Integrated Undergraduate Teacher Credentialing Program

Integrated Undergraduate Program Quick Facts

If you want to teach but don’t have your bachelor’s degree yet, there’s good news! You don’t have to wait to begin a teacher preparation program. An integrated undergraduate program (sometimes called a “blended” or “ITEP” program) leads to both a bachelor’s degree and a Preliminary teaching credential within four to five years. You might start during your first year at a four-year institution, or at a community college if it has a specified pathway agreement with a university. This pathway combines an academic major with early field experiences and courses on teaching methods for the specific subject you will be teaching. You will be completing your undergraduate degree while also learning to teach, and your program will provide you with academic and teacher preparation coursework along with clinical practice experiences. 

Distinct Advantages

• Teachers prepared through this pathway are less likely to leave the profession than those who started on emergency permits or intern credentials.¹
• Also, compared to teachers on emergency permits or intern credentials, teachers prepared through this pathway are much more likely to have completed all of their credential requirements by the end of their third year.¹
• Some integrated undergraduate programs provide an opportunity to earn a master’s degree.
• Completing a bachelor’s degree and teacher preparation at the same time can be time- and cost-effective. 

Key Considerations

• Because these programs are typically compressed to make efficient use of the time for both undergraduate studies and teacher preparation, you’ll want to communicate with your advisor regularly to ensure you stay on track by taking the right courses.
• There are currently more integrated undergraduate programs for earning Multiple Subject (elementary level) credentials than for Single Subject (secondary level) or Education Specialist (Special Education) credentials.
• Many employers determine pay scale through a combination of credential level, years of relevant experience, and number of post-baccalaureate degree coursework units, so the starting salary may be lower for educators who earned their Preliminary credential through an integrated undergraduate program. The Commission has no purview over employing agency salaries as they are negotiated by local bargaining units. 

Financial Support

A wide variety of financial resources can help make any pathway you choose affordable. Learn how to fund your future in teaching with financial planning steps for every aspiring educator.

For example, financial aid for an integrated undergraduate program may be available through your institution of higher education. Integrated undergraduate program teacher candidates are eligible to apply for federal and state grants such as the Federal TEACH Grant and Golden State Teacher Grant.

Search a comprehensive database of funding resources to create your own financial plan.

Find Your Integrated Undergraduate Program

This dashboard shows the Commission-approved institutions offering integrated undergraduate programs. Filter using the legend to narrow down the list and find the program that's best for you. You can also navigate to an institution's website by clicking on the name and using the link in the tooltip.

References

1. Ong, C., La Torre, D. Griffin, N., Leon, S., Sloan, T., Smith, T. & Cai, L. (2021). CTERIN Policy Brief: Diversifying California's Teaching Force: How Teachers Enter the Classroom, Who They Serve, & If They Stay. California Teacher Education Research & Improvement Network.

Back to text