2021-2022 Humboldt State University Catalog 
    
    Mar 29, 2024  
2021-2022 Humboldt State University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Education, M.A.


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The Education, M.A. program is not accepting applications for the 2021-22 academic year.

The master’s in education is designed for educational professionals interested in deepening their understanding of important issues and developing more effective strategies to meet the needs of students of all ages. The program offers extensive support from colleagues and faculty, a collaborative environment, and a curriculum delivered online (in the evenings) for working professionals. The program is designed to allow students to tailor their work towards developing expertise in an area of interest on a broad array of topics, from improving communication through infant massage to models of teacher leadership in managing schools.

To be admitted candidates must: (1) hold an acceptable baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution (or equivalent academic preparation); (2) be in good academic standing at the last university attended; and (3) have a GPA of at least 3.00 in the last 60 semester units (90 quarter units) attempted.

If the bachelor’s degree is from a postsecondary institution where English is not the principal language of instruction, score at least 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Additional information is available on the School of Education website.

Requirements for the Degree (30 units)

Students may choose to earn a M.A. in Education only or students in the approved credential programs below may work with an advisor to apply 12 units of credential coursework toward the M.A. in Education and earn both a M.A and Teaching Credential.

Emphases (12 Units)


Choose one emphasis below. With advisor approval, the 12-unit requirement may be satisfied by Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Special Education, Educational Leadership, Administrative Services or Adapted Physical Education post-baccalaureate credential courses.

Specialized Emphasis (Non-Credential)


Complete 12 units selected in consultation with an advisor.

Adapted Physical Education Electives


Courses can include, but are not limited to the following:

Educational Leadership Emphasis (M.A./Credential)


Complete 12 units selected in consultation with an advisor.

Candidates in the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential may apply 12 units toward the Master of Arts in Education. Students may earn a combined master’s degree in education and an Administrative Services Credential. Students may begin by applying for the EDL credential and then decide during their first semester whether or not to complete the combined EDL/MA program.

Special Education Emphasis (M.A./Credential)


(The Special Education Emphasis will not be offered during the 2021-22 academic year.)

Complete 12 units selected in consultation with an advisor.

Students must have completed the Preliminary Credential Program and two years as a special education teacher in a U.S. public school. Candidates may apply 12 units of credential coursework to the master’s degree in education. 

Elective Courses


Complete 9-11 units selected in consultation with an advisor. This requirement may be satisfied by special education credential courses.

Education, M.A. Program Learning Outcomes


  1. Graduates of the M.A. in Education possess the necessary knowledge and skills to analyze the organizational, pedagogical, and curricular issues related to their professional endeavors, investigate those issues systematically, and develop deeper professional insights in the pursuit of effective educational practices.
  2. As leaders in the field, our graduates develop a culturally sustaining framework and approach to the social, organizational, and professional concerns related to their practice.
  3. As educators, our graduates explore the nature, and process of learning so as to inform teaching practices and educational policies.
  4. As master’s candidates, students engage in exploring the professional literature to develop a theoretical basis for either research that will enhance the knowledge base in the field of education, or to form the foundation for applied projects that benefit the educational community.
  5. As representatives of Humboldt State University, our graduates reenter the field empowered to create positive change, to assess that change, and with an ethic that positions professional insight within the context of what is known in the broader field of education so as to maximize the probability for positive impacts on student lives.

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