Master of Arts Degree in Education
(printable version) Admission to Graduate Study
Applicants must satisfy the general requirements for admission to
the University with classified graduate standing, as described in Part
Two of this bulletin. In addition, applicants must have completed a
minimum of 12 units in professional education courses and must
either be admitted to the program of teacher education or hold a valid
California credential, other than an emergency or provisional credential,
before being recommended for classified graduate standing.
(This is not applicable to students in the Departments of Administration,
Rehabilitation and Postsecondary Education, Counseling and
School Psychology, Educational Technology, Special Education, and
Teacher Education.)
A student desiring a concentration in educational leadership must,
in addition to the above, meet specific requirements for admission to
the appropriate advanced credential program. A student desiring a
master’s degree concentration in counseling, policy studies, or in special
education must also meet specific admission requirements. (For
further information, refer to the College of Education, Office of Graduate
Programs, Room Education 100K, or to the coordinators of the
respective programs. Students in counseling and school psychology
should go directly to the department for further information.)
Advancement to Candidacy
A student desiring a Master of Arts degree in education with
a concentration in educational leadership and instruction, counseling,
educational research, educational technology, elementary curriculum
and instruction, reading education or secondary curriculum and
instruction may be advanced to candidacy upon completion of the
basic requirements as described in Part Two of this bulletin.
Specific Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree
In addition to meeting the requirements for admission to the University
with classified graduate standing and the credential requirements
as applicable, the student must satisfy the basic requirements
for the master’s degree described in Part Two of this bulletin. In addition,
the student must meet the requirements specified for one of the
concentrations in education (described below). Courses common to
all concentrations are Education 690 or Teacher Education 634, and
Plan A, which requires Education 799A, or Plan B in which two options
are available, Education 791A-791B-791C or Education 795A-795B.
All candidates for the Master of Arts degree in education who elect
Plan B must pass a comprehensive examination.
The Comprehensive Examination
This written examination, designed to evaluate the achievement in
the specific area of the student’s concentration, is required of all candidates
for the master’s degree in education. A student is eligible to
take the comprehensive examination only after advancement to candidacy.
Master's Degree Programs
The examination is offered near the midpoint of each semester. A
reservation must be made at least one week in advance of the examination.
For information on exact dates, and for a reservation, check
with the Office of Graduate Programs, College of Education, Room
Education 100K, or with the coordinators of the respective programs.
Selection of Plan A or Plan B
In general, applicants will be programmed for Plan B, the seminar
plan. After the student is approximately half way through the program,
has secured an adviser and established a thesis plan, permission to
transfer to Plan A may be requested. Plan A is designed for students
who have a particular research problem they wish to investigate in
some detail. Requests for transfer to Plan A must be prepared as an
official change in program for the master’s degree, countersigned by
the faculty adviser, and submitted to the Office of Graduate Programs
in the College of Education.
Both Plan B options provide students the opportunity (1) to have
two experiences which emphasize research or evaluation and writing,
(2) to participate actively in the projects of the other members of the
seminar, and (3) to subject their own work to critical evaluation by the
other seminar members. Both plans require the ability to formulate
and define research or evaluation problems, to assemble data pertinent
to the problem, to draw conclusions, and to present the study in
acceptable written form. It is expected that the two seminars will be at
least as demanding as the thesis with respect to the difficulty and
quantity of work required. Selection of one of the Plan B options must
be made with the approval of the departmental faculty adviser.
Course Requirements
Note: Students are requested to consult with the appropriate master’s
degree adviser prior to taking any coursework leading to the
master’s degree. Students are urged to take Education 690 (3 units)
as early as possible in their first graduate year.
Special Education
(Major Code: 08081)
The Master of Arts degree in education with a concentration in
special education provides the professional educator with advanced
knowledge and skills in special education. This degree has many
requirements in common with the Level II Education Specialist Credentials
in Special Education and may be earned concurrently with
those credentials. The M.A. degree can include specializations in the
following areas: early childhood, developing gifted potential, mild/
moderate disabilities, moderate/severe disabilities, resource specialization,
severely emotionally disturbed/behaviorally disordered,
teaching low achieving students in the mainstream, and school to
adult transition. All programs must be approved by the graduate
adviser. Although the M.A. degree is usually linked to a teacher credential,
it is open to individuals with undergraduate degrees in a wide
range of disciplines in consultation with the graduate adviser.
Specialization in Developing Gifted Potential
Core (15 units): Special Education 508, 644, 649, 658, 771.
Related Fields (6-9 units 500-level or above) by advisement or
Advanced Specialization (6 units): Special Education 650 and three
units of electives selected with approval of adviser.
Research (6-9 units): Education 690* and Education 791A, 791B-
791C; or 795A*-795B*; or 799A.
Specialization in Early Childhood
Prerequisites: Special Education 500, 527, 528; or Special Education
527 and Preliminary or Professional California credential in Early
Childhood Special Education.
Core (12 units): Education 690*; Special Education 655; six units
selected from approved coursework in specialization area.
Advanced Specialization (12-15 units): Special Education 681 (in
section approved by adviser); 9-12 units selected from approved
electives at 500-level or above.
Culminating Experience (3-6 units): Education 795A*-795B* or
Education 791A, 791B, 791C or Education 799A.
Specialization in Mild/Moderate Disabilities
Prerequisites: Special Education 500, 524, 527; or Special Education
527 and Preliminary or Professional California credential in Mild/
Moderate Disabilities.
Core (12 units): Education 690*; Special Education 651, 653; three
units selected from approved coursework in specialization area.
Advanced Specialization (12-15 units): Special Education 681 (in
section approved by adviser); 9-12 units selected from approved
electives at 500-level or above.
Culminating Experience (3-6 units): Education 795A*-795B* or
Education 791A, 791B, 791C or Education 799A.
Specialization in Moderate/Severe Disabilities
Prerequisites: Special Education 500, 525, 527; or Special Education
527 and Preliminary or Professional California credential in Moderate/
Severe Disabilities.
Core (12 units): Education 690*; Special Education 651, 654; three
units selected from approved coursework in specialization area.
Advanced Specialization (12-15 units): Special Education 681 (in
section approved by adviser); 9-12 units selected from approved
electives at 500-level or above.
Culminating Experience (3-6 units): Education 795A*-795B* or
Education 791A, 791B, 791C or Education 799A* in departmentally
approved sections.
Resource Specialization
Prerequisites: Special Education 500 and 501.
Core (9-12 units): Education 690* and 6-9 units selected from the
following categories:
3-6 units from Special Education 647, 648;
3-6 units from Special Education 524, 525, 529;
3-6 units from Special Education 645, 664;
3-6 units from Special Education 662, 677;
3 units from Special Education 634, 635.
Advanced Specialization (12-15 units): Special Education 681 (in
section approved by adviser); 3-6 units selected from Special Education
651, 652, 653; 6-9 units selected from approved electives at 500-
level or above.
Culminating Experience (3-6 units): Education 795A*-795B* or
Education 791A, 791B, 791C or 799A.
Specialization in Severely Emotionally Disturbed/Behaviorally Disordered
Prerequisites: Special Education 500 and 501.
Core (14 units): Special Education 529, 634, 647, 677; Education
690*.
Advanced Specialization (10-13 units): Special Education 681 (in
section approved by adviser); 7-10 units selected from approved
electives at 500-level or above.
Culminating Experience (3-6 units): Education 795A*-795B* or
Education 791A, 791B, 791C or Education 799A.
Specialization in Teaching Low Achieving Students
in the Mainstream
Prerequisites: Special Education 501; Special Education 971
(4-6 units).
Core (15 units): Special Education 553, 647, 648, 650 (3);
Education 690*.
Advanced Specialization (9-12 units): Special Education 527, 681
(in section approved by the adviser), 771 (1-3), 798, three units of
approved electives at 600-level or above or Special Education 527.
Culminating Experience (3-6 units): Education 795A*-795B* or
Education 791A, 791B, 791C or Education 799A.
No new students are being admitted to this program during the
2003-2004 academic year. Contact Special Education Department.
Specialization in Vocational Transition
Prerequisite: Special Education 501 or Administration, Rehabilitation
and Postsecondary Education 684.
Core (15-18 units): Special Education 664; Education 690*; 6-9
units selected from (a) Special Education 524 or 525; (b) Special Education
645 or 648; (c) Special Education 771 or Administration, Rehabilitation
and Postsecondary Education 744 or Counseling and School
Psychology 730; Education 690*.
Advanced Specialization (9-12 units): Special Education 681 (in
section approved by adviser); 6-9 units selected from Special Education
645, 650, 662, 798 (1-6), Administration, Rehabilitation and Postsecondary
Education 645, 687, 3-6 units of approved electives at the
600 or 700 level.
Culminating Experience (3-6 units): Education 795A*-795B* or
Education 791A, 791B, 791C or Education 799A.
Deadline: April 1, 2008
Deadline: April 1, 2007