and Title 5 Regulations specify, in most cases, that applicants for a credential, certificate, or permit to serve in the public schools of California must verify basic skills proficiency before the credential, certificate, or permit will be issued. For Preliminary Teaching Credential candidates, the basic skills requirement must be met prior to serving as an intern. However, institutions may require the basic skills requirement prior to program enrollment.

Please see the program options here on our website

Options for Meeting the Subject Matter Requirement:

California Education Code requires that all candidates for a teaching credential must demonstrate they are proficient in the subject matter area of their intended credential.  Recent action by the Governor and the Legislature on AB 130 (Chapter 44, Statutes of 2021) has expanded the ways in which candidates may demonstrate subject matter proficiency.  At this time, some aspects of the new law may be implemented while other aspects require regulatory approval by the Office of Administrative Law.  The information below describes the various options allowable by this new law.

Please see our website for detailed information on meeting the state Subject Matter requirement

Please note that typically, incoming students may qualify for an extension to the June 10 deadline to complete the CSET requirement if they have passed at least one of their required subtests. Extension requests must be received by the Department by June 10, and must include an electronic copy of your passing CSET score report verifying passage of at least one CSET subtest and a copy of your official CSET Registration Confirmation showing that you are signed up to take your remaining CSET subtest(s) on or before May 1. To request an extension email the Credential Analyst, Esperanza Zamora, by June 10th and include attachments of your required documentation (e.g. test results, a transcript showing your degree, the appropriate SMR Guidance Form).

For more information on these additional options please see the CTC website here Subject Matter Requirement.

The graduate division deadline to state your intent to register is April 15th. Within 60 days of April 15th, you will be notified by the Credential Analyst of your standing in relation to meeting the Basic Skills and Subject Matter requirements. This notification will include information on how you have completed these requirements or the next steps to completion. 

For more information on signing up for the CSET examinations, please visit the following website links: CSET. 

Please note that typically, incoming students may qualify for an extension to the June 10 deadline to complete the CSET requirement if they have passed at least one of their required subtests. Extension requests must be received by the Department by June 10, and must include an electronic copy of your passing CSET score report verifying passage of at least one CSET subtest and a copy of your official CSET Registration Confirmation showing that you are signed up to take your remaining CSET subtest(s) on or before August 1. To request an extension email the Credential Analyst, Esperanza Zamora, by June 10th and include attachments of your required documentation (e.g. test results, a transcript showing your degree, the appropriate SMR Guidance Form).


3. PROVIDE YOUR @UCSC EMAIL ADDRESS (DUE May 8)

The graduate division will generate an email to you a UCSC email address after you state your intent to register. You will need to use this UCSC email address to complete the Student Teaching Placement Request Form (see #5 below).  

Email is the campus' primary method of communication and is used for most campus business, including financial aid and billing. You will be responsible for checking your campus email account or having mail forwarded to another account that you plan to check on a regular basis. The Education Department will communicate important program information with you using your UCSC account. For more information on campus email, click here.

Everyone at UCSC is issued a CruzID when they are enrolled. 

Your CruzID is your UCSC account, sometimes referred to as your username, that gives you access to many services and systems. Your CruzID is also part of your UCSC email address, such as bslug@ucsc.edu, the "bslug" is the CruzID. 

CruzIDs for new students are created using your lived name in MyUCSC. Learn how to manage your name and other personal information.


  • If you have any questions contact Matthew Garipay in the UCSC Education Department. 

4. IF YOU ARE SEEKING AN ADDED BILINGUAL AUTHORIZATION AND HAVE NOT ALREADY DECLARED, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER THIS OPPORTUNITY! SUBMIT AN ESSAY IN SPANISH (DUE MAY 1)

If you have intermediate or higher abilities in Spanish reading, writing, and speaking, we encourage you to participate in the Bilingual Authorization Program; there is no additional cost and this additional authorization is highly valued by California’s schools and districts.

Option 1: If you have already declared your interest in the Bilingual Authorization in Spanish and have already submitted an essay in Spanish with your application:

We will contact you in May to schedule an appointment for an oral interview in Spanish. The interview may be done via phone but is best done in person. The purpose of the informal interview is to better understand your fluency in Spanish and the kind of bilingual setting that would be the best match as a placement for you. 

Option 2: If you are interested in earning the Bilingual Authorization, have not already declared your interest in the Bilingual Authorization in Spanish, and have not already submitted an essay in Spanish with your online application:

Write a one to two-page essay in Spanish that addresses one of the following prompts:

  1. Describa el contexto en que se había usted ha aprendido el español.
  2. Describa su historia personal y cultural con las comunidades hispanohablantes.
  3. Describa sus experiencias con la educación bilingüe.

The purpose of this essay is to informally assess your written Spanish ability. Once the essay is received you will receive a reply message to set up an oral interview as described in #1 above. 

Submit your essay:

  • In the subject line of the e-mail please write: “Bilingual Authorization Essay,” your first and last name, and your cohort (math, science, English, social science, or multiple subjects). 
  • Submit essay to Danna Moreno. 
  • Please include this in the subject line of your email: Bilingual Authorization Essay, your name, your cohort. 

5. SUBMIT STUDENT TEACHING PLACEMENT REQUEST FORM (DUE May 1)

In addition to academic coursework, the UCSC MA/Credential Program requires a full academic year of student teaching experience. Your student teaching is a crucial part of the MA/Credential Program, and we work very hard to find placements with expert teachers who will guide your development as a teacher.

To ensure the best placement possible, please carefully complete the online form below. If you have questions, please refer to the Student Teaching Overview.

As you complete the form, please keep in mind that at least one of your placements must be in a school with a significant number of English Learners. Thus, many of our placement schools are outside the city of Santa Cruz. You should plan on commuting or carpooling to schools some distance from campus (e.g., Watsonville, Castroville). The daily combination of traveling to placement and then to classes on campus makes reliable transportation a must.

The program’s academic schedule combines the UCSC academic calendar and the local school districts’ calendars. For instance, student teaching will begin on the first day of school at your assigned placement (between mid-August to early September) well before the UCSC fall quarter begins. In addition, you will be required to complete your student teaching assignment during some of the UCSC academic breaks. Therefore, you will take spring and winter breaks according to the school district calendar with which you are placed and not during the scheduled UCSC breaks. Fall student teaching assignments will be announced in mid-August, at which time you will receive your placement school calendar for the first part of the year. Please see the Student Teaching Overview (see below for the link) for more information, and then complete the Student Teaching Request Form (see below) by May 1.

Please note: You must be signed-in to your @ucsc email account to access and complete these forms

Student Teaching Overview

Multiple Subject Candidates:

Single Subject Candidates: 


6. SUBMIT FINAL PRE-PROGRAM DOCUMENTS TO CREDENTIAL ANALYST (DUE June 10)

  1. Certificate of Clearance Verification
  2. Basic Skills Requirement
  3. Subject Matter Requirement

For course evaluations and/ or questions please email  Esperanza Zamora (SMR Guidance forms and unofficial transcripts) and all documents will be required to be submitted to our canvas. Candidates will be invited to via email. 


 7. REVIEW HOUSING INFO

On-Campus Graduate Housing:

In mid-May, you will receive an automatic e-mail from the Housing Office asking if you wish to apply for graduate student housing in the month of May.  If you are interested, you should respond early as housing requests fill quickly. In the meantime, you can view the graduate student housing options. Also once you register for your UCSC e-mail account, you will also have access to the UCSC Community Rentals listings.

Additional links to off-campus housing:


8. GET TESTED FOR TUBERCULOSIS (TB) (Due July 1)

All K-12 schools require anyone working with children to be tested for TB. You can get tested through the UCSC Student Health Center (831-459-2500 to make an appointment) or your private doctor.

  • MA/C Program requirement

Submit a scanned copy of your test results via this form by July 1st. Please email MA/C Program Coordinator, Matthew Garipay if you have any questions. PLEASE KEEP A COPY FOR YOUR RECORDS!

Please know that the University of California requires that all incoming students (including re-admitted and deferred admission students) to complete an Immunization and Tuberculosis Risk Screening Compliance Process prior to arrival on campus. There are no exemptions except for medical exemptions. The deadline is before you come to campus. More information is provided here. 

UCSC Student Health Center Flyer


9. COVID-19 Vaccine 

The University of California Office of the President issued a policy that makes COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for all students, faculty, and staff accessing facilities at any UC campus. In addition, students who are eligible for a booster must receive their booster within 30 days of becoming eligible. The UCSC Student Health Center has information about uploading proof of vaccination to Health e-Messenger and more details.

Please note that while the school allows for exemptions to this policy, the school districts you will visit do not and you must be vaccinated.

  1. Please submit proof of your vaccination here at Health e-Messenger
  2. Then please upload proof of your vaccination here in this form for the MA/C Program. 

10. ORDER 2 COPIES OF YOUR FINAL UNDERGRADUATE TRANSCRIPTS (WITH DEGREE NOTATION - for all non-UCSC degree holders only).

Transcript copy #1: The Education Department needs your official, final undergraduate transcripts to verify your degree for your credential application. Please order the department’s copy of your transcripts now (or as soon as your degree posts) and retain them in your personal files. The Program Coordinator/Credential Analyst will provide instructions for submitting your transcripts in September. 

Transcript copy #2: To confirm that you have obtained your undergraduate degree, you must submit one official copy of your final undergraduate transcripts to the UCSC Graduate Admissions office by September 1. Mail this copy of your transcripts to Graduate Admissions, UCSC, 1156 High St., Santa Cruz, CA 95064. (UCSC BA/BS degree holders are waived from this requirement.)

Hard copies for the Graduate Division (Transcript #2):

Transcripts and/or degree verifications must be sealed (unopened) in an envelope originating from the degree-granting institution. Only one copy of your transcript is required. Official transcripts should be addressed to: 

GRADUATE APPLICATION PROCESSING

UC Santa Cruz

1156 High Street

Santa Cruz, CA 95064

For parcel services (FedEx, DHL, UPS), indicate "Kerr Hall - 500" after the street address. 

Electronic copies for the Graduate Division (Transcript #2):

  • Official e-transcripts are acceptable from these approved transcript services: Parchment, Credential Solutions, e-Scrip Safe, National Student Clearinghouse, OpenCerts, or World Education Services only.

  • We do not accept transcripts or certificates that do not use an e-transcript service (i.e. the school emails your transcripts or certificates to UC Santa Cruz). Your school must mail a hardcopy transcript and certificate to UC Santa Cruz in a signed and sealed envelope if they do not use a transcript service.

  • We do not accept PDF or scanned copies of transcripts that come to us from the student directly, either.

E-transcripts should be addressed to either UC Santa Cruz Graduate Admissions or gradadm@ucsc.edu.

Your major of study, degree title, and month and year your degree was awarded must be displayed on the official transcript or degree verification.

PLEASE NOTE: Make sure your transcripts are not sent to Undergraduate Admissions at UC Santa Cruz as that is a separate office.

The Graduate Division highly recommends that you manually write-in their email address [gradadm@ucsc.edu] for e-transcript services like Credentials Solutions, Parchment, eScrip, and others; using their pre-selected address for UC Santa Cruz or University of California, Santa Cruz, will typically default to undergraduate admissions and will delay the arrival of your transcripts. 


11. REVIEW YOUR UPCOMING UCSC MA/Credential COURSEWORK

Multiple Subject Coursework (MA/C "At a Glance")

Single Subject Coursewor(MA/C "At a Glance")

 

See Also