Education, MA

The Master of Arts in Education is an individually designed program with concentrations of study in the following areas:

Student Affairs and Educational Justice
Educational Evaluation & Data Analysis
K12 Education & Equity

Students may also design a more-generalized program of study that crosses concentrations and education subject areas.

University Policies

Policies detailed in the current Policies and General Information Bulletin apply.

Admissions Requirements

Admission requirements are detailed in the Admissions section of the current Policies and General Information Bulletin.

Degree Requirements

Coursework. The master’s degree requires 32 semester units of coursework.

Transfer Credit. The University’s policy on transfer credit applies. The Education program permits a maximum of 6 semester units of transfer credit and stipulates that prior graduate coursework must have been taken within the last five years.

Claremont Colleges students admitted to the Accelerated BA-MA program in Education may carry forward up to 8 units of undergraduate coursework toward the MA degree.

Degree Completion Option.

Student Affairs and Educational Justice concentration: Successful completion of EDUC 450 – Practicum in Student Affairs. Students in this class are expected to work on an authentic project within their office at a college or university. The practicum placement is paired with university-based sessions where the students make sense of their practicum experiences as a collective and discuss professional expectations and norms.
Educational Evaluation & Data Analysis concentration: Successful completion of EDUC 449 – Clinical Practicum for Educational Evaluation and Data Analysis. Students will prepare their professional portfolio and complete a project that allows them to apply their skills and demonstrate mastery in a program outcome.
K12 Education & Equity concentration or self-designed program of study: With advisor approval, students elect to write either a thesis or a critique.

Thesis. Two faculty readers and formal submission to the Registrar’s Office is required. See the current Policies and General Information Bulletin and the Registrar’s website for additional information about thesis formatting and submission. Master’s Degree thesis regulations available in the current Policies and General Information Bulletin.
Critique. Only one faculty reader is required. A final version of the critique must be submitted to the program office.

Master’s Degree Along the Way to the PhD

CGU offers students the option to earn a Master’s degree along the way to the doctoral degree. Education students qualify by meeting all the following criteria.

Enrollment in the doctoral program with the intention of completing 72 units of coursework at CGU
Completion of 32 units of study with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
Completion of one approved PhD qualifying exam in lieu of the thesis or critique
Completion of the Intent to Receive a Degree/Certificate form in the semester in which the degree is requested to be conferred

Student Affairs and Educational Justice

The MA in Education with a concentration in Student Affairs and Educational Justice (SAEJ) prepares emerging and current student affairs practitioners to successfully lead and transform institutions of higher education to promote teaching and student development both in and outside of the classroom.

Study is based on a multidisciplinary view of theory and research and a commitment to developing educational environments that are just, relevant, and rigorous. Through policy, practice, and research, graduates of this program work to foster environments that are inclusive, respect diversity, and promote student learning and success.

Educational Evaluation and Data Analysis

The MA in Education with a concentration in Educational Evaluation and Data Analysis (EEDA) prepares students to approach questions about program evaluation, academic achievement, and institutional effectiveness by designing data analyses that meet applied research needs in K-20 educational settings. Upon program completion, graduates will understand theory and methods, as well as possess practical experience and ethical awareness to meet the demands and challenges of serving in roles such as K-12 assessment professionals, institutional researchers, data analysts, data managers, and education evaluators.

K12 Education and Equity

There is an urgent need for highly educated professionals to understand research and best practices in order to assist schools and practicing educators in increasing overall achievement in the U.S. and closing the persistent achievement gap between students from different socioeconomic and ethnic groups. To that end, the concentration in K12 Education and Equity will center around classes and research experiences aimed at merging accountability in education with a focus on justice.