COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Arts in Education degree requires a total of 30 units and is structured to provide advanced knowledge and practical skills for educators. The core curriculum, totaling 12 units, includes courses such as Secondary Education Special Topics (Capstone), Educational Research: Inquiry into Classrooms, Leadership in Education, and Advanced Topics in Education, ensuring a strong foundation in educational theory, leadership, and research. Students must also select one additional course from options such as Advanced Study in Literacy across the Curriculum, Advanced Teaching Methods, Social Justice in Education, or Advanced Educational Psychology to tailor their studies to their professional goals. The program includes a concentration component of 12 units, allowing students to specialize in either Elementary or Secondary Education. In the Elementary concentration, students choose from courses in technology and instructional practices, education and social justice, mathematics, science, social studies, and arts teaching, including options for bilingual settings. The Secondary concentration focuses on classroom management, educational equity and advocacy, pedagogical foundations for English language learners, adolescent development, literacy across content areas, and methods of teaching specific content areas such as art, English, world languages, mathematics, music, physical education, science, and social science. The program concludes with a 3-unit culminating experience, which can be completed through comprehensive preparation in teacher education or a comprehensive examination, allowing students to demonstrate mastery of their coursework and professional competencies. This curriculum is designed to equip educators with the advanced knowledge, leadership skills, and practical experience needed to excel in diverse educational settings, enhance teaching effectiveness, and promote equity and social justice in K-12 education. The structured combination of core courses, specialized concentrations, and a culminating experience ensures that graduates are prepared for leadership roles, instructional innovation, and lifelong professional growth within the field of education.