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Application Process

  

    1. Create an online application.
    2. Complete your Statement of Purpose Essay.  Statement of Purpose essay prompts (see below) vary by program.  International students should review additional information for international students.
    3. Submit a current resume.
    4. ALL international transcripts will need a U.S. evaluation by one of the approved NACES agencies, which include degree equivalency, U.S. GPA equivalency, and a course-by-course evaluation report. Specifically Applicants to the Master of Arts in Teaching and Teaching Credential (MATTC) program must have their transcripts evaluated by one of the agencies approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). 
    5. Provide one copy of official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended, showing a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA and any conferred degrees.  A completed Bachelor's degree is the minimum requirement to be eligible to apply.  Transcripts should be sent to ecpadmissions@scu.edu (preferred) or mail to Santa Clara University, Attention ECP Graduate Admissions, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95053. 
    6. Provide recommendations (see below - two for Education programs, three for Counseling Psychology programs)
    7. Complete additional program specific requirements as necessary (see below).
    8. Submit $50 application fee

Statement of Purpose

Your statement of purpose must be a clear and legible draft focusing on the specific guidelines of the program and the chosen concentration you are applying for at the School of Education and Counseling Psychology. Limit your statement to two pages – typed and double-spaced. Your statement must be your own original work. You may use AI tools only for grammar, spelling, or minor language editing.

Please address each of the following:

1. Your path to the profession. What led you to the mental health field. You may include professional, educational, personal, or other experiences and explain how they shaped your decision to pursue this work.
2. Your experience serving others. Your direct work with individuals, families, or communities: your role, who you served, for how long, and what it has taught you about counseling and mental health.
3. Your commitment to diverse and underserved communities. Your values and examples of those values in action.
4. Why Santa Clara University. What draws you to SCU's program and, if you selected one, your concentration.

In no more than 2 pages, recall an experience you had working with children or youth in a formal, organized setting in the United States. Provide a description of the experience (e.g., context, students, program, grade) and explain what aspects of this experience you found most engaging and/or meaningful. Additionally explain how this experience aligns with the mission of the department of education "...to prepare professionals of competence, conscience, and compassion who will promote the common good as they transform lives, schools, and communities."

 Your statement must include evidence of your commitment to Social Justice, Multiculturalism and Diversity.

 

1) For applicants with no prior Catholic school teaching experience: Please compose a statement focused on your reasons for becoming a Catholic schoolteacher and your experiences that have prepared you for a Catholic school teaching career (especially your work with children or youth). Conclude by discussing the connections between your reasons for becoming a Catholic schoolteacher, your experiences that prepared you for this career, and your goals as a learner in Santa Clara University’s preliminary teaching credential program.

2) For applicants who have already been working as Catholic school teachers (including teachers pursuing the preliminary credential via the Abbreviated Route): Please compose a statement focused on your recent Catholic school teaching experiences. Please be sure to include: Relevant background information about the context and the specific work you do there. Description of the aspects of the experience you find most engaging and/or meaningful. Thoughtful discussion of the impact of your work experiences on your personal and professional learning goals for the teaching credential program.

 Your statement must include evidence of your commitment to Social Justice, Multiculturalism and Diversity.

1) (If applying to the program WITHOUT the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential option): Explain how your personal and/or academic experiences have contributed to your desire to pursue an M.A. in Educational Leadership at SCU. Describe how your personal and professional goals align with the program and what you hope to gain as a result of completing this degree.

2) (If applying to the program WITH the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential option)" Please write a statement focused on your recent experiences as a teacher, school counselor or as another certificated position in a school or district office, including :

Relevant background information about the context and the specific work you do.  A description of the aspects of the work you find most engaging and/or meaningful A thoughtful discussion of the impact of your experiences on your personal and professional learning goals for the administrative services credential program or the Master of Arts in Educational Leadership degree program.

 Your statement must include evidence of your commitment to Social Justice, Multiculturalism and Diversity.

Recommendations

All Counseling Psychology program applicants must submit 3 References - References are required to fill out an online form rather than a traditional letter.

  • All three references must be professional references: people who have supervised or evaluated your work, studies, or volunteer service, such as professors, job or clinical supervisors, or volunteer coordinators. Peer, personal, or character references (friends, family, coworkers at your level, or personal therapists) are not accepted.


All Education program applicants must submit 2 Letters of Recommendation.

  • Recommendations should be from individuals who have served in supervisory or evaluative roles with you. This may include professors, instructors, bosses or managers, job supervisors, clinical supervisors, volunteer coordinators, supervisors of volunteer work, or similar. Recommendations should not be from personal friends, family members, or personal therapists. The expectation is that the people recommending you should still be able to comment on your professional capacity as a practitioner or educator.


We realize that recommendations from such individuals may not be possible for some applicants.  If you cannot provide all professional references as described above, you'll be given an opportunity in your application to explain why.  

Additional Program Specific Application Requirements

 

Teacher Education

All applicants are encouraged to submit evidence of satisfying the basic skills requirement and meeting subject matter competence at the time of application. Click here for the ways to demonstrate Basic Skills Requirement and Subject Matter Competence.
 
Deadlines: 
 
Student teaching pathway candidates must have met basic skills and subject matter competence by February 1st of any given year in order to be guaranteed a student teaching placement in August of that same year. Applicants who are admitted to the program and submit evidence of subject matter competence after the deadline will be placed into their student teaching classroom on a first-come, first-serve basis. 
Note: Winter and Summer student teaching pathway applicants who do not submit their scores by March 1st will not be allowed to start in the Summer quarter and will be deferred to the Fall quarter, to take part in the 2-year MATTC program.
 
Intern pathway candidates must have basic skills and subject matter competence at the time they petition for the intern credential.
 
Private school and CatMAT pathway candidates must have basic skills and subject matter competence at the time they petition for their preliminary teaching credential.

 

The pre-service MATTC pathway requires multiple subject candidates to complete 59 quarters units of coursework and single subject candidates to complete 53 units of coursework. For description of coursework see MATTC Course Descriptions site.

Candidates must successfully complete all coursework and meet all requirements for petitioning for a preliminary teaching credential.

Teacher Education with Bilingual Authorization (BMATTC)

Individuals interested in pursuing a Bilingual Authorization - Spanish must pass the CSET LOTE 3 (Spanish) exam prior to starting their BMATTC courses. BMATTC Pre-Service candidates who do not pass the CSET LOTE 3 (Spanish) exam before the start of their first quarter are still eligible to join the MATTC program. These candidates may add the Bilingual Authorization - Spanish at a later time once they have passed the CSET LOTE 3 (Spanish) exam.

CSET LOTE 3 (Spanish) test scores may be uploaded in PDF format through the online application portal. CSET LOTE 3 (Spanish) test scores may also be emailed in PDF format to the ECP Admissions office at ecpadmisisons@scu.edu.

The Pre-Service BMATTC pathway requires that candidates complete the MATTC course load plus three additional courses designed specifically for BMATTC candidates. BMATTC courses are taught in Spanish.

Catholic Masters Program (CatMAT)

Please complete the CatMAT Administrator Form in its entirety, arrange for your principal to complete and sign the form and send it to the Admissions Office by email to ecpadmissions@scu.edu.

Educational Leadership with Preliminary Administrative Services Credential

  • Proof of valid California Teaching Credential, cleared prior to completing the Educational Leadership program
  • Employment verification letter written on official letterhead and signed by employer
  • Candidates must complete a petition for the credential
  • A Program degree plan
  • Certify 5 years of teaching experience
  • Submit a copy of a valid teaching credential
  • Santa Clara University transcript

Clear Administrative Services Credential Program (CASC)

  • Proof of the applicants valid California Preliminary Administrative Credential
  • Proof of certified employment as a school administrator
  • Candidates must complete the accredited program at Santa Clara University
  • Have 2 years of certified administrative experience
  • Hold a valid California Preliminary Administrative Credential