Catalog

Master's Degrees

Master’s degree programs in the Department of Education are designed to serve teachers, administrators, and other educators working with and on behalf of schools. Each master's program includes coursework, fieldwork, and mentoring in the areas of teaching, learning, technology, social justice, diversity, equity, and leadership.

Program Options:

Five possible master’s degree options are described below:

Articulation with Credential Programs

The School of Education offers students the possibility of enrolling concurrently in some masters and credential programs. Students enrolled in NDNU's credential programs have a unique opportunity to count up to twelve of their credential course units toward the M.A. in Education and the MAT degrees, significantly reducing the time and financial resources required to earn a degree. Recent graduates of NDNU's credential programs can also count twelve credential units toward either of these degrees. Contact Dr. Kim Tolley, Program Director, (650) 508-3464, ktolley@ndnu.edu, for additional information regarding this opportunity.

Master's Thesis and Capstone Project

Advanced studies are characterized by the reflexive integration of theory and practice. Each master's program culminates with a thesis or capstone project that integrates research, practice, and personal reflection. The type of project that is associated with each degree is noted in the program descriptions (e.g., thesis, teacher research portfolio, capstone statement). Each project invites students to demonstrate scholarly knowledge, skills, and habits of inquiry in the context of a particular area of expertise.

It is important to note that the required courses associated with each advanced degree program support students in the completion of their thesis or capstone projects. Through the thesis or capstone experience, students demonstrate their ability to ask thoughtful questions, collect information, analyze information, and reflect on issues regarding teaching, learning, and schooling that will enable them to improve their practice throughout their careers.

Instructions for preparing the thesis can be found in the Thesis Handbook available from the School of Education and Leadership office.

Admission Information

Students may apply to enter programs in the Department of Education for the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters and should meet the following requirements:

A bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited institution
Undergraduate cumulative grade-point average of 2.5 or better
Two letters of recommendation
Personal interview with the program director

Admission requirements vary by program. Certain graduate programs may require an initial interview and/or test scores. See the relevant Catalog sections or printed Program Brochures for program-specific requirements.

For details on admission processes, see Graduate Admission.

Master's Degrees

Master of Arts (MA) in School Administration
Dr. Nicholas Gennaro, Program Director, (650) 508-3710, ngennaro@ndnu.edu

This degree program prepares students to administer programs in public and private schools. It approaches administration from a generic standpoint in the core courses and from an experiential base in the practica-based courses. Building upon the Preliminary Administrative Credential, this program enables students to complete six additional units in order to earn a master's degree. Candidates for the Master of Arts in School Administration complete the following:

Courses

Courses		Units
Preliminary Administrative Credential		24
EDU4700	Trends in Curriculum Development	3
EDU4703	Educational Assessment and Evaluation	3
Total		30

Master of Arts (MA) in Special Education

Dr. Nicole Ofiesh, Program Director, (650) 508-3627, nofiesh@ndnu.edu

This degree program prepares students to teach in special education programs in public and private schools. Building upon the Education Specialist Credential, this program enables students to complete an additional three-unit course in order to earn a master's degree. See the Education Specialist Credentialfor the list of required courses. Students who enter the program with a prior credential can complete their degree with 33 units. Additional coursework is required of students without a regular education credential.

In addition to coursework, a capstone project in the form of a practitioner researcher portfolio is required to complete the MA program. EDU4880 is designed to support students in completing this requirement.

Courses		Units
Education Specialist Credential		30
EDU4880	Educational Research Capstone	3
Total for credentialed students		33
For students without a prior credential:
Education Specialist Credential Coursework:		30
EDU4100	Psychological and Developmental Foundations	3
EDU4104	Sociological and Multicultural Foundations	3
EDU4333	Elementary Reading/Language Arts: Upper Grades	3
EDU4336	Curriculum: Elementary Math	2
EDU4339	Curriculum: Social Studies/Science	2
EDU4880	Educational Research Capstone	3
Total for students without a prior credential		46

Master of Arts in Education

Dr. Kim Tolley, Program Director, (650) 508-3464, ktolley@ndnu.edu

There are three possible areas of concentration in the Master of Arts in Education program: Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Technology, and Disciplinary Studies. Each emphasis includes a specific concentration of courses. In each area of concentration, a master's thesis is required to complete the degree program. EDU4721 and EDU4724 are designed to support students in completing this requirement.

Curriculum and Instruction Concentration

The goal of this degree program is to build the capacity of educators to promote social justice in the context of their schools and communities through improved teaching practice, curriculum development and assessment, program planning, research, and educational leadership. The program culminates in a master’s thesis, allowing students the opportunity to investigate a particular area of curriculum and instruction in depth.

Students enrolled in the Professional Clear Credential SB2042 Fifth Year Program can count the required coursework in that program toward this master’s degree. Substitution of Professional Clear Credential coursework will occur with the approval of the program director.

Required Courses		Units
EDU4700	Trends in Curriculum Development	3
EDU4703	Educational Assessment and Evaluation	3
EDU4706	Social Justice, Diversity, and Equity	3
EDU4721	Introduction to Educational Research	3
EDU4724	Educational Research	3
One of the four graduate-level courses in educational technology:
EDU4207	Technology - Special Education (3)
EDU4709	Learning, Technology, and Curriculum (3)
EDU4715	Media, Medium, and Method (3)
EDU4718	Contemporary Topics in Leadership and Technology(3)
12 semester units articulated with the preliminary credential from the following courses:*		12
EDU4100	Psychological and Developmental Foundations
EDU4104	Sociological and Multicultural Foundations of Education
EDU4107	Foundations for Teaching English Learners
EDU4110	Special Education for Classroom Teacher
EDU4119	Assesement in the Classroom
EDU4330	Elementary Reading/Language Arts: Primary Grades
EDU4333	Elementary Reading/Language Arts: Upper Grades
EDU4410	Language and Literacy in the Content Areas
*Students who obtained a preliminary teaching credential from another institution can challenge these courses on the basis of equivalency. In such cases, students can enroll in 12 units of education electives, to be selected in collaboration with the program director.
Total		30

Disciplinary Studies Concentration

The Master of Arts in Education program with a concentration in Disciplinary Studies allows secondary-school educators to broaden and deepen their knowledge and skill in one subject area. A multiple-subject credential holder may also consider pursuing a degree in one of these concentration areas if he or she is interested in developing subject-matter knowledge for the elementary classroom or to prepare for the subject-matter examinations required for the secondary credential. The program culminates in a master’s thesis, allowing students the opportunity to investigate a particular area of discipline-based curriculum and instruction in depth.

Within the specific areas of concentration, students may elect to study 12 semester units of graduate coursework from the following programs: Art, Business, English, Mathematics, Music, Psychology, Science, or Social Science.

Required Courses		Units
EDU4721	Introduction to Educational Research	3
EDU4724	Educational Research	3
12 semester units articulated with the preliminary credential from the following courses:*		12
EDU4100	Psychological and Developmental Foundations
EDU4104	Sociological and Multicultural Foundations of Education
EDU4107	Foundations for Teaching English Learners
EDU4110	Special Education for Classroom Teacher
EDU4119	Assesement in the Classroom
EDU4330	Elementary Reading/Language Arts: Primary Grades
EDU4333	Elementary Reading/Language Arts: Upper Grades
EDU4410	Language and Literacy in the Content Areas
*Students who obtained a preliminary teaching credential from another institution can challenge these courses on the basis of equivalency. In such cases, students can enroll in 12 units of education electives, to be selected in collaboration with the program director.
12 semester units of graduate electives from the discipline of concentration, to be selected in collaborationwith the Program Director and the Chair of the Department of the discipline of emphasis		12
Total		30

Technology Concentration

The Master of Arts in Education program with a concentration in Technology prepares educators to serve as school and district-level educational technology leaders. Graduates of the program may work with the credential analyst in the School of Education and Leadership to apply for a supplementary authorization on their multiple subject or single subject teaching credential in order to teach computer science. The program culminates in a master’s thesis, allowing students the opportunity to investigate a particular area of education technology in depth.

Required Courses		Units
EDU4207	Technology-Special Education	3
EDU4709	Learning, Technology, and Curriculum	3
EDU4715	Media, Medium, and Method	3
EDU4718	Contemporary Topics in Leadership and Technology	3
EDU4721	Introduction to Educational Research	3
EDU4724	Educational Research	3
12 semester units articulated with the preliminary credential from the following courses:*		12
EDU4100	Psychological and Developmental Foundations
EDU4104	Sociological and Multicultural Foundations of Education
EDU4107	Foundations for Teaching English Learners
EDU4110	Special Education for Classroom Teacher
EDU4119	Assesement in the Classroom
EDU4330	Elementary Reading/Language Arts: Primary Grades
EDU4333	Elementary Reading/Language Arts: Upper Grades
EDU4410	Language and Literacy in the Content Areas
*Students who obtained a preliminary teaching credential from another institution can challenge these courses on the basis of equivalency. In such cases, students can enroll in 12 units of education electives, to be selected in collaboration with the program director.
Total		30

PROGRAM-SPECIFIC ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the basic requirements, applicants to the Master of Arts in Education program must meet the following requirements:

Valid Preliminary Multiple-Subject or Single-Subject Credential or evidence of substantial teaching experience in a private or charter school
CBEST and CSET examinations

Undergraduate EDU Course Descriptions

Graduate & Certificate EDU Course Descriptions