Master of Arts in Education

Admission requirements can be found here.

Please refer to the University Catalog for Tuition and Fees.

Master of Education (10 month)
Master of Education (20 month)

This is an overview course of the psychology of learning and how the brain functions. The application of learning theories to teaching at both the k12 and higher education levels will be discussed with a focus on andragogy and pedagogy learning theories. Contemporary learning theories will also be included.

This course is designed to provide students a foundation to inquiry and research in education. The goal of the course is to provide students the tools to understand research and publications in the field of education, and provide basic tools for developing research and advance the profession of the field of education.

This course will explore topics in education law and ethics with a focus on legislative enactments and cases which had a major impact on the education profession. Topics including: Elementary and Secondary Education Act, students with disabilities, sexual harassment and violence on campus. The course will also survey legislative enactments and cases having a major impact on professional practice of teachers and education leaders in the United States.

Students will examine historical cases as well as contemporary issues that have set the precedent for school policy and authority today and the implications for issues facing modern schools. Ethical and moral challenges will be addressed as well as a critique of current responses to schools in crisis.

This course provides an understanding of current issues and foundations of cultural perspectives in America. Multicultural topics, including race, gender, and other constructs of difference are explored. The foundations of multicultural education are examined and practical aspects of implementing multicultural education are addressed with the focus remaining on the theoretical and conceptual aspects of multicultural education.

This course is a critical overview of the history and role of assessment in education and an appraisal assessment practices and strategies.

This capstone course provides students with the opportunity to integrate and apply learning from their Masters of Education by completing a portfolio. Students will demonstrate mastery of the knowledge and research base in their area of specialization. During the capstone course students will also reflect on the attainment of the Program Learning Outcomes, as well as reflect on the meaning, quality and integrity of the Masters of Education.

The course focuses on language development and the relationship between language and reading acquisition for students with mild disabilities. Students will learn concepts central to typical and atypical language development; language achievements at different ages; concepts of emergent literacy, models of reading acquisition and skilled reading.

This course focuses on children with special needs. It provides an overview of behavioral disturbances in the classroom. Medical, behavioral and socio-cultural interventions will be explored with an emphasis on creating positive classroom environments that enable students with learning and behavior problems to participate productively in the classroom learning community. Embracing a philosophy of inclusion, diversity is celebrated. It examines and applies an approach of differentiated learning to meet the strengths and needs of a wide range of children in the classroom.

This course focuses on expanding the understanding of development and cognition in and academic and functional performance of students with disabilities, how these are similar to and different from all developing students, and how this understanding informs the teaching of students with disabilities in the primary and middle school environments. Another area of exploration is the ways in which these differences need to be addressed within a standard aligned system that demands high expectations of students with disabilities so that they have true access to the general education curriculum. This course will enhance the development of a range of instructional supports and use of validated practices in prospective teachers for inclusive settings, especially in content area subjects, but also the supporting skills of reading, written language and math, that are necessary for success in today’s classrooms.

This course is designed to prepare teachers to work in a variety of environments serving children and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) including the general education classroom, inclusive settings and specialized settings. Evidence-based practice, philosophical approaches, and specific intervention techniques are examined. These practices are considered within the continuum of services and collaborative models utilized in designing effective instructional environments for students with ASD.

This course focuses on the design and implementation of individualized and culturally responsive learning opportunities and curriculum for young children, with and without disabilities, in inclusive early childhood environments (i.e., child care centers, preschool, Head Start, and early elementary school). Students will deepen their understanding of and ways of responding to young learners with a wide range of abilities and diverse backgrounds.

This course examines strategies to develop language, literacy, and communication in young children with varying abilities. It explores the importance of adult-child interaction and the effect of bilingualism, cultural diversity, cognitive ability, and language disorders.

This course provides a foundation in program content and methodology for the teaching of language and literacy, the arts, and physical activity and physical education to young children, including children with special needs. Curricular content, modifications, integration of content area standards, the impact of new technology, and cultural and sociopolitical contexts are explored.

This course examines developmentally effective strategies used in managing a positive learning environment within the framework of today’s diverse early childhood population. Topics include classroom management strategies, professional standards of practice for early childhood education, theories of motivation in young learners, managing diverse classrooms and families.

In this course the modern U.S. K-12 School is thoroughly examined as is the role of the principal in fostering a school culture and ethic supportive of continuously improving curriculum, instruction, and student achievement. Students are also introduced to theoretical administrative organizational foundations of management and leadership of educational programs and institutions.

In this course students will examine research-based models for ensuring school effectiveness, accountability, and continuous quality improvement. Considered are norm-referenced and criterion-referenced testing, standardized test score interpretation, data mining, data analysis, data reporting, and using data-based decision making to improve student achievement. California’s system of school accountability and grading is studied.

In this course strategies to promote school and community cooperation and partnering are examined, as are methods of effectively communicating with multiethnic students, parents, teachers, and other staff. Best practices for managing and effectively using school advisory committees will be examined and leadership and advocacy skills will be developed.

This course focuses upon research-based, practical approaches for leading, managing, and evaluating the training and development function in organizations. It explores the role of training and development in achieving individual and organizational goals, as well as strategies and resources used in effective personnel development. Students analyze how to: develop, manage and evaluate the training function; identify strategies and resources for effective training management; and diagnose how the organization’s culture and needs affect the selection and success of training management efforts.

The course focuses on strategic leadership and decision making, specifically in the context of the higher educational setting. The course examines contemporary leadership theories, with emphasis on transformational and transactional leadership styles. Application of principles of organizational change, team dynamics, strategic planning and other topics that a leader of higher education needs to know to successfully lead organizations of higher learning.

This course is designed to provide students with a working knowledge of the structures, functions, policies, major issues, and concerns within the community college system, and provides opportunities to engage in an amalgam of thoughtful analysis to address community college matters and issues through readings, discussions, research, and leadership.

This course will provide a broad overview of the many functional areas of student services in higher education institutions. Students will be in introduced to theoretical underpinnings of student services as well as reflect upon their own philosophy and values as it relates to various student services areas. Topics to be covered include: the historical development of higher education institutions and student services, issues impacting diverse populations and campus climate, theoretical underpinnings of student service areas, organizing and managing programs, and future developments in the field.

The course examines the Human Resources function in higher education and explores how Human Resources can become a transformative department.