Master’s Degree in Education

Sonoma State University’s College of Education, Counseling, and Ethnic Studies School of Teacher Education and Leadership offers a Master of Arts in Education degree with four distinct concentrations. Each of these concentrations reflects the philosophy, purpose, and goals of the School of Teacher Education and Leadership and the College of Education, Counseling, and Ethnic Studies. In our M.A. program, students critically examine educational theories and research through a variety of empirical and theoretical lenses with a focus on social justice to develop an informed educational vision and innovative pedagogy in a variety of educational settings. Students have the opportunity to collaborate with faculty and colleagues to examine and influence current educational practice through research, project development, and advocacy. We expect graduates to emerge from their work at Sonoma State University as leaders in their fields and agents of change.

Our courses are all offered in the evenings or on weekends to support working professionals in pursuing graduate study. We also run our classes in a hybrid format, meeting in-person on campus every other week. The degree requires 33 units of study that include a culminating project.

Throughout their years in an M.A. program, students are required each semester to meet with the graduate advisor in their area of concentration to plan collaboratively their progress in the M.A. program. Students may also confer with other graduate program faculty and the Graduate Studies Coordinator for advice and guidance in their coursework and professional development. Students must maintain a 3.00 grade point average in all coursework in the approved M.A. program.

For more information about the M.A. in education, read our M.A. handbook.

Learn about the SSU faculty with expertise in Education. School of Education Tenured/Tenure Track Faculty Members and Expertise

Sonoma State Graduate Level Learning Goals & School of Education Program Learning Outcomes
Sonoma State Graduate Level Learning Goals	School of Education Program Learning Outcomes
Disciplinary Knowledge: Expand mastery of a field of knowledge, both foundational and specific.	Students demonstrate how their breadth and depth of knowledge about advancing social justice in schools and communities has changed in regard to reading and applying educational research.
Critical Thinking/Analysis: Demonstrate advanced skills of creative, analytical and critical thinking.	Students demonstrate their ability to critically analyze multiple historical, philosophical and theoretical perspectives in relationship to issues of educational and social inequities.
Communication: Demonstrate advanced oral and written communication skills.	Students demonstrate the ability to write at a graduate level.
Practical Application: Engage with practical and professional aspects of the field, such as research, projects, or professional experience.	Students can explain how the MA program has contributed to their ability to be an advocate for social justice in education.
Professional Integrity: Demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills related to cultural and ethical aspects of the field.	Students can articulate how the MA coursework has contributed to their personal, intellectual, and professional growth in relationship to the social justice framework of the School of Education. Students can explain how the MA program has contributed to their understanding of equity and access for all learners.
Integrative Dimension: Engage with competencies that integrate cultural, technological, ethical, practical, and/or professional aspects of the field.	Students complete a culminating activity in which they cogently demonstrate: their ability to draw from appropriate and adequate peer-reviewed research connections.

MA in Education Core Coursework - 18 Units

Regardless of the concentration candidates select, all students in the MA in Education program complete the same core courses:
EDMS 570 The Reflective Educator
EDSP 571 Research Paradigms
EDCT 574 Theories & Research in Teaching for Social Justice
EDCT 575 Learning and Assessment in Education
EDMS 597 Portfolio and Proposal Preparation
EDSP 599 Supervised Study: Thesis or Project

Culminating Project

MA candidates complete a culminating project in the form of either a thesis or a synthesis project. Core classes EDMS 597 and EDSP 599 are designed to assist candidates in completing this work. Please discuss your options with your advisor.

MA in Education Concentrations - 15 units each

The MA in Education offers 3 concentrations that allow students to deepen their knowledge in areas of their choosing. Each of these is briefly described below with links to more details.

	Teaching The Concentration in Teaching is an efficient pathway toward the Master’s degree for individuals who earned a post-baccalaureate teaching credential at SSU. This concentration gives 15 units of SSU credential coursework as credit toward the MA, leaving 18 units of MA core requirements, inclusive of the culminating project, to earn the degree. Credentialed teachers can reach beyond the evidence-based practices they learned in the credential program to connect with current and emerging research. Learning can be easily extended for the graduate students in concrete and meaningful ways.
	Curriculum, Teaching & Learning (CTL) The CTL program is intended for individuals who are interested in curriculum development and implementation in PK-12 settings and in other settings such as community colleges, workplaces, and community based educational programs.
	Reading & Language Please note: The MA in Education with a concentration of Reading & Language program is on hiatus until further notice. The Reading and Language concentration is designed to prepare teachers for specialized teaching of reading and language arts and for curriculum and instructional leadership in the field of language and literacy.
	Special Education The special education program builds on a teaching credential to provide advanced academic study for persons working with or on behalf of individuals with disabilities.

MA in Education Calendar

MA in Education activities: Attend an MA candidate’s proposal or culmination meeting or another event.