LONG BEACH – California State University trustees took steps yesterday to get rookie teachers on the front lines faster.

Trustees established a system for students to get their teaching credentials at the same time as their bachelor's degree.

Until now, CSU's 18-month teacher credentialing program was only for college graduates. The 410,000-student CSU system, which trains many of the state's public school teachers, now will allow its campuses to mint their teacher-graduates in 4½ years.

"In the long run, we'll have better-prepared teachers far better committed . . . ," said trustee Ralph Pesqueira of San Diego.

In a separate action that also aims to shape California's education system, trustees formalized CSU's joint doctoral program in education with the University of California, established at some campuses this semester.

Over the past two years, CSU and UC have spent $4 million for the program. By law, only UC can grant doctoral degrees.

CSU officials expressed frustration yesterday with the pace of the partnership for granting the education doctorate.

The officials said there were at least 800 students who expressed interest in the program, although only 70 students statewide are enrolled. CSU established the doctoral program at eight of its 23 campuses this fall, with those enrolled classified as UC students and paying the higher UC tuition.

San Diego State and CSU San Marcos plan to start the joint program with UC San Diego in 2004. In addition, San Diego State has a doctoral program with the private University of San Diego.

CSU officials said one hang-up is that the UC faculty has required that its professors be involved in the dissertation process.

But UC Vice Chancellor David Spence said that is unnecessary because CSU faculty could handle 75 percent of the workload training educators for their doctoral degrees.

Trustee Murray Galinson expressed impatience with the progress. "These figures are dismal when you think of all the people out there who want this and need this."

Among other items, trustees gave final approval to student fees and faculty workload.