MA in Education (Curriculum and Instruction)
Total units required for MA: 30
Program Description
The Master of Arts in Education (Curriculum and Instruction) is designed to provide professional and specialized preparation for the candidate interested in acquiring knowledge and skills essential for the design and development of curriculum and related instructional practices. The program provides a variety of options for educators to develop and enhance expertise in a particular field of interest related to elementary, middle school, and secondary education. Each course is designed to produce an ideal blend of theory, research and practice in modern, diverse educational settings. The program is committed to exploring critical intellectual questions of contemporary education. Program instructors bring varied levels of expertise with advanced degrees from major research universities and classroom experience in K-12 and higher education settings.
Students may apply to either a stateside traditional cohort or a College of Continuing Education online cohort. The traditional cohort will meet face-to-face. The online cohort will meet approximately 25% synchronously (real time) and 75% asynchronously (your own schedule within a given timeframe). During the synchronous sessions students will participate in community development, collaboration, and communications that will allow them to get to know their peers and instructors and facilitate instructional delivery suited to an online format. During asynchronous sessions students will build on learning experiences acquired in the synchronous sessions while deepening the knowledge, skills and dispositions that emerge with reflective, "on your own schedule" participation. Students in the online cohort will complete six units of coursework during the summer term as part of the condensed format.
Admission Requirements
Admission as a classified graduate student requires:
- a baccalaureate degree;
- a minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 units;
- proficiency in written English composition as demonstrated by either passing the Sacramento State Writing Placement for Juniors exam or equivalent, or enrolling in ENGL 109W passing with a grade of C or better ; and
- an interview with a program administrator/faculty team;
Applicants who have deficiencies in admission requirements that can be removed by specified additional preparation may be admitted with conditionally classified graduate status. Any deficiencies will be noted on a written response to the student's admission application.
Admission Procedures
The stateside traditional program admits a cohort of students in fall only. The online program offered through the College of Continuing Education admits a cohort of students in fall and/or spring. Prospective graduate students, including Sacramento State graduates, must file the following with the Office of Graduate Studies, Riverfront Center 215, (916) 278-6470:
- an online application for admission; and
- one set of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, other than Sacramento State.
For more admissions information and application deadlines, please visit the Office of Graduate Studies website.
The graduate degree program is subject to general University and Departmental requirements. These requirements are explained in the Graduate Degree Requirements section of the University Catalog.
Specific Additional Admission Requirements
General Admission Requirements/Procedures for MA in Graduate & Professional Studies in Education (GPSE) apply, plus:
- supplemental application for the MA in Curriculum & Instruction, including a complete set of unofficial transcripts, an essay based on a prompt that will be provided to you, and a statement of purpose; and
- two years of teaching experience or its functional equivalent; or program coordinator approval.
Applicants who have deficiencies in admission requirements that can be removed by specified additional preparation may be admitted with conditionally classified status. Any deficiencies will be noted on a written response to the student's admission application.
Minimum Units and Grade Requirement for the Degree
Units required for the MA: 30
Minimum cumulative GPA: 3.0; no units with a grade lower than "C" may apply toward the degree.
General Advancement to Candidacy Procedures
Each student must file an application for Advancement to Candidacy indicating a proposed program of graduate study. This procedure should begin as soon as the classified graduate student has:
- removed any deficiencies in admission;
- completed at least 12 units of courses in the graduate program (see Degree Requirements) with a minimum 3.0 GPA; and
- taken the Writing Placement for Graduate Students (WPG) or taken a Graduate Writing Intensive (GWI) course in their discipline within the first two semesters of coursework at California State University, Sacramento or secured approval for a WPG waiver.
Advancement to Candidacy forms are available online through the Office of Graduate Studies website. The student fills out the form after planning a degree program in consultation with the appropriate M.A. Program Coordinator. The form must be submitted online with the Office of Graduate Studies for approval.
Approved Culminating Experience Format:American Psychological Association(APA) - Latest edition. Before beginning a 500-level course, students must submit a reservation form for a Culminating Experience to the program coordinator for approval.
Enrollment in the 500 series Culminating Experience is for one semester. The expectation is that students will complete the culminating experience during the 500-level course. One semester of continuous enrollment is allowed if the Culminating Experience advisor deems a reasonable amount of progress has been made and assigns a grade of "RP" for the 500 series. If students fail to make adequate progress and there are no mitigating circumstances (e.g., illness), a grade of "no credit" is given, and the student must re-enroll in the appropriate 500 series Culminating Experience.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses (21 Units) | ||
| CORE COURSES (15 Units) | ||
| EDBM 250 | Education Research | 3 |
| EDCI 227 | Transforming Curriculum in K-12 | 3 |
| EDCI 251 | Power in Education | 3 |
| EDCI 252A | Inquiry & Practice in Education | 3 |
| EDCI 253A | Action & Analysis in Education | 3 |
| Concentration Courses (6 Units) | ||
| EDCI 252B | Inquiry & Practice Field Experience in Education | 3 |
| EDCI 253B | Action & Analysis Field Experience in Education | 3 |
| Other Course Requirements (6 Units) | ||
| Select 6 units of electives 1 | 6 | |
| Culminating Requirement (3 Units) | ||
| EDCI 505 | Culminating Experience: Curriculum and Instruction 2 | 3 |
| Total Units | 30 | |
- 1
Six elective units in Curriculum and Instruction coursework are to be selected by the student in consultation with the Curriculum and Instruction Program Coordinator. Students may focus their elective units in a program of their interest or select courses from various programs. At least three of the elective units must be at the 200 level. Examples of Curriculum and Instruction elective programs include: Educational Technology, Mathematics Education, Language and Literacy, Multicultural Education, Gender Equity, BTSA or other pre-approved induction courses.
With C & I Program Coordinator approval, program courses may include one of the following:
- 6 transfer elective units (must not be independent study or supervision units)
- 6 units of academic credit earned through Continuing Education
- 2
Open only to the graduate student who has been advanced to candidacy for the master's degree and has secured the permission of his/her Culminating Experience Chair and the Curriculum and Instruction Program Coordinator. All forms may be obtained on the Office of Graduate STUDIES (OGS) website.
Credit is given upon completion of a university-approved project consisting of an ePortfolio that includes an action research report, supporting materials such as curriculum and/or student work, and a poster presentation evaluated by a faculty committee. With prior approval a master's thesis may be substituted for the action research report.