Child and Adolescent Development (Early Care and Education) BA + Early Childhood Special Education Credential + Special Education MA SF State Scholars Roadmap
Last Admit Term: Fall 2025
The San Francisco State Scholars program provides undergraduate students with an accelerated pathway to a graduate degree. Students in this program pursue a bachelor’s and master’s degree simultaneously. This program allows students to earn graduate credit while in their junior and/or senior year, reducing the number of semesters required for completion of a master’s degree.
This roadmap is a suggested plan of study and does not replace meeting with an advisor. Please note that students may need to adjust the actual sequence of courses based on course availability. Please consult your Degree Planner and an advisor for further guidance.
To avoid taking additional units, it is recommended that you meet the SF State Studies (AERM, GP, ES, SJ) requirements within your GE or major.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Units | |
| GE Area 1A: English Composition 1 | 3 | |
| GE Area 1: English Communication | 3 | |
| GE Area 2: Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning 2 | 3 | |
| GE Area 3: Arts and Humanities | 3 | |
| GE Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences with USH | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CAD 210 | Introduction to Applied Child and Adolescent Development (Major Core, GE 4) | 3 |
| Select One (Major Core): | 3 | |
| Foundations in Early Childhood | ||
| Principles and Practices in Early Childhood Programs | ||
| CAD 260 | Children, Families, and Community: An Ecological Perspective (Major Core, GE 4, AERM, GP) | 3 |
| GE Area 1: English Communication | 3 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Summer Semester | ||
| SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Two | 6 | |
| Units | 6 | |
| Fall Semester | ||
| CAD 300 | Professional Roles and Careers in Child and Adolescent Development (Major Core) | 3 |
| GE Area 3: Arts and Humanities | 3 | |
| GE Area 5: Physical and Biological Sciences 4 | 3-4 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Two | 6 | |
| Units | 15-16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CAD 280 | Early Childhood Internship (Major Core) | 3 |
| Concentration Elective (18 units) 4 | 3 | |
| GE Area 5: Physical and Biological Sciences 3 | 3-4 | |
| GE Area 6: Ethnic Studies | 3 | |
| U.S. and California Government | 3 | |
| Units | 15-16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Summer Semester | ||
| SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Two | 6 | |
| Units | 6 | |
| Fall Semester | ||
| CAD 330 | Curriculum and Development in Early Childhood (Major Core) | 3 |
| CAD 410GW | Applied Developmental Science: Prenatal Through Early Childhood - GWAR (Major Core) | 3 |
| Select One (Observation and Assessment): | 3 | |
| Assessment and Observation with Children | ||
| Classroom Assessment and Evaluation for Young Children | ||
| Concentration Elective (18 units) 4 | 3 | |
| GE Area 5UD or 2UD: Upper-Division Sciences or Upper-Division Mathematical Concepts 5 | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Concentration Electives (18 units) - Take Four 4 | 12 | |
| GE Area 3UD: Upper-Division Arts or Humanities 5 | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Summer Semester | ||
| SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Two | 6 | |
| Units | 6 | |
| Fall Semester | ||
| Select One (Graduate Core): | 3 | |
| Seminar in Educational Research | ||
| Research in Special Education | ||
| SPED 774 | Positive Behavior Support (Credential, Graduate Elective) 6 | 3 |
| SPED 788 | Law, Ethics, and Instructional Planning (Credential, Graduate Core) | 3 |
| GE Area 4UD: Upper-Division Social and Behavioral Sciences 5 | 3 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CAD 660 | Applied Advanced Developmental Science in Child and Adolescent Development (Major Core) | 3 |
| SPED 702 | Education Specialist Teacher Support Seminar for California Teaching Performance Assessment (Credential) | 1-3 |
| SPED 737 | Inclusive Learning and Supports in Early Intervention (Infants & Toddlers) (Credential, Graduate Elective) 6 | 3 |
| Select One (Credential, Graduate Elective): 6 | 3 | |
| Nature of the Autism Spectrum | ||
| Communication, Behavior and Instructional Supports: Autism | ||
| SF State Studies or University Elective | 3 | |
| Units | 13-15 | |
| Fifth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| SPED 729 | Student Teaching Workshop: Early Childhood Special Education (Credential) | 1 |
| SPED 730 | Student Teaching: Special Education (Credential) | 9 |
| Units | 10 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SPED 729 | Student Teaching Workshop: Early Childhood Special Education (Credential) | 1 |
| SPED 731 | Special Education Field Experience (Credential) | 3 |
| SPED 738 | Inclusive Curriculum Development and Supports in Early Childhood Settings (Preschool - Kindergarten) (Credential, Graduate Related Studies) 7 | 3 |
| SPED 801 | Development, Diversity, and English Language Learners: Special Education (Credential, Graduate Core) | 3 |
| Units | 10 | |
| Sixth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| SPED 777 | Introduction to Disability, Development, and Equity for Young Children and Their Families (Credential, Graduate Elective) 6 | 3 |
| SPED 779 | Family-Centered Practices and Services for Young Children with Disabilities (Credential) | 3 |
| SPED 780 | Equitable Assessment Practices for Young Children with Disabilities and Their Families (Credential) | 3 |
| SPED 885 | Allyship, Leadership, and Collaboration for Young Children with Disabilities (Credential) | 3 |
| Units | 12 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Health Education Course 8 | 3 | |
| Culminating Experience 9 | 6 | |
| Units | 9 | |
| Total Units | 177-181 | |
- 1
Students should use their Pathway/Category to determine the appropriate GE 1A course option. For directions on how to view your Pathway/Category, visit how to find your pathway. Questions? Contact Gator Smart Start.
- 2
Students should use their Pathway/Category to determine the appropriate GE 2 course option. For directions on how to view your Pathway/Category, visit how to find your pathway. Questions? Contact Gator Smart Start.
- 3
Consider taking a class combined with a laboratory or a separate lab to fulfill 5C if not already satisfied.
- 4
Concentration Electives (18 units)
A full list of courses that can fulfill this requirement can be found in the Degree Requirements.- 5
It is highly recommended that students attempt to fulfill upper-division GE requirements (2UD/5UD, 3UD, and 4UD) through Concentration courses.
- 6
Upper-Division/Graduate Courses (12 units)
Courses in Special Education that align with the professional interest and career goals of the student, selected with a faculty advisor. No more than 9 units of upper-division coursework can be counted towards the degree.- 7
Related Studies (3 units)
Selected upon approval of major faculty advisor in a program area.- 8
Health Education
A list of CTC approved health education courses is available on the department website: https://sped.sfsu.edu/content/forms-0
- 9
Culminating Experience (6 units)
Students will be required to complete one of the following options for the approved culminating experience, following advancement to candidacy:Option 1
- SPED 890 Culminating Experience Seminar
- One graduate seminar outside of the interest area selected in consultation with an advisor.
Option 2
- SPED 894 Creative Work Project in Special Education
- One graduate seminar outside the interest area selected in consultation with an advisor.
Option 3
- SPED 898 Master's Thesis
- One graduate seminar outside the interest area selected in consultation with an advisor.