Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration and Leadership

at California State University - Fresno USA

The faculty members continue to be recognized for quality hands-on education as well as scholarly contributions to their academic disciplines. Each student is assigned to a faculty adviser to maximize the student's educational experience at California State University, Fresno. The faculty are noted for cooperation and activity within each industry to prepare and place graduates in their chosen career.

The Department of Educational Leadership develops scholar-practitioners and prepares credible and relevant leaders in education committed to advancing equity and excellence in educational leadership for P-12 and higher education throughout the Central Valley.
Our values support leadership in:

• Academic integrity in designing and supporting instructional programs
• Collaboration with school districts, colleges, universities, and communities
• Diversity of backgrounds, identities, and ways of understanding
• Practice informed by research and research informed by practice
• Reflection of the lifelong learning processes 

History is the study of humanity’s recorded past. It encompasses all aspects of human behavior, social organization, and cultural development. The arts and the sciences, the development of technology, and changing economic forces are as much a part of history as is politics or social conflict.

Students of history are engaged in a journey through time in which they can witness and compare the development of a variety of cultures and the interrelations between people in many different circumstances. Through the study of past events, history provides a great storehouse of experience by which the theories of the other social sciences can be tested. And through its analysis of the development of institutions and cultures, it provides one of our best tools for understanding social phenomena.

History is also one of the broadest and most universal of the humanities. Just as the personalities of individuals are shaped through the totality of their past experiences, so cultures and institutions also develop in time. The study of history can help students understand themselves and their culture better and develop a more tolerant and humane spirit toward others. In this way, as in so many others, a knowledge of the past can help all of us meet the problems of today with greater understanding and compassion.

The Master of Arts program in History is designed to extend the competence of persons engaged in a wide variety of fields requiring a broad grasp of historical knowledge, techniques, and interpretation. Within this degree program, students may choose to complete either a traditional track or a teaching option. The traditional track, which offers both thesis and examination as possible culminating experiences, best satisfies the needs of those interested in public service, teaching at the community college level, or pursuing advanced graduate study in history. The teaching option best satisfies the needs of those interested in enhancing their teaching of history primarily at the secondary level.

The Graduate Certificate program is most suitable for those teachers who would like to update their professional credentials, those seeking supplemental certification, those seeking to prepare for the CSET, and/or those who would simply like to continue their study of history but who do not require an M.A.

California boasts the largest number of sports organizations in the entire U.S. In California's Central Valley alone, semi-professional or professional teams are well represented, in all the major sports, including the increasingly popular motor racing industry. Additionally, the Central Valley offers a plethora of university, community college, high school, and community sports programs. It is also home to sporting goods manufacturers. The global sports industry is rapidly growing, with the United States sports industry contributing more than $213 billion to the economy, outpacing agriculture and motor vehicle sales combined. In addition, more than 75% of the jobs being created in sports in the U.S. are marketing-related. The proliferation of sports-related businesses in California offers a wide variety of career opportunities for students prepared to enter the market after completion of a bachelor's degree program in sports marketing. The openings for sports marketing and recreation professionals are growing faster on average than for all other professions. The industry needs educators and managers who can create and manage programs to meet the ever-growing demand for leadership in sports and recreation. Graduates who earn bachelor's degrees in sports marketing will be prepared for positions such as sports marketing account managers, event planning and conference managers, facility managers, ticket operations directors, sporting goods marketing and sales managers, and sponsorship sales managers. The list of potential employers includes, but is not limited to, all professional (MLB, NHL, NBA, NFL, etc.), and semi-professional sports, collegiate sports (NCAA, NAIA, etc.), sporting event management, and sports agency.

The Department of Public Health offers curricula based on principles of public health practices leading to a Bachelor of Science degree, including a major and minor in health science with options in community health, environmental/occupational health and safety, and health administration.

The Health Science Bachelor of Science curriculum consists of a core of five courses providing a foundation of knowledge and skills critical to the theory and practice of the health professional. In addition, students complete a specialized cluster of courses in an option that provides the depth and breadth for the area. A variety of combinations between and within options is possible to meet professional goals.

The Master of Biotechnology offers students who are fundamentally educated in varied scientific disciplines the opportunities to advance their scientific skills. It allows them to acquire the business knowledge and skills necessary to commercialize emerging technologies or their products. Offered as a two-year program, it is representative of a unique interdisciplinary degree concept, the Professional Science Master's (PSM) degree, designed for students interested in entering the workforce in leadership roles to promote the development and production of new products and processes.

The Bachelor of Science in Geology prepares students for employment in petroleum geology, mineral exploration, land-use planning, environmental assessment, hydrology, and engineering geology, or for teaching earth science or physical science at the secondary level. The Master of Science program provides a graduate degree for students who want to work in industry or government on the professional level, for students who want to teach earth science in junior college, or for students who wish to pursue further graduate study.

The 30-unit Master of Arts degree in Education with an option in Curriculum and Instruction (MAE-C&I) is designed for teachers and other professionals who desire advanced study in curriculum, instruction, educational psychology, research design, and educational statistics. Although a majority of students are teachers, a teaching credential is not a requirement for admission. The program is unique in allowing students to pursue in-depth study in personally relevant areas of curriculum and instruction such as educational technology, reading/language arts, mathematics education, and other specialization areas through elective coursework.

Mathematics and related subjects play important dual roles in our culture. On the one hand, mathematics is a study in its own right; on the other hand, it is an indispensable tool for expressing and understanding ideas in the sciences, engineering, and an increasing number of other fields. As a consequence, employment opportunities for mathematicians have been expanding in recent years. The courses offered by the department are designed to develop skills in, and an appreciation and understanding of, both roles.

Because there are so many different areas in which a trained mathematician can find employment or continue studies, the department offers a large number of electives within the mathematics major. By selecting appropriate courses, students have considerable flexibility to accommodate their individual interests. Students should consult with a department adviser for specific recommendations as to which electives are suited to their career paths.

Electives in pre-college teaching in mathematics provide students with the necessary background for obtaining a California Secondary Teaching Credential in mathematics. In order to complete the credential requirements, a fifth year of education courses, classroom observation, and practice teaching is needed. At the present time, there is an increasing demand for well-trained people in this area.