Master of Arts in Education with Concentration in Preliminary Teacher Credential

at California State University - Monterey Bay USA

The Liberal Studies (LS) B.A. program is designed for students who desire to become elementary or special education teachers. There are different pathways to choose from, depending on your interests:

LS BA Traditional Pathway - This pathway is for the Liberal Studies BA degree only. Upon graduation, students on this pathway may pursue a credential at CSUMB or another institution.

The Master of Arts in Education prepares strong education professionals to have an informed understanding of complex learning; the knowledge and skills to promote such learning; and the disposition to advocate effectively for the learning, living and growth of students, especially those who bring cultural, linguistic and other diversity to schools. The program coursework challenges educators to analyze and improve their instructional practice to better serve students with diverse ethnic and linguistic backgrounds, as well as students with special needs.

The Special Education strand of the MAE program is combined with our CLEAR Special Education Credential.

This program prepares strong professionals who have an informed understanding of what constitutes learning, the knowledge and skills to promote such learning, and the disposition to actively work toward change when policies or practices negatively impact the learning, living, or growth of students—especially those students with special needs who bring cultural or linguistic diversity to schools.

As such, the MAE with an emphasis in special education affords candidates an opportunity to expand their skill and knowledge base through exploration, analysis, and discussions about the latest trends and theories in special education in a scholarly environment that honors the free exchange of ideas, thoughts, and insights.

CSUMB offers a Master of Science in Marine Science through Moss Landing Marine Labs. Both campuses are located near the shores of Monterey Bay, an extraordinary place that is home to one of the greatest concentrations of marine science research and education institutions anywhere in the world. CSUMB is located only 20 minutes south of MLML and is by far the closest of the seven CSU consortium campuses affiliated with MLML.

You can enroll through CSUMB and can take advantage of CSUMB housing and other resources, while doing most of your masters work with MLML faculty in MLML facilities. The MLML masters program is widely known and respected as one of the top marine science programs in the nation. It will build upon your existing bachelors degree to give you the knowledge, skills, experience, and professional contacts you’ll need to take your marine-related career to a new level!

The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP) program is an innovative and rigorous degree program designed to prepare future practitioners to serve our local communities through a variety of interdisciplinary settings. The program focuses on a thorough understanding of human communication and its disorders. MS-SLP students are trained to be ethically responsible professionals through the use of evidence-based practices, community partnerships, and innovative technologies.

The Environmental Studies major provides you with a broad foundation in the environmental sciences, social sciences, environmental economics and policy, environmental history and communication. It also provides you with local, regional and global perspectives on current environmental issues and problems.

You will be able to think broadly on local, regional and global levels, understand and synthesize information from multiple disciplines and perspectives, communicate effectively and ethically, and to use your knowledge and skills to promote sustainable, equitable and healthy human and non-human communities.

The Environmental Science, Technology & Policy major is an applied environmental sciences major emphasizing:

• Strong preparation for careers and graduate study in a wide range of fields including environmental resource assessment and management, environmental consulting, science education and marine science
• A rigorous, interdisciplinary science foundation integrating biology, chemistry, physics and the earth sciences
• Hands-on experience with advanced technologies for collecting, analyzing, visualizing and communicating scientific data
• Active, field-oriented learning through frequent outdoor fieldtrips, field and laboratory experiments, community-based service projects and internships
• Real-world application of science and technology for the benefit of society
• An understanding of the social, economic and political processes that influence when and how scientific information can improve environmental decision making
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, including written, oral, and multimedia communication formats

The ability to communicate with Spanish speakers and appreciate Hispanic cultures gives you a tremendous advantage in a wide range of careers. Whether on the job or in your community, your Spanish language competency and cultural understanding can help you establish valuable connections in the inter-dependent global community.

You will attain an advanced level of proficiency in Spanish according to the criteria of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages(ACTFL) guidelines. You will also acquire a reasonable understanding and knowledge of Hispanic cultures through the study of literature, history, art, social science, philosophy, etc. in a variety of courses taught in Spanish and English. As you plan your program, you will be able to select a specific area of concentration (literature, culture, linguistics) in which to acquire a deeper knowledge relative to your particular interests and goals. Additionally, you will engage in real-life learning via your service-learning experiences where you will have opportunities to work with public and private agencies on projects that integrate your language skills with community needs. Finally, in your Senior Capstone project, you will have the opportunity to demonstrate thorough understanding of a topic of interest to you.

The program prepares you for successful professional careers in teaching, business and technology, travel, tourism, governmental and non-governmental agencies, and for graduate study in Hispanic languages and literatures, Chicano/Latino studies, linguistics, translation and interpretation, TESOL, or focused international disciplines such as policy, management and business.

The B.A. in Music is a hands-on program that prepares students for careers in performance, composition for acoustic and electronic/interactive media, sound engineering, audio programming, and music education, across commercial, independent, and community sectors: Music students produce concerts, mixes, musicals, scores, performances, sound installations, texts, talks, electroacoustic compositions, and interactive and experimental multimedia work in a variety of collaborative, independent, and cross-disciplinary projects. Courses develop skills and experience in all aspects of music-making, including producing, performing, analyzing, composing, songwriting, mixing, editing, documenting, marketing, and programming.

Rooted in the liberal arts tradition of critical, interdisciplinary thought and practice, the degree emphasizes well-rounded musicianship through a balance of experience in performance, composition, musicology, ethnomusicology, music theory, acoustics, and music technology - each characterized by its own ways of thinking and doing - complemented by rigorous, fundamental training in critical listening, sight-singing, keyboard skills, and the fluent reading, writing, and digital engraving of Common Western Music Notation. Beyond these fundamentals, students craft a personal, inquiry-driven degree emphasis in response to a chosen research and creative agenda, leading to an ambitious scholarly-creative capstone thesis project in a chosen area of expertise.

The Master of Arts in Education prepares strong education professionals to have an informed understanding of complex learning; the knowledge and skills to promote such learning; and the disposition to advocate effectively for the learning, living and growth of students, especially those who bring cultural, linguistic and other diversity to schools. The program coursework challenges educators to analyze and improve their instructional practice to better serve students with diverse ethnic and linguistic backgrounds, as well as students with special needs.

The Master of Arts in Education Program, which has an emphasis in Education Administration, prepares educational leaders with the skills, knowledge, and dispositions to efficiently and effectively lead educational organizations in today's complex and evolving social, political and economic environment. The Department of Education and Leadership allows candidates to complete a MA degree with an emphasis in Education Administration. Students also complete coursework required for the Preliminary Administrative Services credential plus ten units related to research and two seminar courses that guides them through the completion of an action research project. Part time enrollment is optional with advisor consultation.

The Biology major offers scaffolded courses that provide students with essential knowledge and skills that prepare graduates for success in jobs, graduate school, or professional school in areas such as biotechnology, genomics, health-related fields, agriculture, field biology, ecology, and marine biology. The highly trained faculty are committed to student success, and provide opportunities for undergraduates to be involved in cutting-edge independent research, as well as service to the community. Many of the biology courses provide course-based research experiences that prepare graduates for admission to world-renowned graduate and professional schools.

The Biology major offers concentrations in:

• Molecular Biology
• Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology
• Teacher Preparation