MA Multilingual & Multicultural Education

The fully-online Master of Arts in Multilingual and Multicultural Education centers on a critical examination of issues of educational equity, diversity and social justice with a focus on students and their families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. It is a 30-unit program that consists of three components: Core Coursework, Elective Coursework, and the Culminating Experience. Students can complete a project or thesis as the Culminating Experience.

Graduates of the program will enhance their pedagogy by:

• Examining critical issues of educational equity, diversity and social justice in classrooms, school and communities.
• Designing curriculum that addresses the needs of students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
• Using cultural and linguistic asset-based approaches to improve family engagement in schools.

 In addition to an M.A. degree, program graduates can earn:

• Bilingual Authorization in Spanish to add to their California teaching credential
• Advanced professional development certificates:
  • Dual Language
  • Multicultural Education

• Admission Requirements

  Required:

  1. Initial teaching credential.
  2. Completion of the Cal State APPLY Application
  3. Interview with appropriate School of Education Admissions Committee.
  4. Statement of Purpose describing how you feel the focus of the MA program aligns with your ideology and career objectives in diverse classroom, schools and /or communities (1-2 pages).
  5. GPA according to the university admission policy.
  6. Official transcripts.

  All materials will be evaluated to assess an applicant’s qualifications for admission; however, no one indicator shall determine acceptance of an applicant.

  Students who wish to transfer in courses from other institutions may do so if the program faculty assesses that the course content is aligned with  the program student learning outcomes. Program faculty will consider up to 9 units of graduate-level coursework that a student has successfully completed at another institution.

• The Core Coursework (18 Units)

  All students in the Master of Arts in Multilingual and Multicultural Education program will complete the Core Coursework for a total of eighteen (18 units), as follows:

  • EDUC 602 - Schooling in a Multicultural Society Units: 3
  • EDUC 622 - Research Methods in Education Units: 3
  • EDUC 643 - Critical Ethnography of Education Units: 3
  • EDUC 644 - Multicultural Students and Families in Public Schools Units: 3
  • EDUC 647 - Multicultural Curriculum and Application Units: 3
  • EDUC 698 – Master’s Culminating Experience Seminar Units: 3
• Elective Coursework (12 Units)

  Students in the Master of Arts in Multilingual and Multicultural Education program can choose from the following elective courses for a total of twelve (12 units):

  • EDUC 602 - Schooling in a Multicultural Society
  • EDUC 646 – Second Language Acquisition: Research and Practice Units: 3
  • EDUC 649 -  Practicum in Social Action Units: 3
  • EDUC 650 - Proposal Development Units: 3
  • EDUC 653 -  Biliteracy Education I: Contexts for Learning Units: 3
  • EDUC 654 -  Biliteracy Education II: Methodology and Cultural Contexts Units: 3
  • EDUC 655 - Application of Bilingual and Second Language Acquisition Theories and Principles:  Practicum of Instruction in Bilingual Settings Units: 3
  • EDUC 656 – Principles of Dual Language and Multicultural Education: Theory, Research and Practice Units: 3
  • EDUC 657 – Cross-Cultural Competency for Educational Leadership in Diverse Settings Units: 3
  • EDUC 658 – Practices and Strategies for Bilingualism / Multilingualism and Biliteracy / Multiliteracy Development Units: 3
  • EDUC 659 - Curriculum Development, Program Assessment and Inclusion for Dual Language and Multilingual Education Units: 3

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   Multicultural Education Certificate

  Students who choose to take the following courses will earn a Multicultural Education Certificate: 

  • EDUC 602 - Schooling in a Multicultural Society
  • EDUC 643 - Critical Ethnography of Education Units: 3
  • EDUC 644 - Multicultural Students and Families in Public Schools Units: 3
  • EDUC 647 - Multicultural Curriculum and Application Units: 3

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   Dual Language Certificate

  Students who choose to take the following elective courses will earn a Dual Language Certificate: 

  • EDUC 656 – Principles of Dual Language and Multicultural Education: Theory, Research and Practice Units: 3
  • EDUC 657 – Cross-Cultural Competency for Educational Leadership in Diverse Settings Units: 3
  • EDUC 658 – Practices and Strategies for Bilingualism / Multilingualism and Biliteracy / Multiliteracy Development Units: 3
  • EDUC 659 - Curriculum Development, Program Assessment and Inclusion for Dual Language and Multilingual Education Units: 3
• Culminating Experience

  Students in the M.A. in Multilingual and Multicultural Education program 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, a project, or a comprehensive examination. Master’s candidates must demonstrate they can analyze and synthesize research and evidence-based practices in the field of multicultural and multilingual education. Master’s candidates are encouraged to work collaboratively and may choose from a variety of forms to present their work.

• Grading

  All coursework will earn a letter grade. A grade-point average of 3.0 must be maintained and any grade of less than a B- will be subject to review.

• Program Student Learning Outcomes

  Students graduating with a Master of Arts in Multilingual and Multicultural Education will master the following program student learning outcomes:

  1. Critical Examination of Equity

  • Critically examine issues of educational equity, diversity and social justice in the fields of multicultural and multilingual education. (Mastered in EDUC 643:  Critical Ethnography of Education)

  2. Culturally Responsive Pedagogy

  • Design culturally responsive pedagogy that addresses the needs of students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. (Mastered in EDUC 647:  Multicultural Curriculum and Application)

  3. Community Engagement

  • Design socially just and equitable educational action plans that improve engagement for families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and /or their communities. (Mastered in EDUC 644:  Multicultural Students and Families in Public Schools)

  4.   Analyze Research

  •  Analyze and synthesize research and evidence-based practices in the field of multicultural and multilingual education. (Mastered in EDUC 622:  Research Methods)