Admissions and How to Apply
University Admission
Prospective applicants to CSULB’s degree and credential programs must apply to the University online through Cal State Apply.
Information on CSULB admission requirements and deadlines can be found at the CSULB Enrollment Services Admissions website.
Program Admissions
Prospective applicants who would like to pursue a post-baccalaureate credential and/or graduate program in the College of Education must apply and be admitted both to the University and to a specific credential or graduate program.
See the specific program website for application deadlines, application packets, and other application information:
Initial Credential Programs
Prospective students wishing to apply to the Multiple Subject (elementary) Credential programs have two options depending on whether they are undergraduate or post-baccalaureate students.
- Undergraduate students should visit the ITEP undergraduate credential program.
- Post-baccalaureate applicants should visit the post-bac admissions site.
Prospective students wishing to apply to the Education Specialist Preliminary (special education) Credential programs have two options depending on whether they are undergraduate or post-baccalaureate students.
- Undergraduate students should visit the ITEP undergraduate Education Specialist credential program.
- Post-baccalaureate applicants should visit the post-bac admissions site.
Prospective students wishing to apply to the Single Subject (secondary) Credential Program should visit the Single Subject Credential program admissions page.
Please contact the Student Success & Advising Center at 562-985-1105 if you have questions about applying to any of the initial credential programs.\
Advanced Programs
Prospective students wishing to apply to the Educational Specialist degree in School Psychology program should visit the Graduate Studies Admissions page.
Please contact the Graduate Studies Office at 562-985-8476 if you have questions about applying to School Psychology.
MA in Education
Prepares teacher leaders and curriculum specialists to expand their knowledge base and augment their professional competency in the design, implementation, and evaluation of curriculum, instruction, and assessment in elementary or secondary students.
MA in Education
Develops instructional leaders who examine literacy and language development of native English speakers, bilingual speakers, English language learners, and speakers of non-standard English in grades K-12 and adult education.
MS in Mathematics (from the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics)
This program is designed for educators who are currently teaching or are planning to teach mathematics at the secondary school or community college level. It includes a blend of courses from pure and applied mathematics, statistics and mathematics education, and also may include coursework from the College of Education. It helps educators develop greater expertise in mathematics and mathematics education in terms of curriculum, teaching, learning, assessment, and research.
MA in Early Childhood Education
Prepares educators, leaders and policy advocates to understand children from birth to age 8 and management of early childhood organizations in a variety of culturally and linguistically diverse educational settings.
MA in Educational Administration and Preliminary Administrative Services Credential
Equips leaders to serve as principals or other school administrators in order to maximize the academic achievement of pre-K-12 grade students in an educational organization. Credential-only option available for those with prior Master's Degree.
Educational Technology and Media Leadership
MS in Educational Technology and Media Leadership
Provides foundations and practical skills for career growth in settings that use educational technologies and e-learning. Students include K-12 teachers, university staff and faculty, school librarians, technology coordinators, and educational media developers.
Equity, Education and Social Justice
MA in Equity, Education and Social Justice
An interdisciplinary program that utilizes critical approaches to understand and analyze the relationship between education and society- both locally and globally- with an emphasis on effecting social change.
MS in Counseling Psychology
Prepares therapists for licensed independent practice to work in private practice, community-agency settings, government-court settings, hospitals and clinics, employee assistance programs, and city-county-state agencies to provide counseling services for adults, children, families, and couples. (Former Program Title: Marriage and Family Therapy).
MS in School Counseling and Pupil Personnel Services Advanced Credential
Learn to use data-driven interventions to promote academic, career, and personal/social development in urban elementary, middle and high school students.
Education Specialist Degree (EdS) and
Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential in School Psychology
Develops highly trained professionals in education and psychology to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally to ensure all students are successful.
MS in Special Education
Strengthens graduate students' depth of understanding of service delivery models for individuals with disabilities, develops scholars' ability to critically examine emerging research and practice to develop high-quality intervention programs in special education, and builds future change agents and leaders.
Student Development in Higher Education
MS in Counseling
Develops community college and university professionals who understand the needs of college students from diverse backgrounds, and collaborate with faculty and campus stakeholders to promote holistic development of students.
Advanced Credential
Become a credentialed library professional.
Graduate Certificate in Applied Disability Studies
Graduate Certificate
An interdisciplinary program designed to prepare graduate students from a variety of disciplines to further their understanding of the experience of disability across the lifespan, and to become familiar with research, advocacy, interventions, and policy that facilitate successful life outcomes for persons with disabilities. (Only available to students currently enrolled in a Master’s degree program at CSULB.)
Graduate Certificate in Community College
Graduate Certificate
Prepare to work in community college settings as teaching faculty or a counselor. (Only available to students currently enrolled in the M.S. Counseling, Student Development in Higher Education program at CSULB.)
Prospective students wishing to apply to the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership program should visit the Ed.D. program admissions page.
Please contact the Ed.D. Program Office at 562-985-4998 if you have questions about applying to the Ed.D. program.