Degrees & Programs

Master of Arts, M.A.

This master's degree is designed for experienced classroom teachers and other educators who wish to further their professional development or pursue new educational careers. The program leads to positions in schools and informal education institutions or in preparation for doctoral programs.This degree requires students to focus graduate coursework in one of two strands:

Education Strand: This strand focuses on teaching and schooling. Most courses are taken from those within the College of Education. Coursework for this degree includes a variety of domains, including teacher reflection and development; classroom processes and management; general curriculum theory; supervision of beginning teachers, curriculum and instruction in the specific content areas of social studies, mathematics and science; educational foundations and policy studies; Mexican-American studies; and environmental learning. See the faculty list for names of experts in these areas. Students wishing to earn an Elementary Mathematics Specialist endorsement should select this strand.

Subject Matter Strand: This strand focuses on the content knowledge of teaching. Basic core courses are taken in the College of Education. Fifteen units comprising a content area are taken in other appropriate colleges across the campus (e.g., Social and Behavioral Sciences, Humanities, Science).

Special programs available within this strand are:
Environmental Learning Emphasis
Science Education Emphasis

Admission Requirements 

B.A. degree in education or a related field from an accredited four-year institution. GPA of 3.0 figured on the last 60 units with defined exceptions on a provisional basis. Provisional admission may be made to applicants who meet all criteria, but fall between 2.5 and 3.0 in their GPA.

Fifteen units of previous coursework should be within preservice education. Provisional admission may be granted to applicants who meet all other admission criteria, but have not completed 15 units of preservice education coursework. The coursework must be completed within the first year of their M.A. program.

One year of teaching in a full-time instructional position within a school setting. Student teaching can count as an instructional experience.

Curriculum

Minimum of 33 units of graduate courses required.

Major Core (9 units)

EDP 560 - Introduction to Educational Research. NOTE: Replaces EDUC 500 Disciplined Inquiry in Education

TTE 539 Recent Research on Teaching and Schooling

TTE 545 Curriculum Theory and Policy

Supporting Coursework (24 units): Select option A if your focus is the Education Strand, option B if your focus is the Subject Matter Strand.

A. The Education Strand requires 12 units of coursework selected from graduate courses in the Department of Teaching and Teacher Education. Education Strand students are also encouraged to complete at least 6 units of coursework outside the Department of Teaching and Teacher Education, and an additional 6 units to be agreed upon with TTE advisor. A student may take up to 3 units of independent study and/or 3 units of workshop courses.

B. The Subject Matter Strand requires 9 units of coursework selected from graduate courses in Teaching and Teacher Education. Subject Matter Strand students must also complete 15 units of coursework within a content area generally taught in schools. These 15 units must be approved by the advisor.

Supervised Field Experience (6 units) TTE 593 - Internship (6 units) Required of students who do not have at least 2 years of teaching experience by the completion of the M.A. degree. These units are beyond the minimal 33 required units.

Thesis Option (4 units) TTE 910 Thesis - The thesis units may be used to meet the Supporting Coursework Requirements other than the required TTE or the content area courses.

TTE Courses

12 units of Teaching and Teacher Education courses selected with consultation with your advisor.

Exit Requirements

Options

1. Oral Defense of Thesis - The oral defense of the master's thesis constitutes the exit requirements for those students who take the thesis option.

                                                          or

2. Master's Comprehensive Examination - All students not completing the thesis option must take a master's comprehensive examination. The master's examination comprises two parts: Part I consists of four questions, two related to each of the division core courses. Students are required to respond to one question related to each course. Part II consists of two to four questions from the student's area of concentration (identified when signing up for the examination). Students are required to respond to one or two questions as determined by the faculty in the area of concentration. An oral examination over the elected topics may also be required.