Education Studies

[ undergraduate program | courses | faculty ]

Pepper Canyon Hall, Third Floor
University Center
http://eds.ucsd.edu

Graduate Programs

Master of Education (MEd)/Credential Program

The MEd articulates with the Preliminary Multiple Subject and Preliminary Single Subject credential programs. It is a rigorous fifteen- to twenty-four-month professional degree program designed specifically to prepare preservice elementary and secondary teachers earning their initial teaching credential at UC San Diego. This course of study allows candidates to earn a Preliminary California Teaching Credential and the MEd degree from UC San Diego prior to entering the teaching profession. The program seeks applicants with strong subject matter preparation and clear career intentions.

MEd/Credential Admissions Process

The application deadline for the MEd/Credential programs is February 1. All applicants must apply online at http://eds.ucsd.edu.

Applicants interested in financial aid should complete the FAFSA application by March 2, and may contact Graduate Student Financial Services at (858) 534-4480.

Each applicant is carefully reviewed for admission by a committee. The selection committee ensures that applicants have completed the prerequisite program requirements for admission and evaluates each applicant on the basis of the following criteria:

  1. A strong interest in multicultural approaches to education; a strong desire to improve the quality of American education; a strong desire to develop self-activated learners;
  2. Experience working with children in educational environments, especially with students from diverse backgrounds;
  3. Participation in public service activities;
  4. Academic excellence in their undergraduate and graduate studies.

For more information about the entire application process please visit the EDS website at http://eds.ucsd.edu.

MEd/Preliminary Multiple Subject (Elementary) Credential

Students working toward any major at UC San Diego may complete the prerequisite admission requirements and educational foundations for the MEd/Multiple Subject Credential Program courses while they are undergraduates.

Candidates who have already received a bachelor of arts or science from any University of California campus, or an appropriate equivalent degree from another institution, must apply for graduate status as an MEd Preliminary Multiple Subject Credential student.

Students applying for admission to the UC San Diego graduate credential program must contact EDS for information on the required prerequisite course requirements.

Examples of majors from other universities not eligible for application to the MEd/Multiple Subject Credential program include business, education, liberal studies, marketing, and recreation.

Prerequisite Requirements for the Multiple Subject Preliminary Credential

  1. A 3.0 cumulative GPA is required from the institution awarding the bachelor’s degree.
  2. Subject Matter Competence: This requirement is satisfied by providing evidence of satisfactory completion of the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET).
  3. The California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST): Evidence of passing the CBEST (or CSET Writing Skills exam) satisfies this requirement. Satisfactory scores on the CSU EAP Placement Tests or the ELM and EPT Placement Tests will also satisfy this requirement.
  4. US Constitution requirement: This requirement is satisfied by either
    • Completion of a course covering the provisions and principles of the US Constitution (completion of a degree from a California State University (CSU) automatically satisfies this requirement), or
    • Passage of an appropriate exam offered through an accredited university (contact the EDS office for information).
  5. Sensitivity to second language learning: Applicants must demonstrate, through course work or equivalent experience, an informed sensitivity to the challenges of second language learning and acquisition. This can be fulfilled in one of three ways:
    • Completion of nine quarter units of college course work in a single language that is not the applicant’s native language, or
    • Completion of three years of secondary school course work in a language other than English. The course work must be taken in grades 7 through 12, with at least a B average, or
    • Demonstration of an “equivalent experience” in a second language situation. Applicants who wish to satisfy this requirement by one of the three options listed below must submit an essay that describes the length and circumstances of the experience, including at least three specific examples of situations that helped you gain personal knowledge and appreciation of issues surrounding second language acquisition in a diverse cultural setting. The three equivalent experience options are
      • The applicant has lived for prolonged period of time in a country where the language spoken was not native to the applicant, and where the applicant was continuously required to speak that second language (e.g., Peace Corps).
      • The applicant has had an extended experience immersed in a multilingual community in his/her native country.
      • The applicant was raised in a multilingual community.
  6. Official scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test
  7. Satisfactory completion of the education foundations prerequisites for the Multiple Subject Credential (contact EDS for the current prerequisite requirements).

Candidates interested in teaching in bilingual settings: Please see the Bilingual Authorization Program section below.

Multiple Subject Professional Preparation

The professional preparation component of the Preliminary Multiple Subject credential consists of twelve courses and fifteen weeks of student teaching in elementary school classrooms.

A typical student schedule for the Multiple Subject Professional Preparation Program is shown in Table 1.

Table 1: The Professional Preparation Program for the MEd/Preliminary Multiple Subject Credential

FALL

WINTER

SPRING

SUMMER

EDS 351 (4)

EDS 361B (6)

EDS 361C (4)

EDS 204 (4)

EDS 361A (6)

EDS 369A (9)

EDS 369B (9)

EDS 206 (4)

EDS 190 (4)

EDS 205A (2)

EDS 382 (4)

 

EDS 201 (4)

 

EDS 205B (2)

 

EDS 203 (4)

     

EDS 250 (4)

     

For Bilingual Authorization Candidates

EDS 352A (2)

EDS 352B (2)

   

MEd/Preliminary Single Subject (Secondary) Credential

UC San Diego students working towards a literature, linguistics, mathematics, engineering or any science major may complete the prerequisite single subject credential requirements by taking specified courses for one of the EDS minors while they are undergraduates. Contact EDS for the prerequisite requirements for admission to the UC San Diego graduate credential program.

Prerequisite Requirements for the Single Subject Preliminary Credential

  1. Undergraduates working toward selected majors at UC San Diego may complete the foundation requirements for the Preliminary Single Subject Credential prior to completing their degree. Students must be working toward a major in the discipline corresponding to that of the desired credential:
    • English: any UC San Diego literature or linguistics major, or equivalent
    • Mathematics: any UC San Diego mathematics, engineering, or computer science major, or equivalent,
    • Science: biology, chemistry, geosciences, or physics; or any UC San Diego natural science major, or equivalent.
  2. Candidates, who have already received a literature, linguistics, mathematics, or science Bachelor of Arts or Science degree from any University of California campus, or an appropriate equivalent degree from another institution, must apply for graduate status as an MEd/Preliminary Single Subject credential student.
  3. A 3.0 cumulative GPA is required from the institution awarding the bachelor’s degree.
  4. Subject Matter Competence: This requirement is satisfied by either
    • Providing evidence of satisfactory completion of the appropriate sections of the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET) or
    • Having completed the entire subject matter preparation program.
  5. The California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST): Evidence of passing the CBEST satisfies this requirement. Satisfactory scores on the CSU EAP Placement Tests or the ELM and EPT Placement Tests will also satisfy this requirement.
  6. US Constitution requirement
    • Completion of a course covering the provisions and principles of the US Constitution (completion of a degree from a California State University (CSU) automatically satisfies this requirement), or
    • Passage of an appropriate exam offered through an accredited university (contact the EDS office for information).
  7. Sensitivity to second language learning: Applicants must demonstrate, through course work or equivalent experience, an informed sensitivity to the challenges of second language learning and acquisition. This can be fulfilled in one of three ways:
    • Completion of nine quarter units of college course work in a single language that is not the applicant’s native language or
    • Completion of three years of secondary school course work in a language other than English. The course work must be taken in grades 7 through 12, with at least a B average or
    • Demonstration of an “equivalent experience” in a second language situation. Applicants who wish to satisfy this requirement by one of the three options listed below must submit an essay that describes the length and circumstances of the experience, including at least three specific examples of situations that helped you gain personal knowledge and appreciation of issues surrounding second language acquisition in a diverse cultural setting. The three equivalent experience options are:
      • The applicant has lived for a prolonged period of time in a country where the language spoken was not native to the applicant, and where the applicant was continuously required to speak that second language (e.g., Peace Corps).
      • The applicant has had an extended experience immersed in a multilingual community in his/her native country.
      • The applicant was raised in a multilingual community.
  8. Official scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test.
  9. Satisfactory completion of the education foundations prerequisites for the Single Subject Credential (contact EDS for the current prerequisite requirements).

Candidates interested in teaching in bilingual settings: Please see the Bilingual Authorization Program section below.

Single Subject Professional Preparation

Students engage in an intensive program of professional preparation, including five teaching methods courses in the summer prior to the internship, and seminars offered throughout the academic year that address classroom management techniques and strategies for dealing with individual teaching situations.

Students admitted to the MEd/Preliminary Single Subject Credential Program are eligible to be interviewed in the summer for a paid internship or student teaching position in a local middle or high school for the following school year. Availability of internship positions is not guaranteed, though EDS attempts to facilitate internship positions for all Single Subject students. Students who do not receive an internship position will do their practicum as student teachers instead. Interns are responsible for teaching classes in their subject area under the guidance of an EDS supervisor and an on-site support-provider. Interns are typically hired as part-time teachers and receive a salary from the school district commensurate with the number of sections taught.

A typical student schedule for the Preliminary Single Subject Professional Preparation Program is shown in Table 2.

Table 2: The Professional Preparation Program for the MEd/Preliminary Single Subject Credential

SUMMER

FALL

WINTER

SPRING

SUMMER (2)

EDS 373 (4)
or (374 or 375)

EDS 379A (8)

EDS 379B (8)

EDS 379C (8)

EDS 204 (4)

EDS 376 (4)

EDS 351 (4)

EDS 381 (4)

EDS 382 (4)

EDS 206 (4)

EDS 201 (4)

 

EDS 205A (2)

EDS 205B (2)

 

EDS 203 (4)

 

 

   

EDS 250 (4)

       

For Bilingual Authorization Candidates

 

EDS 352A (2)

   

EDS 352B (2)

Bilingual Authorization Program for MEd/Credential Candidates

The Bilingual Authorization Program (BLA) at the Department of Education Studies prepares graduate EDS students admitted into the MEd/Multiple and Single-Subject Teaching Credential Programs to add a Bilingual Authorization in eight different languages.

  1. Prerequisites for recommendation for a Bilingual Authorization (Spanish, Asian, and Middle-Eastern Languages). The Bilingual Authorization is designed to prepare teachers who have sufficient bilingual skills to effectively teach in both English and the language of emphasis. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in the language and culture of emphasis as well as bilingual methodology by exam (CSET: LOTE), completion of course work, or a combination of course work and exam. Students interested in applying for admission to the Bilingual Authorization program must demonstrate the following competencies prior to recommendation for the Authorization:
    • Language competence:
      Spanish: Option 1) Completion of the EDS Spanish Language Assessment, with a score of at least Intermediate-High (students must receive a score of Advanced prior to being recommended for the Bilingual Authorization). EDS coordinates these exams; please contact the program in January prior to your application to the credential program; OR, Option 2) Satisfactory scores on the CSET: LOTE Test III in Spanish. Asian and Middle-Eastern Languages (Arabic, Cantonese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, and Vietnamese): Satisfactory score on the appropriate CSET: LOTE Language exam subtest.
    • Cultural knowledge:
      All languages: Option 1) One history course and one culture course covering topics related to the experiences of speakers of the language of emphasis. Courses must be upper-division and of at least 4 quarter units each; OR, Option 2) Satisfactory score on CSET: LOTE Exam V for the language of emphasis.
    • Methodological knowledge:
      Spanish, Asian, and Middle-Eastern Languages: EDS 125, EDS 352A, and EDS 352B
  1. A desire to teach in a bilingual setting.

Note: A grade of B– or higher is required for all Bilingual Authorization courses.

The Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning: Curriculum Design

The MA in Teaching and Learning (Curriculum Design) offers professional educators in elementary and secondary schools an extensive overview of principles of educational research and curriculum design.

A key feature of the MA program is the integration of research and practice. MA students remain full-time teachers for the duration of the program. They design, implement, and evaluate curricular innovations in their own classrooms. The culmination of the MA work is a thesis describing the rationale, development, and effectiveness of these innovations.

Examples of MA Research Projects

The topics of the MA theses in past years are varied, and have included: multimedia approaches to secondary biology and chemistry instruction; writing revision among emergent writers; building partnerships between families and schools; activities which link home and school experiences in the content areas of reading and writing, mathematics, science, and social studies; improved integration of curriculum and assessment; motivation and art; using technology for mathematics and geography teaching; and embedding ESL in native-language instruction.

The MA Course of Study (Teaching and Learning: Emphasis in Curriculum Design)

The MA program requirements consist of forty quarter units of course work, including the master’s thesis. Courses are usually offered for four quarter units of credit, and are typically offered one night per week, from 5:00–8:00 p.m. Core course work comprises twenty-eight units, with the remaining twelve units consisting of elective course work.

A typical program consists of

Core MA Course Work
First Summer (mid-June to late August)
Fall, Winter, and Spring
Second Summer (mid-June to late August)

Admission Requirements

Admission to the MA program in teaching and learning at UC San Diego is competitive. Factors considered by the selection committee include

The MA program is ideal for classroom teachers who wish to engage in an intensive professional development experience in which they gain knowledge of the research literature on teaching and learning, and who wish to develop their expertise as teacher-researchers and curriculum and instruction leaders.

Admission to graduate standing at UC San Diego requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for any prior graduate work, and for the bachelor's degree. Official scores from the GRE are also required. The application deadline is February 1.

The Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning: Bilingual Education (ASL-English)

The Department of Education Studies (EDS) at UC San Diego offers a Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning: Bilingual Education (ASL-English) the California Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential with a Bilingual Authorization in American Sign Language for elementary school teachers, and the Preliminary Education Specialist: Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Credential. This program of study includes extensive practicum experience combined with the latest research and innovation in bilingual education and deaf education. Students in the program participate in research and development on the leading edge of bilingual, multicultural education for deaf and hard-of-hearing children.

In keeping with its aim of training teachers who will be able to meet the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing children from various language and cultural backgrounds, EDS requires fluency in ASL for acceptance into the program. EDS’s teacher training program is designed to prepare teachers to work in various types of school settings from residential school classrooms to local public school classrooms for deaf and hard-of-hearing children. EDS recognizes that deaf and hard-of-hearing children need teachers who are bilingual and knowledgeable about the role of culture in human development.

Program of Study for the Preliminary Education Specialist: Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Credential, the Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, and the Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning: Bilingual Education (ASL and English)

Students complete a program of study resulting in the California Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Specialist Credential at the elementary level. Students also qualify for the Preliminary Multiple Subject Credential with a Bilingual Authorization in American Sign Language.

This program of study consists of courses in bilingual education theory, methods, and applications to deaf education in addition to intensive classroom practice. During the second year of study the focus is on designing, implementing and evaluating a research-based project. This integration of research and practice is central to the goal of the MA program to develop teachers as researchers.

The complete program of study includes Professional Preparation course work and the Master of Arts specific course requirements. Both must be complete in order to receive the teaching credentials and the Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning: Bilingual Education (ASL-English). Please see an EDS adviser for a typical course of study, which would include all required courses.

Professional Preparation Courses

COMM 169. Deaf Culture in the U.S. (4 units)

EDS 115. Cognitive Development and Education (4 units)

EDS 117. Language, Culture, and Education (4 units)

EDS 125. History, Politics, and Theory of Bilingual Education (4 units)

EDS 128A-B. Introduction to Teaching and Learning (4-4 units)

EDS 190. Research Practicum (4 units)

EDS 250. Equitable Educational Research Practice (4 units)

EDS 342A-B-C. ASL-English Bilingual Education Practices (4-2-2 units)

EDS 349. Deaf Education Specialist Student Teaching Practicum (9 units)

EDS 351.Teaching the English Language Learning (4 units)

EDS 361 A-B-C. Innovative Instructional Practices (6-6-4 units)

EDS 369 A-B. Multiple Subject Student Teaching Practicum (9-9 units)

EDS 382. Inclusive Education Practices (4 units)

Master of Arts Course Requirements

EDS 201. Introduction to Resources for Teaching and Learning (4 units)

EDS 203. Technology, Teaching, and Learning (4 units)

EDS 240 A-B-C. Research in ASL-English Bilingual Education (4-4-4 units)

EDS 290. Research Practicum (2 units)

EDS 295. MA Thesis (4 units)

This MA course requirement should include fourteen units of electives, which are automatically satisfied by the completion of the Professional Preparation courses.

Admission Requirements

Candidates will apply for graduate admission to the foundation component of this program. Upon satisfactory completion of the prerequisite component, students will advance to the professional/master’s component, which requires two years of study. The following are the minimum eligibility requirements for admission to the graduate prerequisite component. The application deadline for the MA/ASL program is March 1st. All applicants must apply online at http://eds.ucsd.edu.

  1. A bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 cumulative GPA
  2. Official scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test
  3. Subject matter competence (CSET)
  4. The California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST). Evidence of passing the CBEST (or CSET Writing Skills exam) satisfies this requirement. Satisfactory scores on the CSU EAP Placement Tests or the ELM and EPT Placement Tests will also satisfy this requirement.
  5. Completion of a course including the provisions and principles of the US Constitution (completion of a degree from a California State University (CSU) automatically satisfies this requirement), or passage of an appropriate exam offered through an accredited university.
  6. Official Graduate Application and fee
  7. Statement of Purpose and reference letters
  8. Fluency in American Sign Language
  9. Knowledge and experience of the social and cultural life of deaf people
  10. A desire to teach deaf children of varying language and cultural backgrounds
  11. Admission to graduate standing at UC San Diego requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for any prior graduate work, and for the bachelor’s degree. Official scores from the GRE verbal, analytic, and quantitative sections are also required.

Doctor of Education (EdD) in Teaching and Learning

The Department of Education Studies at UC San Diego offers a doctor of education (EdD) degree in Teaching and Learning. This cohort-based four-year doctorate is designed to enable professional educators to participate in a research-based program while working in an educational setting. The EdD course of study provides a research perspective on educational reform, with the expectation of developing regional leadership for K–12 and postsecondary teaching and learning. With its rich tradition of research and technological innovation, UC San Diego is uniquely positioned in the region to provide the research expertise for this program.

The EdD program is designed for experienced educators who wish to expand their knowledge of discipline-specific pedagogy, research methodology, and education reform with the goal of assuming leadership in teacher preparation and teacher development.

The following is a typical course of study:

Year 1
Summer
Fall-Winter-Spring
Summer
Year 2
Fall
Winter
Spring
Year 3
Fall-Winter-Spring
Year 4
Fall-Winter-Spring

Admission Requirements

Admission to graduate standing at UC San Diego requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for any prior graduate work and for the bachelor's degree. Official scores from the GRE are also required. The application deadline is February 1.

Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership

The doctor of education in Educational Leadership is offered through a partnership between UC San Diego and California State University, San Marcos (CSUSM). The program is designed as a professional degree for P-12 and postsecondary educators who will develop advanced leadership and research skills related to their own institutional settings. Students are typically mid-career working professional educators who attend classes on weeknights and weekends over a thirty-six-month period. Students take courses designed to develop four specific leadership capacities: (1) leadership for learning; (2) leadership for a diverse society; (3) leadership for organizational change; and (4) leadership for organizational development. This program prepares leaders for culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse educational settings. Students will conduct research on professional practice within their own institutions, addressing specific local problems that have national implications for teaching and learning, school reform, and professional development. Students completing the program will receive a joint degree from UC San Diego and CSUSM.

The following is a typical course of study taught by UC San Diego and CSUSM faculty:

Year 1
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Year 2
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Year 3
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Admission Requirements

See the EDS website for current admission requirements. The application deadline is July 31.