Catalog

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
  • 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.

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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.

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:       3
EDU4207                 Technology - Special Education  
EDU4709                 Learning, Technology, and Curriculum  
EDU4715                 Media, Medium, and Method  
EDU4718                 Contemporary Topics in Leadership and Technology  
Twelve semester units articulated with the preliminary credential  12
from the following courses:*                  
EDU4100                 Psychological and Developmental Foundations  
EDU4104                 Sociological and Multicultural Foundations  
EDU4107                 Foundations for Teaching English Learners             
EDU4110                 Special Education for the Classroom Teacher (2)        
EDU4119                 Assessment in the Classroom (2)    
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 Unit Requirement  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
Twelve semester units articulated with the preliminary credential    12
from the following courses:*          
EDU4100                 Psychological and Developmental Foundations       
EDU4104                 Sociological and Multicultural Foundations   
EDU4107                 Foundations for Teaching English Learners    
EDU4110                 Special Education for the Classroom Teacher (2)        
EDU4119                 Assessment in the Classroom (2)                
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 Unit Requirement     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 this concentration area 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, or Music.

Required Courses         Units
   
EDU4721                    Introduction to Educational Research         3
EDU4724                    Educational Research   3
Twelve semester units articulated with the preliminary credential   12
from the following courses:*      
EDU4100                    Psychological and Developmental Foundations          
EDU4104                    Sociological and Multicultural Foundations  
EDU4107                    Foundations for Teaching English Learners           
EDU4110                    Special Education for the Classroom Teacher (2)     
EDU4119                    Assessment in the Classroom (2)         
EDU4330                    Elementary Reading/Language Arts: Primary Grades  
EDU4333                    Elementary Reading/Language Arts: Upper Grades  
EDU4410                    Language and Literacy in the Content Areas     
Twelve semester units of graduate electives from the discipline of      12
concentration, to be selected in collaboration with the Program Director  
and the Chair of the Department of the discipline of emphasis.  

*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 Unit Requirement  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:

1. Valid Preliminary Multiple-Subject or Single-Subject Teaching Credential or evidence of substantial teaching experience in a private or charter school.
2. Passing scores on the CBEST and CSET examinations.