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Master of Arts in Education (MAE) with Emphasis in Special Education Name of Sponsoring Institute Institute for Advanced Studies in Education Name of Sponsoring College College of Professional Studies Sidebar Quotes The program is designed to empower teacher-leaders who are well grounded in teaching strategies, theory, and research related to teaching in culturally and linguistically diverse settings. The faculty has extensive experience teaching in culturally diverse settings, and is well versed in the most recent scholarly work related to teaching in a culturally and linguistically diverse society. The program attempts to challenge you to think, create, reflect, examine your own work, and collaborate with colleagues in pursuit of pedagogical practices that empower the diverse children of tomorrow’s schools. ?Dr. Christine Sleeter, Institute Director I believe that our students at CSUMB qualify in every aspect to take on the rigor and complexity of a quality MAE with an emphasis in special education degree. The special education faculty looks forward to the journey with you. ?Dr. Lou Denti, Coordinator of Special Education To speak a true word is to transform the world. ?Paulo Freire Until the great mass of the people shall be filled with the sense of responsibility for each other’s welfare, social justice can never be attained. ?Helen Keller Why is this academic field important? Communities, schools, and children need exemplary teachers who are able to promote the learning, living, and growth of all learners?especially those with special needs?while acting on their commitments to equity and social justice. A Master of Arts in Education with Emphasis in Special Education affords greater opportunities for teachers to serve as strong professionals through leadership roles. An advanced degree also qualifies a teacher to serve as a mentor for new teachers or contribute to the development of future teachers by working as a part-time instructor at the college level. Further, school districts need teachers who have earned the CLAD certificate, which can be obtained through the Master of Arts in Education program. This program also provides a collegial, supportive, and informed environment for those educators working toward their National Board Certification. What is the Master of Arts in Education with Emphasis in Special Education all about? This program prepares strong professionals who have an informed understanding of what constitutes true 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 you an opportunity to deepen your understanding of the field of special education. Through applied research on a topic of particular interest, you will expand your skill and knowledge base. Students and faculty explore, analyze, and discuss the latest trends and theories in the field in a scholarly environment that honors the free exchange of ideas, thoughts, and insights. What will I gain by choosing to earn my Master of Arts in Education with Emphasis in Special Education at CSUMB? This program is designed for teachers who want to become strong professionals who actively work for excellence and justice in schools. More specifically, the coursework and educational experiences are intentionally structured to help certified teachers become outstanding and effective teachers of the culturally and linguistically diverse students in the schools of this region. Coursework is framed within a pluralism paradigm and all of the courses are taught from a multicultural perspective. The program also develops your technological sophistication, including your skill in applying technology to educational environments as well as your ability to critique uses of technology. An emphasis is placed on theoretical and conceptual perspectives of curriculum and instruction, because one of our goals is to help you achieve excellence in classroom instruction. Furthermore, with enhanced knowledge in curriculum, pedagogy, and research, you will be better prepared to assume leadership roles in schools and in agencies serving students and families with disabilities. The MAE with Emphasis in Special Education also provides you with a solid background in legal and policy issues related to advocacy issues in the field. An important aspect of this program is the completion of an action thesis. By action, we mean that your thesis should be aimed toward improving or transforming something in your own environment. It should be useful. It should not simply be data you gather, write up, and then put away. For example, your thesis may involve creating something new to use in your classroom or direct attention to troubling school policies or practices. By thesis, we mean that you use a research process to inform your work. This will involve finding out how other people have approached a concern similar to yours, and finding tools or conceptual frameworks that can help you. It may also involve gathering primary data. What is required to earn a Master of Arts in Education with Emphasis in Special Education? The program consists of nine graduate classes. To graduate from the program, you will also need to demonstrate competence in a second language through fourth semester level. You may need to complete additional coursework to meet this requirement. If you begin the program during fall semester, it will take between a year and a half (minimum) and three years to finish the program depending on how many courses you take each semester. The program is designed to begin with fall semester. Starting with the 2002-2003 academic year though, you will be able to begin during spring or fall. Can I earn my teaching credential through this program? Yes, you may apply six units of credit or two courses from your Preliminary Level I Education Specialist Credential and 12 units of credit or four courses from your Professional Level II Education Specialist Credential toward you MAE degree. For more information about our special education credential programs, please consult the section on teaching credentials in the CSUMB catalog or call Jacqueline Means (831-582-4612). What are the requirements for admission into the Master of Arts in Education with Emphasis in Special Education? Admission into our MAE program is competitive. A limited number of applicants will be selected based on the following criteria: n Achievement of a grade point average of at least 2.75 at the undergraduate level and 3.00 at the post-baccalaureate level (Those who do not meet these minimum GPA requirements, but are otherwise strong candidates, may request provisional admission.) n Submission of three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with your academic or professional work n Submission of a professional goal statement that matches the focus and resources of our CSUMB Master of Arts in Education program n Possession of a valid teaching credential (Other applicants will be considered, but those holding a valid teaching credential will be given preference.) n Completion of BTSA (if applicable to your situation) and two years of successful teaching experience. (This criterion may be waived for compelling reasons.) n Exemplary performance in the special education certification program You will need to apply to both CSUMB and the MAE program. University Application Process n Pay a $55.00 application fee. n Have official transcripts from each college and university attended mailed directly to CSUMB Admissions and Records. Start this process immediately as it is often a slow one. n Type and submit a 2-3 page statement of purpose and professional goals, explaining how this degree relates to your goals. n Send three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with your professional or academic work. n If desired, submit Graduate Record Examination scores. A GRE test is strongly recommended if you intend to pursue a Ph.D. elsewhere in the future. As the foundation for your master’s work, you will complete three core courses: ProSeminar, a research methods course, and the Capstone Seminar. The core courses help you develop a theoretical and research base for successful teaching in pluralistic contexts and special education environments. In the research course, you initiate a research project. You complete it in the Capstone Seminar. On top of the core, you must demonstrate competency in a second language through fourth-semester level. Coursework in a second language is available as needed, as is assistance in determining level of language competency. Students who enter the program with the requisite second language proficiency are not required to complete additional coursework. You will also need to demonstrate basic technology competence; coursework is available as part of the program. In addition to the three core courses there are four required Level II special education courses. The four Level II courses are as follows: Current and Ongoing Research, Policy, and Practice in Special Education; Advanced Assessment, Curriculum, and Instruction for Students with Learning Challenges; Advanced Behavioral, Emotional, and Environmental Supports for Students with Challenges; and Advanced Collaboration and Consultation. Two courses from the Preliminary Level Credential may apply towards the MAE. Students begin conceptualizing their action thesis in ProSeminar and research methods course and continue to work on it while completing their special education coursework. Students complete their thesis in their Capstone Seminar. You can explore thesis topics of our graduates from the MAE with Emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction online (csumb.edu/academic/graduate/education/thesis/Thesis_topics.html). What will I learn as I earn my Master of Arts in Education? The core Learning Outcomes (LOs) all students complete include: n MAE LO 2 Students will search, navigate, and critically consume (read, analyze, and use) educational research. n MAE LO 3 Students will use, apply, design, and implement research to bring about change and make improvements in their own professional environment. n MAE LO 4 Students will demonstrate their knowledge of and ability to use the most appropriate culturally responsive practices that support complex and challenging learning. n MAE LO 5 Students will communicate with native speakers of a language other than English. n MAE LO 6 Students will use technology critically to access information, to communicate, and as a means of curricular and pedagogical support for higher level thinking. n MAE LO 7 Students will communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, particularly acting as effective advocates for children. Can I transfer credits from another university? Yes, in consultation with a graduate faculty advisor in the special education program, you may transfer up to six credits of graduate work. The graduate level classes must be in the field of special education and pertain to your area of interest. What courses does the Master of Arts in Education program offer? Our courses are offered in late afternoon or evening, and some are offered on the weekend. For course offerings, please refer to the CSUMB catalog or call Jacqueline Means (831-582-4612). What are the unique features of the Master of Arts in Education with Emphasis in Special Education curriculum? The program honors the working special education professional by providing a high quality MAE program that can be completed with 30 credits of coursework. The MAE program values special education certification as a viable pathway for completion of a Master of Education degree. What will my learning environment be like? The rich mix of peoples and cultures in the Monterey Bay area is reflected in the populations of our region’s schools. Whether you are teaching in one of those schools already or will connect with one or more as part of your graduate studies, you will undoubtedly find appropriate student groups for your research and practical teaching experiences. Meanwhile, you will do your on-campus learning in small, interactive classes housed in spacious, modern facilities on our technologically advanced "21st CSU campus for the 21st century" where plurality and teaching excellence have been commitments since the university’s inception. What advantages will the Master of Arts in Education with Emphasis in Special Education provide if I decide to go on to doctoral study? (not in factsheet) Students who wish to continue for doctoral study will receive guidance that helps them focus their preparation in this area. Since all students in the Master of Arts in Education with Emphasis in special education complete a culminating project/thesis you will develop research and writing skills as a normal part of proceeding through the program. Who will guide my learning experiences? Fulltime Faculty Multicultural education ~ teacher education n Kani Blackwell, Ed.D. Culture and cognition ~ human development ~ foundations of education ~ arts education ~ constructivist teaching nLou Denti, Ph.D. Special education ~ inclusion ~ youth at risk ~ policy n Bob Hughes, Ed.D. Technology in education ~ research methods ~ families and schools n Margaret (Peggy) Laughlin, Ed.D. Language and literacy ~ bilingual methodology ~ critical pedagogy ~ children’s literature n Irene Nares-Guzicki, Ed.D. Reading ~ bilingual special education n Linda Rogers, Ph.D. Human development n Claudia Peralta-Nash, Ph.D. Bilingual education ~ bilingual methodology/literacy ~ literacy ~ bi-literacy ~ children’s literature n Patricia Whang, Ph.D. Theories of teaching and learning ~ social activism ~ political advocacy Bilingual education ~ language acquisition n Esteban Hernandez, M.A. Bilingual education ~ assessment n Jane Meade-Roberts, M.A. Child development ~ constructivist pedagogy n Bill Jones, Ph.D. Linguistics and language acquisition n Linda Turner Bynoe, Ph.D. Schools and community n Information 831-582-4612 or 831-582-5034 n Fax 831-582-3585 n Email jacqueline_means@csumb.edu or lou_denti@csumb.edu n Web http://www.csumb.edu/academic/graduate/education 100 Campus Monterey, Seaside CA, 93955, U.S.A. Telephone: (831) 582-4094 |