Master of Arts In Education

https://education.pacific.edu/education/graduate-programs
Location: Gladys L. Benerd Building

Degree Program

Master of Arts in Education

Concentrations are offered in the following areas:

Counseling and School Psychology

  • Counseling Psychology

Learning, Leadership, and Change

  • Health Professions Education
  • Learning, Innovative, and Design

Teacher Education

  • Special Education (mild to moderate support needs and/or extensive support needs credential options)
  • Teaching (Multiple Subject and Single Subject credential options)

Master of Arts in Leadership

  • Organizational Innovation and Change
  • Leadership for Social Justice

Admissions Requirement

  1. A cumulative GPA of 2.65 or better in all postsecondary coursework or the last 60 units of college or post-baccalaureate work
  2. A Bachelor's degree from an accredited university
  3. A complete application portfolio to Graduate Admissions: personal statement(s), following program guidelines, official transcripts from all college-level coursework including official verification of the awarding of degrees, resume, and 1-2 completed references forms
  4. Faculty interview, if required.
  5. Evidence of qualities and character in keeping with the philosophy and standards of this University and Benerd College

Credentialing and Licensing

Credential programs may be combined with the master’s degree or the doctorate in education.  The MA in Education, Teaching concentration, or Special Education concentration, offers programs for earning a Multiple Subject, Single Subject (in selected content areas), and Education Specialist (Mild to Moderate Support Needs and Extensive Support Needs) credentials. The Counseling Psychology Concentration includes an optional track (beyond the 32 unit minimum) to become eligible for the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). 

Pacific Undergraduate to Master's Pathway

Pacific undergraduates can complete up to 6 units of MA in Leadership coursework as part of a pathway degree program if the student has an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0. Successful completion of coursework will double count toward the undergraduate degree and graduate degree requirements; credits will not be applied to the graduate transcript until the requirements of the undergraduate degree are met.

Students in the undergraduate Organizational Leadership or Healthcare Administration and Leadership programs can transfer their leadership capstone into the master’s program. Students in other majors can complete up to two LEAD courses as an undergraduate, as part of elective coursework. See the “Program” tab for more information.

Master of Arts in Education

The Master of Arts (MA) in Education requires a minimum of 32 units, of which 18 units must be in courses 200 or above and from the Benerd College, with a Pacific cumulative grade point average of 3.0.  Based upon state and federal laws, additional units and requirements may be necessary for those students electing to earn a credential, certification or license along with the graduate degree (e.g., teaching credential, and administration credential).  Students interested in earning a credential, certification or license should work closely with their advisor and the credential staff.  The requirements of some concentration options may also be guided by external standards that direct completion of specified courses and achievement of specific learning outcomes.

For students entering the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) track within the Counseling Psychology Concentration (see above). EDUC 201 and EDUC 216 may be taken during the student's senior year at Pacific, which will be counted toward the master's and the bachelor's degree.

For students entering the Accelerated Educator Preparation (AEP) pathway degree program, SPED 225X, EDUC 261, SPED 295E, and EDUC 259 may be taken in lieu of the undergraduate course equivalents. These courses will be counted toward the bachelor’s and master’s degree and satisfy requirements for the Education Specialist or Multiple Subject teaching credential.

Unit Requirement: 32

I.  Theoretical Core:

Select one of the following:2-4
Education for a Diverse Democracy
Seminar: Social Class Effects in Education
Leading in Diverse Contexts
Teaching English Learners - Single Subject
Theories of Multicultural Family Therapy and Collaboration
Select one of the following:2-4
Curriculum Theory
Nature and Conditions of Learning
Teaching Assessment
Teaching in the Content Areas I
Organizational Learning
Curriculum and Instruction in Special Education

II.  Field Experience and/or Research:

Select 4-6 units from the following:4-6
Research Course Options:
Techniques of Research
Statistical Thinking and Communication
Research in Second Language Acquisition
Teaching as Reflective Inquiry I
and Transformational Teaching & Learning
and Teaching as Reflective Inquiry III
Action Research
Integrative Capstone in Innovative Leadership
Integrative Capstone in Innovative Teaching and Learning
Program Evaluation
Other approved research courses
Field Experience Course Options:
Professional Practice
Professional Practice Music
Directed Teaching: Special Education

Note:  1.) Students will not receive credit for EDUC 170 /EDUC 270 and EDUC 171/EDUC 271.  

III.  Capstone Experience

Students will be required to complete a capstone experience (e.g., oral exam, portfolio, thesis, action research project and/or written comprehensive exam).  The capstone experience will be determined within each concentration.  Some concentrations integrate the Field Experience and Capstone into a course (e.g. EDUC 296, EDUC 296T). Other concentrations have courses with integrative teacher research experiences, which fulfill the capstone requirement (e.g. EDUC 276, or SPED 295A). For students who do not elect not to earn a concentration, his or her advisor will select an appropriate capstone experience.

IV.  Concentration

Students may elect to concentrate in one or more specific areas.  In order to earn a concentration, students must fulfill the general requirements listed above as well as specific concentration requirements listed below.  A single course may be used to fulfill requirements in two or more concentrations, but the units will not count twice.

Core Area Concentrations

Health Professions Education
Select 12 units of the following:12
Creativity and Ideation
Innovation in Education
Digital and Blended Learning
Trends in Health Professions Education
Seminar: Learning Design
Teaching and Assessment in Health Professions Education
Program and Organization Evaluation
Learning, Innovation, and Design
Select 12 units of the following:12
Design in Education
Models of Learning
Creativity and Ideation
Innovation in Education
Digital and Blended Learning
Seminar: Learning Design
Innovative Learning Environments
Counseling Psychology
Select 12 units of the following:12
Program Evaluation
Advanced Human Development I
Advanced Human Development II
Advanced Human Development III
Theories of Multicultural Family Therapy and Collaboration
Psychotherapeutic Interventions
Group Counseling
Crisis Intervention
Consultation Methods
History and Systems in Psychology
Law and Professional Ethics for Mental Health Professionals
Psychopathology and Wellness Promotion
Behavior Assessment and Intervention
Academic Assessment and Intervention
Psychological Assessment
Behavior and Personality Assessment
Neuropsychology
Psychopharmacology for Mental Health Professionals
Social Psychology
Seminar: Leadership in Diverse Organizations
Spousal and Partner Abuse, Detection, and Intervention
Alcoholism and Chemical Substance Abuse Dependency
Child Abuse Assessment and Reporting
Human Sexuality
Counseling Practicum
Or any Special Topics course (EDUC 393)
Undergraduate students who plan to pursue Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor may take EDUC 201 and EDUC 216 during their senior year at UOP, which will be counted toward the MA in Education with a concentration in Counseling Psychology
Teaching (Credential Option)
Select 12 units of the following:12
Technology Enhanced Learning Environments *
Teaching Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics *
Teaching Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
Productive Learning Environments for Diverse Secondary Classrooms *
Productive Learning Environments for Diverse Adolescents
Literacy Development (Multiple Subject) *
Literacy Development
Teaching English Learners
Teaching English Learners
Teaching English Learners, Single Subject
Teaching English Learners - Single Subject
Professional Practice Seminar
Professional Practice Seminar
Teaching as Reflective Inquiry I
Productive Learning Environments for Diverse Adolescents
Teaching in the Content Areas I
Content and Disciplinary Literacy Development in Secondary Schools
Productive Learning Environments for Diverse Classrooms
Teaching in the Content Areas II
Transformational Teaching & Learning
Understanding Adolescents in School Contexts
Teaching in Content Areas III
Teaching as Reflective Inquiry III
Music in Elementary School
Music Experiences, K-6
Music in Secondary School
Music Experiences, 7-12
Teaching Exceptional Learners
Teaching Exceptional Learners
Building Family & Professional Partnerships
Assessment in Special Education *
Advanced Programming in Special Education
Evidence Based Practices in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Curriculum and Instruction in Special Education
Seminar: Crucial Issues in Special Education
Positive Behavioral Support in the Classroom
Special Education
Select 12 units of the following:12
Building Family & Professional Partnerships
Assessment in Special Education
Advanced Programming in Special Education
Evidence Based Practices in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Curriculum and Instruction in Special Education
Seminar: Crucial Issues in Special Education
Positive Behavioral Support in the Classroom
Directed Teaching: Special Education

Note:  1.) Specific courses are subject to change as per state requirements.  Students must meet all state requirements in order to earn a credential.  2.) Minimum of required 12 units with specific courses determined by state credential requirements and advisers' approval required.  Although the Master of Arts in Education requires a minimum of 12 units, credential programs may require additional units.  3.)  *If these courses were taken in the undergraduate program, then electives will be required as substitutions.

V.  Of the required 32 units a minimum of 18 units must be from the Benerd College

VI.  Of the required 32 units a minimum of 18 units must be taken at the 200 or 300 level

Research

  1. Students will be able to locate appropriate resources of and critically evaluate educational research literature.

Diversity

  1. Students will be able to critically analyze how the presence of diverse populations influences policy and practice.

Teaching and Learning

  1. Students will be able to develop learning outcomes (e.g. individual group, organizational, or system) by synthesizing knowledge, skills, and reflective practice of human learning processes.

Program Purpose: To Develop Creative, Flexible, and Caring Leaders

  1. Lead in an ethical and socially responsible manner
  2. Utilize inquiry-based approaches to fostering change
  3. Identify, understand, and utilize cultural differences and perspectives of all stakeholders
  4. Develop and integrate a critically reflective lens on leadership development

Concentration-specific Outcomes

Leadership for Social Justice: Develop skills and perspectives needed to enact ethical and sustainable change in one’s community, organization or beyond.
Organizational Innovation and Change: Develop skills to lead the development of people, performance, and organizations