Program Description

The Master of Arts in Critical Multilingual Education (CME) provides advanced preparation in curriculum, instruction, and assessment, emphasizing theory, research, and classroom practices related to multicultural and multilingual development. Our program consists of 30 semester units and includes in person and hybrid courses. Three pathways are offered to meet individual needs. 

  • Pathway 1 is designed for classroom teachers who completed an accredited post-baccalaureate credential program at CSULB with a Bilingual Authorization (BILA). These students complete 7 core classes and would potentially use 9 post-baccalaureate semester units to reach the 30 unit minimum required for the degree. Students may finish the program in three semesters.  
  • Pathway 2 is designed for classroom teachers who completed an accredited post-baccalaureate credential program but do not hold a BILA. These students also complete the 7 core classes as well as an additional 3 classes (9 units) to reach the 30 unit minimum required for the degree. Students may finish the program in three or four semesters.
  • Pathway 3 is designed for classroom teachers who completed an accredited post-baccalaureate credential program, do not hold a BILA, but would like to add the authorization. These students also complete the 7 core classes as well as an additional 3 classes (9 units) to reach the 30 unit minimum required for the degree with 6 of the 9 units dedicated to BILA coursework. Students may finish the program in four semesters, with the possibility of summer coursework.
    NOTE: Spanish BILA coursework can be taken at CSULB. Other languages may need to be taken outside of CSULB through the Asian Language. See here for more information. 

A program planner will be provided to each student upon admission. Each Fall and Spring semester, all students typically enroll in 2-3 courses. CME program courses are typically offered weeknights from 4:00-6:45PM, 6:00-8:45PM, or 7:00-9:45PM, subject to change. 

There are no course prerequisites for the program.  Please review the Eligibility Requirements website for GPA and application information.

Please see the University Catalog for course descriptions.

Research methods (3 units)

Take the following:

• EDCI 533 Action Research Methods: Teachers as Inquirers (3 units, Modality:Hybrid/Mixed modality)

Core Courses (18 units):

Take all the following:

• EDCI 532 Socialization of Language and Literacy in More than One Language (3 units, Modality: Hybrid/Mixed modality)
• EESJ 562 Resistance, Agency and Identity in Education (3 units, Modality: Hybrid/Mixed modality or in-person)
• LING 572 Language and Social Justice (3 units, Modality: In-person)
• EDCI 541 Designing Curriculum and Instruction in Primary and Second Language Settings (3 units, Modality: Hybrid/Mixed modality)
• EDSP 554 Foundations of Special Education and Dual Language Development/Immersion (3 units, Modality: Hybrid/Mixed modality)
• EDCI 695 CME Seminar (3 units, Modality: Hybrid/Mixed modality)

Electives (9 units)

Take one of the following:
• EESJ 566 Education and Global Inequities (3 units, Modality: Hybrid/Mixed modality or in-person)
• EDCI 505 History of Education in the US (3 units, Modality: Hybrid/Mixed modality)
• LING 560 Teaching Second Language Composition (3 units, Modality: In person)
• LING 562 Second Language Testing and Assessment Composition (3 units, Modality: In-person)


Take one of the following:
• EESJ 564 Language, Culture, and Education (3 units, Modality: Hybrid/Mixed modality or in-person)
• EESJ 568 Globalization, Power, and Global Inequities (3 units, Modality: Hybrid/Mixed modality or in-person)
• EDCI 530 Cross-cultural Education: US and Global Perspectives (3 units, Modality: Hybrid/Mixed modality)


Take one of the following:
• LING 550 Teaching Second Language Listening and Speaking (3 units, Modality: In-person)
• LING 561 Second Language Curriculum Development (3 units, Modality: In person)

PATHWAY 1: Graduate Applicants with a BILA (applicants who already have their BILA prior to entering the CME program)
Applicants with a Bilingual Authorization (BILA) may carry over 9-units from their credential program towards the CME program to graduate one (1) semester early, enrolling in three (3) semesters total (expected) and taking 21-units of coursework during those semesters.

CSULB courses eligible for Spanish BILA credit:

  • The appropriate Culture course for Spanish (3-units)
    • CHLS 340 Latino Education in the U.S.
  • The appropriate Methods course for Spanish (3-units)
    • EDEL 453S Methodology for Spanish and English Language Instruction in a Bilingual Setting
  • At least 3-units student teaching in a bilingual or LOTE setting

CSULB courses eligible for Asian Languages BILA credit:

  • The appropriate Culture course for your target language taken through the Asian Language Bilingual Teacher Education Program Consortium (3-units)
    • Korean: EDSC 541K or EDSC/EDEL 541K (at CSU Fullerton); EDCI 557K (at CSU Los Angeles); SED 616K (at CSU Northridge); or EDEL
      455K (when offered at CSULB)
    • Chinese-Mandarin: EDTE 208M (at San Jose State); EDCI 557C (at CSU Los Angeles); or EDEL 455M (when offered at CSULB)
    • Vietnamese: EDSC 541V (at CSU Fullerton); ASAM 333 (when offered at CSULB); or EDEL 455V (when offered at CSULB)
  • The appropriate Methods course for your target language taken through the Asian Language Bilingual Teacher Education Program Consortium (3-units)
    • Korean: EDSC/EDEL 446K (at CSU Fullerton); EDCI 556K (at CSU Los Angeles); or EDEL 453K (when offered at CSULB)
    • Chinese-Mandarin: EDCI 556C (at CSU Los Angeles); or EDEL 453M (when offered at CSULB)
    • Vietnamese: EDSC/EDEL 446V (at CSU Fullerton); or EDEL 453V (when offered at CSULB)
    • At least 3-units student teaching in a bilingual or LOTE setting

Non-CSULB courses eligible for Languages Other Than English (LOTE) BILA credit:

  • One target language Methods course taken at a Commission-approved bilingual
    program
  • One target language Culture course taken at a Commission-approved bilingual
    program
  • At least 3-units student teaching in a bilingual or LOTE setting

PATHWAY 2: Graduate Applicants (applicants who are only pursuing an MA in CME)
Graduate applicants who already have their BILA or are not interested in pursuing a BILA will take all 30-units of the program and graduate in four (4) semesters (expected).

PATHWAY 3: Graduate Applicants Obtaining a Spanish/Asian Languages BILA (applicants who want to simultaneously obtain their BILA and MA in CME). 
Graduates applicants who have their teaching credential, but do not have their Spanish or Asian Languages BILA, and want to obtain a Spanish or Asian Languages BILA while completing the CME program will take all research methods courses, all core courses, and one elective course from the CME program (24-units); to additionally obtain their BILA, they will need to complete two BILA courses (6-units) in place of two CME elective courses (6-units) to total 30-units and graduate in four (4) semesters (Spanish, expected) or up to six (6) semesters (Asian Languages, expected).

Pathway 3 students do not need to additionally apply to a CSULB credential program to obtain their BILA through the CME program. Students will need to complete all state requirements to obtain their BILA, which can be found on the CTC BILA website. State requirements #1 (a valid California teaching credential) and #2a/b (verification of various language development certificate or English learner authorization
options) are pre-requisites for applying to the CME program. Students will complete requirement #3a/b through two BILA-approved courses (one Methods course and one Culture course for the target language) taken through the CME program, which will take
the place of two CME elective courses. NOTE: As per department policy, students who opt to complete requirement #3a/b through taking and passing both CSET IV and V tests in the target language will be ineligible for Pathway Three and be enrolled in Pathway
Two. To qualify for Pathway Three, at least one of the two required courses for requirement #3a/b must be taken through the CME program.

*Please note: Pathway 1 is for BILA students who have 9 semester units of approved, accredited, post-baccalaureate teaching credential coursework

Year 1 - Fall

  • EDCI 532
  • EESJ 562

Year 1 - Spring

  • EDCI 533
  • LING 572

Year 2 - Fall

  • EDSP 554
  • EDCI 541
  • EDCI 695 and comprehensive exam

Year 1 - Fall

  • EDCI 532
  • EESJ 562
  • Pathway 2 Course Elective #1

Year 1 - Spring

  • EDCI 533
  • LING 572

Year 2 - Fall

  • EDSP 554
  • EDCI 541
  • EDCI 695 and comprehensive exam

Year 2 - Spring

  • Pathway 2 Course Elective #2
  • Pathway 2 Course Elective #3

Year 1 - Fall

  • EDCI 532
  • EESJ 562
  • Pathway 3 BILA Course #1*

Year 1 - Spring

  • EDCI 533
  • LING 572

Year 2 - Fall

  • EDSP 554
  • EDCI 541
  • EDCI 695S and comprehensive exam

Year 2 - Spring

  • Pathway 3 BILA Course #2*
  • Pathway 3 Course Elective

*NOTE: Alternatively, Spanish Language BILA students may take and pass the equivalent CSET test in place of one BILA-required course, in addition to taking one BILA-required course (the Culture course or the Methods course) at CSULB to remain eligible for Pathway Three. Lastly, at the discretion and approval of the CME coordinator and during Fall Year 1 and/or Spring Year 2, Pathway Three students may take an alternative CSULB course(s) that meet(s) the Spanish Language Culture course and/or Methods course.

Year 1 - Fall

  • EDCI 532
  • EESJ 562
  • Pathway 3 Course Elective

Year 1 - Spring

  • EDCI 533
  • LING 572

Year 1 - Summer

  • Asian Language Culture course* (Korean: EDSC 541K or EDSC/EDEL 541K, EDCI 557K, SED 616K, or EDEL 455K; Chinese-Mandarin: EDTE 208M, EDCI 557C, or EDEL 455M; Vietnamese: EDSC 541V, ASAM 333, or EDEL 455V)
    AND/OR
  • Asian Language Methods course* (Korean: EDSC/EDEL 446K, EDCI 556K, or EDEL 453K; Chinese-Mandarin: EDCI 556C or
    EDEL 453M; Vietnamese: EDSC/EDEL 446V or EDEL 453V)

Year 2 - Fall

  • EDSP 554
  • EDCI 541
  • EDCI 695S and comprehensive exam

Year 2 - Spring

  • Leave of Absence

Year 2 - Summer

  • Asian Language Culture course* (Korean: EDSC 541K or EDSC/EDEL 541K, EDCI 557K, SED 616K, or EDEL 455K; Chinese-Mandarin: EDTE 208M, EDCI 557C, or EDEL 455M; Vietnamese: EDSC 541V, ASAM 333, or EDEL 455V)
    AND/OR
  • Asian Language Methods course* (Korean: EDSC/EDEL 446K, EDCI 556K, or EDEL 453K; Chinese-Mandarin: EDCI 556C or
    EDEL 453M; Vietnamese: EDSC/EDEL 446V or EDEL 453V)

*NOTE: The Asian Language Culture courses and the Asian Language Methods courses taken through the Asian Language Bilingual Teacher Education Program Consortium are offered at the discretion of their respective institutions; therefore, Asian Languages Pathway Three students need to take one Culture course and one Methods course either in the same summer semester (if possible) or in subsequent summer semesters before they are eligible to apply for the BILA. Alternatively, Asian Language BILA students may take and pass the equivalent CSET test in place of one BILA-required course, in addition to taking one BILA-required course (the Culture course or the Methods course) at CSULB to remain eligible for Pathway Three. Lastly, at the discretion and approval of the CME coordinator and in Fall Year 1 and/or Spring Year 2, Pathway Three students
may take an alternative CSULB course(s) that meet(s) the Asian Language Culture course and/or Methods course.

Are you seeking a teaching credential? This program is for practicing teachers or other educational professionals and offers a master’s degree only. If you’re interested in obtaining a teaching credential, please visit the Student Success & Advising Center. Students who are pursuing a teaching credential complete that program first, and then apply to the master’s program.