Education MA Online: Info and Application

Consult with the coordinator of the program of interest. The program coordinator will provide information to help you get started.

Dr. Ben Seipel
Email: bseipel@csuchico.edu

Apply for admission to Graduate Studies and the MA in Education.

• Apply at Cal State Apply
  • How to Apply (Domestic)
  • How to Apply (International)
• See important deadlines for Graduate Studies.
  • To be accepted, you must be in good academic standing at the last institution attended and hold an acceptable baccalaureate degree. 
  • You must have a GPA of 3.0 in the last 30 semester units attempted and a 2.75 in the last 60 semester (or 90 quarter) units attempted.
  • With School of Education approval, you will be accepted at classified status and assigned an initial MA advisor.
• Letters of Recommendation will be submitted directly by your recommenders via CalState Apply.

The School of Education also requires an Initial Writing Assessment as part of the application process. This response should be submitted with your application. Deadlines posted at important deadlines for Graduate Studies.

The initial writing assessment is part of our application process and thoughtful consideration is needed in completing and submitting it. If your writing skills are not deemed strong enough, you may be denied admission or you may be admitted to the program with conditional status.

If you are admitted with conditional status, you will be required to take our credit/no credit one-unit writing course offered through the University's Regional Center for Continuing Education for an additional fee to help you improve your academic writing, citing, and referencing skills and move you from conditional status to classified status.

1. Review the MA Writing Rubric so you know the expectations that will be used in reviewing your academic writing skills.
   
   
2. Include your name and "MA in Education" or "MA in Teaching" (depending on your program) at the top of your paper.
   
   
3. Available topics for the initial writing assessment are:
   • Education Standards (e.g., Common Core, NGSS)
   • Purpose of Schooling
   • Changing US Demographics Impact on Education
   • Identity as Educational Leader
   • Co-Teaching Considerations and Issues
   • School Accountability
   • Interventions in General and Special Education 
   • Non-traditional Education Models 
   • Online Learning and Teaching 
   • Equity in Education
   • Teacher Retention and/or Burnout
   • Bilingual Teacher Shortage
     
     
4. Select one of the listed education topics above (3.3) and write a three-to-five-page paper (plus an additional page for references) that addresses an issue, trend, or position. (The paper should not merely report on what the topic is.) The Master in Education Writing Rubric outlines how your academic writing will be assessed (see rubric for quality and use of evidence criteria). Note: Using generative artificial intelligence (AI) to write any draft of your paper is not acceptable. Using AI to check spelling, grammar, etc. is permissible. Additional details are listed at the bottom of the rubric.
   
   
5. You should have at least three different and appropriate references/citations in APA style.
   
   
6. The paper should be double-spaced.
   
   
7. The paper should be in Word document format (docx).
   
   
8. Use APA formatting (American Psychological Association Manual, 7th Edition).
   
   
9. Once you receive your Chico State campus ID from the Office of Graduate Studies, self-enroll in the MA in Education Initial Writing Sample Canvas Organization by clicking the link below:
   
   Enroll in Initial Writing Assessment
   
   Once you have self-registered and logged in, you will be able to submit your writing sample. Note: You need your Chico State campus Portal username to login. The Office of Graduate Studies will email you your Chico State campus Portal username about two weeks after you apply to Cal State Apply.
   
   
10. Your application for the MA in Teaching/Education program cannot be processed until the Initial Writing Assessment has been received and reviewed.

After you submit all application materials, including the Initial Writing Assessment, your file will be reviewed.

• Admission decisions are typically made a few weeks after everything is received.
• You’ll be notified by email from the Office of Graduate Studies.
• Admission may be Classified or Conditional based on your writing assessment.

• Activate your Chico State portal using the login info sent by email.
• Your advisor will help you register for courses.

• You’ll need to complete a one-unit writing course through Continuing Education.

Questions? Contact Dr. Ben Seipel at bseipel@csuchico.edu.

The thesis is a research study. To conduct the study, a research question is posed, a hypothesis is formulated, a method for collecting data is designed, data is collected and analyzed, and conclusions are drawn. Of course, a review of literature related to the research question is completed. The thesis is a well-written document in four or five chapters in which each component of the research is reported. Upon completion of the thesis, the MA candidate makes a formal, public presentation of his or her findings.

The project is a scholarly activity that results in the development of a solution to a specific educational problem. The MA candidate identifies an educational problem, often in his or her school or district. A review of the research elucidates approaches that others have taken to similar educational problems. A solution to the specific problem is designed, and materials and/or activities to enact the solution are developed. The project is reported in a well-written document of three or four chapters in which each component of the problem and its solution are described. An appendix often contains materials developed to enact the solution. Upon completion of the project, the MA candidate makes a formal, public presentation of his or her findings.

The comprehensive examination is a writing exercise completed in one day. The MA candidate responds to questions related to the themes of the MA program and their specialty area with essays that demonstrate an understanding of research and practice. Reviews of literature in education, conducted throughout the program and updated in EDMA 696, will be critical tools for preparing for the comprehensive examination. The comprehensive exam is scored by a faculty committee elected annually.

See A Guide to Graduate Study for additional information about theses and projects, available at Graduate Studies Guides.

For theses and projects, your MA adviser will be an important source of information and assistance. Your MA adviser will chair your two-member MA advisory committee. You will select one other faculty member for the committee.

The Graduate School sets a deadline by which theses and projects must be submitted each semester for graduation that semester. Your final thesis or project must be approved by your MA advisory committee, the School of Education graduate coordinator, and the Graduate School. Your oral presentation must be completed by the Graduate School deadline. Plan to submit a copy of your thesis or project to the graduate coordinator two weeks before the Graduate School deadline.

For the comprehensive exam, you do not need to form an MA advisory committee. Your MA adviser will assist your progress toward your degree and must recommend you for the exam by the end of the semester preceding the one in which you will take the exam. The exam is given on only one date each semester. Dates are set three semesters in advance. Your graduation clearance form will be signed by your adviser, the chair of the comprehensive exam committee, and the graduate coordinator.

Meet with your advisor early to plan out all of your MA courses from the list of required and elective courses for your MA option. Be sure to:

• Obtain a copy of the Guide to Graduate Studies.
• Meet with your assigned advisor and develop your Master’s Degree Program Plan.
• Ask your MA advisor to approve your plan and submit it to the graduate coordinator.

While taking the first 12 units of MA courses, you must also:

• Select the type of Culminating Activities you will use to complete your MA program and communicate your choice to your MA adviser. Options include the thesis, project or comprehensive exam. (See definitions of culminating activities.)
• If you select a thesis or project, you will register for EDMA 611: Research Seminar in Education where you will begin writing your thesis/project proposal. In a following semester you will complete your thesis or project in EDMA 699T or 699P respectively.
• During your last semester, if you selected the comprehensive exam, your advisor will submit paperwork to have you enrolled in EDMA 696: Synthesizing Experience in Education. If you choose EDMA 696, you may select another MA course in lieu of EDMA 611.

• The process for advancing to candidacy should happen in the semester before the semester in which the candidate will be registered for the culminating activity. Complete the top portion of the Advancement to Candidate Status form and submit to your advisor as a signal that you are ready to advance. The advisor will confirm the following conditions have been met before being advanced:
  
  • Completed at least 15 units of graduate courses.
  • Submitted an Master’s Degree Program Plan.
  • Have a GPA of 3.0 or better.
  • Completed EDMA 610 (or be currently enrolled at the time of application).
• Prepare two papers to be scored. One paper MUST be the writing assignment from EDMA 610 (the Mini-Lit Review). The other paper may be any paper from any of your graduate courses, but it must meet the requirements of the MA Writing Rubric.
• After you submit the Advancement to Candidate Status form to your advisor, a section will be created within STEPS and you will be notified to upload your two papers. Your advisor will score your papers and you will be notified by your advisor if you have been advanced to candidacy. You may then work with your advisor to enroll you in the appropriate culminating activity for the following semester.

• You must be advanced to candidate status to be enrolled in EDMA 696 or 699. Registration in these courses requires approval of your MA advisor and the graduate coordinator.

• Complete the courses listed on your program plan, including the culminating activity.
• Stay in communication with your MA adviser. Be sure to meet Graduate Studies deadlines and maintain continuous enrollment in fall and spring semesters.

• Apply for graduation early in your final semester in the program.
• Pick up a graduation packet from Graduate Studies in Student Services Center 460 or call 898-6880. Complete the graduation clearance form and take it to your MA advisor for review and approval.