Master of Arts in Education

 Overview

          Admission

          Program Requirements

                   Core Courses

                   Concentrations

                   Electives

OVERVIEW

The Master of Arts in Education is designed for those who want advanced preparation in the foundations of human learning, effective instructional design and assessment, education of culturally and linguistically diverse students, and strong educational leadership, so important to today’s advanced educational professionals.

The Master of Arts in Education program is committed to educational excellence for our emerging educational leaders of the 21st century. This commitment is reflected in our design to provide intensive study of theories and practices in Organizational Leadership, Teaching English as a Second Language, and Curriculum Design. To be more specific, the M.A. in Education program provides:

• Innovative and interdisciplinary courses and programs;
• Qualitative and intensive studies in Organizational Leadership, Teaching English as a Second Language, and Curriculum Design;
• Diversity within the curriculum, students and faculty;
• Use of technology to enhance teaching and learning;
• Professional research for continued growth as an effective educator; and
• Knowledge and skills to evaluate program effectiveness, appropriately assess student learning, and interact effectively within communities.

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ADMISSION PREREQUISITES

For admission to this graduate program, the student must:

• Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of 2.5 or higher;
• Have earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher in all applicable post baccalaureate work;
• Have passed the CBEST, and CSET if applicable;
• Submit three letters of recommendation;
• Demonstrate academic writing skills; and,
• Submit a completed application form with a $30 fee (personal check or money order payable to Patten University).

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POST-ADMISSION GUIDELINES

After admission, the graduate student works with an assigned advisor and completes and files the approved program form, which indicates the concentration area and necessary elective courses, totaling a minimum of 34 units.

1.     The student completes the program as follows:

§         Completes all core courses;

§         Completes all electives;

§         Maintains a GPA of 3.0 or better;

§         Demonstrates satisfactory progress at the Mid-Program Evaluation; and

§         Completes the cumulative scholarly activity.

2.     The student moves to candidate status after passing the oral defense, based upon their research proposal.

ADVANCEMENT to CANDIDACY

The Oral Defense is an evaluation of a candidate’s ability to think critically and express themselves effectively as related to the chosen research topic.

CULMINATING REQUIREMENT

The M.A. Thesis or Project: The candidate produces a comprehensive, approved research document in his/her area of concentration.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS and SEQUENCING

The M.A. in Education program is a two-year, full-time sequence of courses leading to a Master of Arts in Education Degree with an optional teaching credential. The program requires a minimum of 34 units, among which 16 units are core courses, at least 12 units are in the area of concentration choice, and six elective units in the field of education. The courses are offered evenings and Saturdays to accommodate the schedules of full-time teachers and other professionals.

All students are required to complete 34 to 50 units of coursework. Courses taken will depend on the concentration chosen and other factors, such as whether the student is matriculating for a teacher credential and length of research. Course work is selected from the 500 and 600 (Graduate) series so that at least 15 units are in the 600’s, and all coursework is completed through the Education Division. Graduate classes are offered over a two-year sequence.

MASTER of ARTS in EDUCATION PROGRAM COURSE SEQUENCE

Core Courses (16 units)

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CONCENTRATIONS (select one):

A.  Organizational Leadership (12 units)

B.  Teaching English as a Second Language (12 units)

C.  Curriculum Design (12 units)

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Elective Courses (Select 6 units from the following courses):

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Transferring Units

A maximum of six (6) units may be transferred from other accredited institutions with the consent of the Associate Dean of Education. These units are not automatically approved, as some restrictions apply.

*Required coursework will vary depending on which concentration is selected.

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