Graduate Education

Master of Arts in Education, Preliminary Credential*

This option is designed for students interested in pursuing a Preliminary Teaching Credential with EL Authorization and applying their graduate course work toward the Master of Arts in Education degree. The EL Authorization will prepare candidates to teach students who are Limited English Proficient (LEP). A total of thirty-seven units are required for the Master of Arts in Education and Preliminary Credential.

Admission Requirements for the M.A./Preliminary Credential Program

1. A Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.

2. A graduate program application with corresponding fee.

3. Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate courses.

4. Three letters of recommendation addressing potential success in an education graduate program.

5. A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B), or above in all undergraduate course work is required for regular standing admission in the degree program, or a student with a cumulative grade point average of 2.7-2.9 in all undergraduate work is eligible for admission with provisional standing. Upon successful completion of the first required twelve graduate units of the program with a 3.5 GPA or higher, the student will be eligible for regular standing, or

A student with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5-2.69 may be admitted with provisional standing on a Probationary status. Upon completion of the following three conditions, the student will be eligible for regular standing:

a. To make up for academic deficiencies, student must complete an additional fifteen units of post-Baccalaureate course work with a 3.0 GPA. All course work must be pre-approved and completed at VUSC prior to enrolling in the EDUG 500 series.

b. Student must complete the first required twelve graduate units of the program with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

c. Student will meet with the Director for a progress evaluation conference to determine continuation in the degree program.

The grade point average requirement is waived for a candidate with a Master’s degree from an accredited institution.

6. Verification of passing the CBEST (California Basic Educational Skills Test) by presenting an original 3" 4" transcript card to the Graduate Admissions Office. Students should plan to take the CBEST at least six months prior to submitting an application to the Graduate Program in Education.

7. For the Multiple Subject Credential: Submit verification of completion of a passing score report for the CSET in Multiple Subjects. The CSET should be attempted prior to review for admission. Students needing to take the examination should plan to do so at least 6 months prior to submitting an application to the Graduate Program in Education.

8. For the Single Subject Credential: Submit verification of completion of a CTC approved Subject Matter Preparation Program in an academic field or submit passing score report for the appropriate subject matter of the CSET examination. Subject Matter Preparation or the CSET should be verified prior to review for admission. Students needing to take the examination should plan to do so at least 6 months prior to submitting an application to the Graduate Program in Education.

9. U.S. Constitution requirement is met by POLS 155C or equivalent or by test.

10. An interview with the Director and/or Candidate Performance Assessment Committee (CPAC).

11. Acceptance admissions by the Candidate Performance Assessment Committee (CPAC). 

A student who otherwise meets admission requirements may be considered for admission to the Program on a case-by-case basis prior to passing the CSET exam. The student recognizes that the CSET exam must be passed before they can proceed to advanced student teaching. If the student does not successfully pass the required test by the completion of 500 sequence methodology courses, the student will not continue on to advanced student teaching, but will stop out of the program, enroll in EDUG 599 and engage in test preparation of their own arrangement. When the appropriate test is passed, the student may proceed with advanced student teaching.

After acceptance into the program, the student must complete the following:

1. Certificate of Clearance: An application for fingerprint Clearance must be submitted prior to beginning the 500-level courses. A fee is required for the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) Clearance.

2. TB Test Clearance: must be submitted prior to beginning the 500-level courses. 

3. Liability Insurance: additional fee required.

4. RICA (Reading Instruction Competence Assessment) – Multiple subject candidates only. All student pursuing a multiple subject teaching credential must pass the RICA exam prior to applying for the credential. This exam is normally taken after completion of the reading courses.

Prerequisites for the M.A./Preliminary Credential

EDUC 315: Teaching in a Multicultural Setting (3 units) should be taken prior to the 500 series

ANTH/ENGL 453: Language, Culture and Linguistics (3 units) should be completed prior to beginning the 500 series; may be taken concurrently with the 500 series by petition.

SOCS/MATH 265C: Introduction to Statistical Methods (3 units) is strongly recommended for M.A. students.

Program Requirements for the M.A./Preliminary Credential Program

Methods/Curriculum Modules (EDUG 500-522) meet on Tuesday and Thursday, 4-9 p.m. or 4:30-9:30 p.m. each week for the complete semester.
Multiple Subject Reading Modules (EDUG 543, 547, 550) meet one evening a week. 
Single Subject Reading Modules (EDUG 544, 548, 551) meet on selected weekends. 

The above schedule is subject to change pending enrollment. EDUG 500-584 (13 units) are generally completed during the first semester of the teacher preparation program.

EDUG 584: Beginning Student Teaching (2 units)
Candidates must complete Beginning Student Teaching concurrent with the 500 series courses. Beginning Student Teaching will consist of a minimum of three hours a week in an instructional setting, preferably working with the same master teachers who will supervise the student during Advanced Student Teaching in the second semester.

EDUG 585: Advanced Student Teaching (10 units)
During the second semester, and upon satisfactory completion of initial professional coursework, portfolio and beginning student teaching, candidates will complete two additional units of professional coursework and a minimum of sixteen weeks of student teaching. High school and middle school assignments may be longer, pending site requirements. Coursework will be completed during one three-hour block on Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. Five sessions will be devoted to a Student Teaching Seminar. Five sessions will be devoted to each of the following courses:

EDUG 545 Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English (SDAIE) for the Elementary Student (1 unit)
OR
EDUG 546 Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English (SDAIE) for the Secondary Student (1 unit)

EDUG 557 Exceptionality and Health (1 unit)

Advanced Student Teaching will be completed concurrently with the above professional coursework. Single Subject candidates will complete their student teaching in grades 7-12. Multiple Subject candidates will complete their student teaching experience in two eight week assignments in grades K-6. Student teaching is a full day experience. Single Subject candidates will teach five days a week, teaching three classes and observing in two. Multiple Subject candidates will teach a full day, five days a week. The CLAD Emphasis Credential requires that the candidate complete a student teaching experience in a multicultural, multilingual environment. All assignments must be completed under the supervision of a credentialed master teacher and in the subject matter area that will appear on the student’s credential. A university supervisor will be assigned to each student teacher for supervision and support. It is important to remember that student teaching is a full-time experience and requires focus and attention. An additional student teacher fee per unit is charged at the time of registration.

Student teaching placements will be made by the department in local partner schools to satisfy CLAD requirements. If an incoming student has a preference regarding placement, they should express that preference to the Admission committee at the time of the interview. The department will make an effort to accommodate that preference, with no guarantee. Once classes have begun and arrangements have been made for beginning student teaching and advanced student teaching placement, changes in placement are not logistically feasible. Any placement outside a 12-mile radius of the Vanguard University campus requires payment a minimum fee of $150 to cover additional mileage for the University Supervisor. Students with one or more years of full-time continuous private or public school experience in the appropriate credential area may be eligible for a modification of the length of student teaching. See the Credential Coordinator for additional information. 

Credential requirements may change at any time during a student’s program based on CTC changes and/or legislative action.

EDUG 605 should be taken as the first course of the M.A. Core. EDUG 605 may be taken concurrently with EDUG 606. EDUG 610 must be taken as the final course of the M.A. Core. EDUG 609 may be taken concurrently with EDUG 610.

* This information is provided for ease of use, however it is not the official record. See the academic catalog for official course descriptions and requirements.