Program Requirements
International Student Admissions Requirements
Test of English as a Foreign Language
Admissions Requirements
Admission into the M.A. in Education with a focus on Literacy program requires meeting the general admission requirements for graduate studies at CSUSM and these additional components:
- Bachelor's Degree
- A minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0
- Teaching credential or equivalent experience
- Statement of Purpose – A typed, double spaced one to two page statement that tells about you and why you wish to pursue a master’s degree in education. Things you might include are: your goals, ideals, experiences, special skills, community service.
- Two letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with your work in the field of education (Letter of Recommendation Forms must be included)
- Three years of full time teaching experience is required prior to recommendation for the California Reading and Literacy Added Authorization and the California Reading and Literacy Leadership Specialist Credential*
Candidates who meet the requirements will be invited for an online interview with a panel of admissions advisors. The interview is to ensure this program is a good match for the participant and vice versa.
*Three years full time teaching experience is not a requirement for the M.A. Education, Focus on Literacy program. This experience is only a requirement for those individuals that wish to be recommended for the California Reading and Literacy Added Authorization and the California Reading and Literacy Leadership Specialist Credential.
The M.A. in Education with the focus on Literacy does not require any specific prerequisite courses. However all applicants must hold a bachelors degree and teaching credential or equivalent experience.
Degree Requirements and Courses
The M.A. in Education with the focus on Literacy requires completion of 39 units of study as follows:
First Semester (6 units)
EDUC 606 Foundations of Literacy and Literacy Instruction
EDUC 616 Learning Through Text
Second Semester (6 units)
EDUC 610 Creating Conditions for Engagement and Independence in Literacy
Classrooms
EDUC 613 Multilingual Learners, Literacy and Language
Third Semester (6 units)
EDUC 614A Reading and Writing Assessment
EDUC 614B Reading Certificate Field Experience
Fourth Semester (6 units)
EDUC 602 Schooling in a Multicultural Society
EDUC 618 Teaching Literacy for the 21st Century
Fifth Semester (6 units)
EDUC 619 Teacher Inquiry to Improve Student Learning
EDUC 623 Integrating Curriculum Through Fieldwork/Clinical Experiences
Sixth Semester (6 units)
EDUC 622 Research Methods in Education
EDUC 627 Designing, Developing and Evaluating Effective Literacy Programs
Seventh Semester (3 units)
EDUC 698 Master’s Culminating Experience Seminar
California Reading and Literacy Added Authorization:
EDUC 606 Foundations of Literacy and Literacy Instruction (3)
EDUC 610 Creating Conditions for Engagement and Independence in Literacy
Classrooms (3)
EDUC 613 Multilingual Learners, Literacy and Language (3)
EDUC 614A Reading and Writing Assessment (3)
EDUC 614B Reading Certificate Field Experience (3)
EDUC 616 Learning Through Text (3)
Total Units: 18
California Reading and Literacy Leadership Specialist Credential:
(12 additional units beyond the Reading and Literacy Added Authorization)
EDUC 606 Foundations of Literacy and Literacy Instruction (3)
EDUC 610 Creating Conditions for Engagement and Independence in Literacy
Classrooms (3)
EDUC 613 Multilingual Learners, Literacy and Language (3)
EDUC 614A Reading and Writing Assessment (3)
EDUC 614B Reading Certificate Field Experience (3)
EDUC 616 Learning Through Text (3)
EDUC 618 Teaching Literacy for the 21st Century (3)
EDUC 619 Teacher Inquiry to Improve Student Learning (3)
EDUC 627 Designing, Developing and Evaluating Effective Literacy
Programs (3)
EDUC 623 Integrating Curriculum Through Fieldwork/Clinical Experiences (3)
Total units: 30
Please note: Candidates for the California Reading and Literacy Leadership Specialist Credential must maintain a GPA of 3.0 and not receive a grade of less than a B- in any program course. Students completing the course sequence and meeting these criteria will be recommended to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing for the Reading and Literacy Leadership Specialist Credential.
The student will advance to Master's Degree candidacy upon successful completion of all academic coursework. All MA students in the School of Education must complete EDUC 698 - Master's Culminating Experience Seminar (3 units) as part of the culminating experience for Master's study. The culminating experience may be a thesis, project, or a comprehensive examination.
Graduate students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 and earn at least a B (3.0) in each course. Any student whose overall GPA falls below 3.0 will be put on Academic Probation and will be issued a Statement of Concern with a Plan of Action. If the overall GPA falls below 3.0 for two consecutive semesters will be dropped from the program. A full-time student should be enrolled in the predetermined course schedule and credit hours each semester for the program.
International Student Admissions Requirements
For all Extended Learning degree programs, "foreign students" include those who hold U.S. visas as students, exchange visitors, or in other nonimmigrant classifications. You must submit academic records from foreign institutions. The original foreign transcript must be on file and if they are not written in English, they must be accompanied by certified English translations. In addition, all foreign transcripts must be evaluated by one of the eight approved CSUSM foreign transcript evaluation agencies. Please visit this link to obtain the list of the eight approved CSUSM foreign transcript evaluation agencies.
International students, please note: The M.A. in Education with the Option in Literacy is a fully online program and California State University will not be able to sponsor international students for residency.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
As required by Sections 40752.1, 40802.1, and 41040 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations, campuses of the California State University require that English competence be established by applicants for admission who have not attended for at least three years an education institution at the secondary level or beyond where English is the principal language of instruction. Most frequently, such students document competence in the English language via results on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). This test (TOEFL) has been and is available in three scoring formats.
Provided below are the CSU minimum scores for each TOEFL total score format:
|
Paper-Based |
Computer-Based |
Internet-Based |
|
|
Undergraduate |
500 |
173 |
61 |
|
Graduate |
550 |
213 |
80 |
