Masters of Arts in Education Application Process

COVID-19 Notice

Given the current situation, it is unlikely that faculty/staff will have regular access to campus mail for the purpose of MA in Education application reviews. Applicants should download and email the Letter of Recommendation Waiver Form (PDF) to their two recommenders. Students, please instruct your recommenders to complete the waiver form, scan it (or take a photo of it), and email it to the MA in Education coordinator (Dr. Ben Seipel, bseipel@mail.csuchico.edu) along with their letter of recommendation.

Requirements for Applying for the MA in Education

- This MA in Education program is designed for credentialed or licensed K-12 teachers. It is recommended that you earn your teaching credential before you apply.
- You must apply to the University through the Office of Graduate Studies.
- You must have a GPA of 3.0 or better in your last 30 semester units attempted and a GPA of 2.75 or better in your last 60 units attempted.
- An Initial Writing Assessment of your academic writing skills must be submitted.
- Two letters of recommendation must be submitted.

Information About Fees and Tuition

Information about Important Dates and Deadlines(opens in new window)

Information for International Students

Information and application process (PDF) for international students applying to the MA in Education Degree.

The Application Process

1. Consult with Coordinator

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

2. Apply for Admission

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

Apply at Cal State Apply(opens in new window) (unless you are already currently enrolled in a credential program in which case you should instead complete a Change of Program form (PDF)). Also see important deadlines for Graduate Studies(opens in new window).
- 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.
Submit two letters of recommendation along with the School of Education Letter of Recommendation Access Waiver Form (PDF).

3. Initial Writing Assignment

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 on this Graduate Studies webpage.

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.

Review the Rubric for the Initial Writing Assessment (PDF) so you know the expectations that will be used in reviewing your academic writing skills.
Include your name and MA in Teaching/Education at the top of your paper.
Available topics for the initial writing assessment are:
- Common Core Standards
- 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
Select one of the listed education topics above (c.) 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 Rubric for the Initial Writing Assessment outlines how your academic writing will be assessed (see rubric for quality and use of evidence criteria).
You should have at least three different and appropriate references/citations in APA style(opens in new window)
The paper should be double-spaced.
The paper should be a Word document.
Use APA formatting (American Psychological Association Manual, 7^th Edition).
Once you receive your Chico State campus ID from the Office of Graduate Studies, use the STEPS - Student Tracking Evaluation Portfolio System(opens in new window) to the School of Education's MA in Teaching/Education program (please submit to the folder in which you plan to start the program). 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. Additional instructions found in How to Load Your Initial Writing Assignment (PDF).
Your application for the MA in Teaching/Education cannot be processed until the Initial Writing Assessment has been received and reviewed.

During the Program

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 (PDF).
- Meet with your assigned advisor and develop your Master’s Degree Program Plan (PDF).
- 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.
Directions for how to apply for advancement to candidate status:
- 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 (PDF) 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 (PDF).
  - 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 (PDF).
- After you submit the Advancement to Candidate Status (PDF) 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.
Register for EDMA 696 or EDMA 699T/P in the final 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(opens in new window) 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.

Advising

Dr. Ben Seipel
Graduate Coordinator
bseipel@mail.csuchico.edu

*During the COVID-19 campus closure, please email the Graduate Coordinator.