Teaching Program Admission Guidance

Apply Online: graduate.lmu.edu/apply

• Use your regular personal email address, such as gmail.
• Full Legal First Name, Full Legal Last Name, and Birthdate.
• You'll return regularly to your application to upload items - save the login/password info.

Academic Level:   Graduate ~ School of Education

Primary Area of Interest:   Teacher Preparation Programs

Program of Interest, select subject area as appropriate:

• Elementary Teaching – Transformative Education (MA)
• Secondary Teaching -- Transformative Education (MA)
• Mild/Moderate Teaching – Special Education (MA) -- includes Transformative Ed

Credential, select as appropriate:

• Elementary Multiple Subject Credential
• Secondary Single Subject Credential
• Education Specialist: Mild to Moderate Support Needs Credential
• Education Specialist: Mild to Moderate Support Needs with Multiple Subject Credential

Field Experience Pathway: 

• Intern (for TFA and other full-time public/charter school teaching positions that require an Intern Credential)
• Resident (for those authorized by a LMU partnership residency program)
• Private School Practitioner (for CAST, PLACE Corps, and any one employed full-time as teacher in private school)
• Student Teacher (for those who will be completing guided student teaching to fulfill fieldwork requirement)

Special Partnerships, if applicable, this category will appear. 
Select the option that applies most closely to your situation.

Samples

• Charter/Public School Teacher
• Teach For America - Bay Area
• Teach for America - Los Angeles
• CAST Program
• Private School Teacher - Other
• (etc)

Anticipated Entry Term:  Summer II 

Academic History:

• List community colleges where you may have completed a U.S. Constitution requirement course or coursework that could be used in a subject matter review, especially important for multiple subjects and special education, and/or for single subject if you did not major in the subject you will be teaching/earning a credential for.
• Include your bachelor’s degree institution. If you haven’t yet received your bachelor’s, have one set of official transcripts sent in order to be processed for admission.  You’ll need to request another set be sent after your bachelor’s degree is conferred. This is called a "Final Official Transcript." 
• College/Universities send transcripts electronically to:  graduateadmission@lmu.edu 

The following two questions are provided here for your convenience.  They are also included within the application. 

1. What draws you personally to the goals of the School of Education Mission, Vision, and Core Values?
2. As a professional, what actions do you plan to take in the PK-12 classroom and in community spaces that will contribute to success for all students (or for special ed credential, that will contribute to success for students with disabilities)?

IMPORTANT: Faculty reviewers do require a definite minimum of two (2) full pages (to the very bottom of the page), double spaced, 12-point font, 1’’ margins.

Transcripts from all regionally accredited colleges/universities that you've previously attended need to be sent from the issuing college/university directly to Loyola Marymount University - Graduate Admission Division.   Most academic institutions send transcripts electronically with an immediate 1-2 day delivery - select/confirm the following email address for your transcript delivery:

• LMU Graduate Admission Office - graduateadmission@lmu.edu

Don't forget to include in your application any and all community college(s) in the list of institutions that you attended.  We find that there are courses from community colleges that meet CTC requirements for the U.S. Constitution requirement, as well as for a undergraduate coursework review of subject matter (which may waive you out of some applicable CSET examinations.)

Here are some other helpful links:

• LMU SOE Transcript Submission Directions (detailed directions)
• LMU SOE International Transcript Evaluation and English Language Exam Info

The School of Education requires a bachelor’s degree (from a regionally accredited college/university) for graduate level coursework with one of the following GPA requirements:

• • 3.0 GPA for Bachelor's Degree, or,
  • 3.05 in last 60 semester (90 quarter) units of undergraduate coursework, or,
  • 3.0 GPA in at least 9 semester units of credential level or graduate degree level coursework.

If your GPA is lower than the admission requirement, we invite you to submit a Request for Exception to the GPA Requirement Form and Statement to help us get a more holistic view of your educational journey. 

Please upload the GPA Exceptions Request form and statement, to the same section in your application with your Personal Statement .

There are a variety of options to meet  Subject Matter for a California teaching credential, including:

Direct major in the subject (as identified by CTC). 

• • CTC Approved Subject Matter Exact Majors aligned/compared against CSET Exams List

CSET applicable subtest examinations in the subject.  CSET subtest exam links are included in:

• • CTC Approved Subject Matter Exact Majors aligned/compared against CSET Exams List       

Subject Matter Coursework Review, popular for those pursuing Multiple Subjects (Elementary), Education Specialist (Special Education) and/or for Single Subject for those with a very similar major or a minor in the teaching area/subject.   

• • LMU SOE Subject Matter Coursework Review Request Form
  • Coursework reviews begin once ALL the following are received/completed:
    • LMU subject matter review request form has been uploaded in the application, AND,
    • You've submitted your LMU application, AND,
    • LMU has received a copy (official or unofficial) of all prior coursework.

The Certificate of Clearance (COC) section of the CTC website provides the full details for fingerprinting and submission of ‘LiveScan’ fingerprinting using the LiveScan 41-LSForm. To assist, we've also provided detailed instructions.  A few tips:

The Certificate of Clearance is required immediately for Interns and Residents (prior to June).  For all other pathways, you want to complete this no later than August. 

The sooner you complete this, the better as occasionally these are held up by CTC for months.  Please note there are MANY steps to this process.  CTC will email you regularly with each successive next step along the way.  

• We are unable to accept any other documentation to meet this It needs to be the actual Certificate of Clearance from CTC using the 41-LS Form.
• Interns who already hold a Certificate or Substitute Permit do need it to be valid for two full years from start of the LMU program. Renew now if it will expire within the next two years.
• If you may already have a COC from CTC, you can verify by going to ctc.ca.gov and select ‘search for an educator’ on yourself. 
• Upload a screen shot of CTC website showing your name, COC issuance permit number, and date of issuance to the LMU application system as soon as you have it available. COC’s must be valid for the full length of the program. Renew existing COC if applicable.

If you are currently out of state, start the online process anyway. If you can get a LiveScan out of state, please do so.  If not, do everything but the LiveScan of your fingerprints portion and complete that as soon as you arrive in California.  This process can take several months and, of particular note for those who require an Intern Credential (includes TFA candidates), will hold up your intern credential which will affect your employment as an intern.

There are a few options available to fill the U.S. Constitution requirement for teaching credentials in California.

1. Graduated or will graduate from a California State University (CSU) with a bachelor’s degree. No further action required.  We see from your transcript that you've met this requirement, and/or will meet it when your expected Bachelor's degree from a California State system university posts (no later than July 31).         
2. Completion of a college course that covered the provisions and principles of the US Constitution taken at a regionally accredited college or university.  Generally a Political Science or Government course such as  "Intro to American/U.S. Government" meets this requirement.  Course review/verification is completed by LMU. For History courses, please be prepared to provide a detailed coursework description from your college catalog and/or a full course syllabus.  
3. Pass a CTC approved examination on the provisions and principles of the US Constitution offered by a regionally accredited college or university.  Here’s a link to a popular CTC-approved online quick anytime exam.  This short exam is usually offered 24/7, provides a study guide and immediate notification of exam results upon completion. There is a personal out-of-pocket cost associated with this exam. Please upload your exam results to your application portal for U.S. Constitution as soon as you receive them.

LMU Student Health Post-Admission Entrance Requirements

• Submit TB Screening/Test Results
• Submit MMR Immunization Results (or blood test that shows immunity)

Upload at Student Portal -  Deadline to Submit:  August 1

There are a couple of different types of deadlines:

1.  Deadline to Submit your LMU Application:

• • 1DL:  January 5, 2025
  • 2DL:  January 5, 2025
  • 3DL:  March 5, 2025

2. Deadline to Complete CTC Requirements (Subject Matter, U.S. Constitution, COC) and upload to LMU Application Portal.

• • All -- June 1, 2025

3. Deadline to Complete Summer TFA PreService and LMU Summer Course

• • All -- TBD (July 2025)

4. Deadline to upload TB Results and MMR Immunization to LMU Student Portal

• • All -- August 1, 2025

The Free Application for Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) application is required of all students who wish to receive the LMU tuition contribution scholarship.  

In addition to generous scholarships provided by LMU, candidates also owe have the ability to apply their AmeriCorps Award to LMU to reduce their cost each year. TFA candidates who are not eligible for the AmeriCorps Award will owe the amount out-of-pocket.   

Candidates who withdraw or exit the LMU program forfeit their scholarship and will owe the tuition and fees out-of-pocket as outlined in the LMU-TFA Candidate Agreement.  Scholarships are removed for candidates who exit their commitment to the program early.

You may wish to additionally search for other aid you might be eligible, including post graduation loan forgiveness,  at the LMU Graduate Student Financial Aid site. Student loans (private, state, and federal), are also available and may cover personal Cost of Living amounts beyond tuition.

We've compiled a list of some of the most commonly requested campus resource links. 

From Disability Support Services, to the academic calendar (holiday anyone?) to library resources, to athletic fun, to physical and mental health services, we have a full campus full of resources just waiting to be utilized.  

Here's the full guide to the:

• Academic Calendar 
• Library Resources
• LMU ID "One Card"
• Student Psychological Services:
• Athletic Event - Go Lions!
• Campus Recreation - Gym, Pool, Courts, etc.
• Disability Support Services
• Discounts (Vendor) for Students
• Campus Tour