Teacher Education

Master of Arts in Education

Option in Curriculum and Instruction, Secondary Education

The Master of Arts in Education, Option in Curriculum and Instruction, Secondary Education (30-33 units) is designed to foster the development of educators who are caring, effective, reflective, and committed to improving their schools. Coursework prepares teachers to apply theoretical insights and research findings to the practical problems they encounter in their work in curriculum and instruction. Visit the program website for program details (www.ced.csulb.edu/teacher-ed/academic/c-i).

Prerequisites

The following are required for admission to the program:

1. Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
2. Minimum 2.85 overall grade point average in the last 60 semester (90 quarter) units of coursework.
3. A valid teaching credential or by consent of the program coordinator.
4. International applicants have additional university application requirements including meeting the English language proficiency requirement. Please visit The Center for International Education (CIE) website at www.csulb.edu/cie for more information.

Application

Candidates must apply separately to both the university and the program by posted deadlines. Applications should be submitted at the same time.

The application for Graduate Admission to the University is available online through CSUMentor (www.csumentor.edu). One complete set of official transcripts must be submitted with the university application. This set of transcripts will be used to determine grade point average eligibility. Failure to submit transcripts in a timely manner will result in a delayed review of the application.

The Curriculum and Instruction, Secondary Education application must be submitted to the College of Education Graduate Studies Office (ED1-7). An application and directions can be downloaded at www.ced.csulb.edu/graduate/application-packets. The program application does not require a set of transcripts.

Conditional Admission

Successful applicants are admitted to the program with Conditional admission status.

Advancement to Candidacy - Clear Admission

Students should advance to candidacy as early as possible. They should meet with the program coordinator to plan their program no later than completing 6 units. For Advancement to Candidacy (Clear Admission status), students must:

1. Fulfill the campus Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR).
2. Resolve all incomplete grades.
3. Maintain a 3.0 grade point average.
4. Submit to the Graduate Studies Office an Advancement to Candidacy form signed by the program advisor.

Requirements

1. Methods of social science inquiry (6 units):

EDP 400 Introduction to Educational Research (3)
Prerequisites: None.
EDP 520 Research Methods in Education (3)
Prerequisites: EDP 400 or equivalent.

2. Core (12 units):

EDCI 500 Studies in Curriculum and Instruction (3)
Prerequisite: Admission to the Curriculum and Instruction Master's Program or consent of instructor. Must be taken during the first or second semester in the Master's Program.
EDCI 505 History of Education in the United States (3)
Prerequisites: Admission to an approved masters program or consent of the instructor. Must be taken during the first or second semester.
EDCI 530 Cross-cultural Education: US and Global Perspectives (3)
Prerequisite: Admission to an approved Master's program or consent of the instructor.
EDCI 625 Analysis of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (3)
Prerequisites: EDCI 500, 505, EDP 400; and one of the following EDP 520, 595, or 696 or EDCI 533; consent of the instructor.

3. Concentration (9 units):

Candidates select an area of concentration, in consultation with the program advisor, tailored to their professional goals. A concentration must follow a pattern or theme; a disparate set of unrelated courses is not a concentration. Thesis candidates should shape their concentration around research methodology and content related to their thesis topic. Candidates must submit a written statement containing a coherent rationale for and description of the concentration sequence at the time of advancement to candidacy. Concentrations may follow one of the patterns listed below or may be uniquely devised by the candidate. A concentration must have the approval of the program advisor. Candidates are responsible for taking prerequisite courses if required.

A. Educational Technology (e.g., ETEC 523, 551, 553, 623);
B. Educational Foundations (e.g., EDP 573; SCAE 574, 575, 576);
C. Advanced coursework in the candidate's teaching discipline;
D. Advanced coursework toward a Supplementary Authorization;
E. Advanced coursework toward the Clear Credential;
F. Advanced coursework toward CTEL certification;
G. Research methods courses in preparation for the thesis (e.g., EDP 595, 596, 696; EDCI 533).

4. Capstone Experience

Candidates select one of the following capstone experiences in consultation with the program advisor. Selection should be made at the time of advancement to candidacy in order to develop a program plan consistent with the selected capstone experience.

A. Comprehensive Examination.

EDCI 695 Seminar in Curriculum and Instruction (3)
(to be taken in final semester)
Prerequisites: EDCI 500, 505, 625 and advancement to candidacy, or by consent of instructor.

B. Thesis.

Candidates take EDCI 698 (Thesis Study) for two semesters while writing a thesis, for a total of 6 units; candidates may need to take additional research methodology courses in order to prepare for thesis research and writing – which may be courses in the candidate's concentration.