Educational Administration, M.A.

On April 25, 2022, the CSU Chancellor’s Office issued a memo that GWAR will no longer apply to new and continuing graduate students (regardless of catalog year) at CSULB. Catalog copy has been updated on 07/21/2022 to account for this change.

Students in this program will be earning a M.A. and have the option of also earning the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential. Visit the College of Education Graduate Studies Office website for specific program details, application guidelines and materials, and application deadlines. Master’s students must complete Catalog requirements specified in the Catalog in effect at the time of admission to the graduate program.

Educational administrators serve in many capacities. No matter what position an administrator holds within a TK-12 educational organization, all efforts should be directed at supporting equitable academic opportunity and achievement for all students. The courses in the M.A. in Educational Administration with preliminary administrative services credential program are designed to prepare leaders for this important work. Emphasis is placed on (1) examining the role of a school leader, with heavy emphasis on instructional leadership, (2) using data to solve problems of practice, (3) leading school improvement to create more equitable schools, (4) managing and guiding change, and (5) working collaboratively with diverse families and communities. The program’s primary mission is to educate students who will assume leadership positions in diverse, urban, TK-12 schools and districts. Visit the program website for program details (http://www.csulb.edu/college-of-education/educational-administration).

Prerequisites

The following are required for admission to the program:

Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
15 upper-division units in education.
Minimum 2.85 overall grade point average in last degree (not credential or certificate) earned from an accredited institution of higher education. Applicants whose overall GPA is less than 2.85 but meet the University minimum GPA requirement and who present compelling evidence of academic and professional potential either through recent academic performance and/or experiential background, may be considered for admission at the discretion of the program admission committee.
Please see the “Preconditions for California Educator Preparation Programs” from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing at this link, speciﬁcally pages 25 & 26 for all of the preconditions http://www.ctc.ca.gov/educator-prep/standards/Standards-Preconditions.pdf (PDF).

Before admission to the program, the candidate must:

1. Possess one of the following:

(a) valid clear or life California teaching credential that requires a baccalaureate degree and a program of professional preparation, including student teaching or the equivalent, and holds an English learner authorization; or

(b) valid clear or life California designated subjects teaching credential in adult education, career technical education, vocational education or special subjects, provided the applicant also possesses a baccalaureate degree, and holds an English learner authorization; or

(c) valid clear or life California services credential in pupil personnel services, health services for school nurse, teacher librarian services, or speech-language pathology or clinical or rehabilitative services requiring a baccalaureate degree and a program of professional preparation, including ﬁeld work or the equivalent.

2. Meet the basic skills requirement as described in Education Code section 44252(b), unless exempt by statute.

Applicants must have a minimum of 3 years of credentialed service (teaching, counselor, or psychologist) in order to be eligible for the program. (Note: If a student is pursuing the M. A. only and not the credential, this requirement can be waived. Please contact a program advisor.)
Admission preference will be given to applicants with 5 or more years of credentialed classroom teaching and/or related credentialed educational experiences.
International applicants have additional university application requirements including meeting the English language proficiency requirement. Please visit The Center for International Education (CIE) website at www.csulb.edu/cie for more information.

Application

Applicants use Cal State Apply to file all application materials before the deadline. Deadlines and details about the Program Materials (e.g., statement of purpose prompt, recommendation prompts) may be found in the Application Process section of the College of Education Graduate Studies Office website. Please contact the College of Education Graduate Studies Office if you have questions.

Submit official transcripts from the college or university from which you earned your bachelor’s degree. This set of transcripts will be used to determine grade point average eligibility. Failure to submit transcripts in a timely manner will result in a delayed review of the application.

Classified Admission

Successful applicants are admitted to the program with Classified Admission status.

Advancement to Candidacy - Clear Admission

Students should advance to candidacy as early as possible. For advancement to candidacy (Clear Admission status), students must:

Complete EDAD 636 and one other EDAD course for a total of 6 units.
Resolve all incomplete grades.
Maintain a 3.0 grade point average.

Please contact the College of Education Graduate Studies Office if you have questions.

Requirements

Take all of the following (30 units):