Pathways to Teaching

Wondering how to become a teacher in California? Cal State Monterey Bay offers several pathways to begin your career as an educator. 

In addition to successfully completing your degree or credential coursework, our teacher education programs require a clinical experience, what many traditionally know as student-teaching. 

At CSUMB, you have a few options to complete your classroom training, which are largely based on your academic program and teaching goals. Here is a brief overview: 

Co-Teaching Pathway

Co-teaching is when two or more people — a cooperating teacher and a credential candidate — share responsibility for planning, teaching and assessing. 

Co-teaching is the traditional pathway for post-bac credential students and future teachers, and is suited for future multi-subject elementary school teachers, as well as secondary and special education majors. 

CSUMB’s Teacher Education Program will help you find a placement within one of our partner districts — and match you with a cooperating teacher who will help you develop the skills you need to manage your own classroom. 

Learn more about co-teaching eligibility criteria and completion requirements within the academic bulletin.

Intern Teacher Pathway

Students who meet the following criteria may be eligible to pursue the intern teacher pathway:

• already have a bachelor’s degree
• are enrolled in a teacher credentialing program
• have already found a teaching job in their subject area

Unlike co-teaching, interns are generally paid like a regular teacher while working toward their credential. 

Learn more about teaching internship eligibility criteria and completion requirements within the academic bulletin. Note that intern teacher positions are limited and highly competitive.

Partnering Districts and Schools

Cal State Monterey Bay is proud to have strong ties to districts and individual schools in our region. Here are a few places that open their doors and classrooms to our Otters:  

• Alisal Union School District
• Carmel Unified School District 
• Chualar Union School District
• King City Union School District
• Gonzales Unified School District
• Greenfield Union School District
• Hollister School District
• International School of Monterey 
• Live Oak School District
• Monterey County Office of Education
• Monterey Peninsula Unified School District
• North Monterey County Unified School District
• Pacific Elementary School District
• Pacific Grove Unified School District 
• Pajaro Valley Unified School District
• Salinas City Elementary School District
• Salinas Union High School District
• San Antonio Union Elementary School District
• San Benito High School District
• San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District
• Santa Rita Union School District
• Santa Cruz City Schools
• Soledad Unified School District
• South Monterey County Joint Union High School District