Secondary Education

The Master of Arts degree in Secondary English Education is designed to prepare secondary English Language Arts teachers for advancement to roles as department chairs, literacy coaches or teacher leaders; for leading conference sessions or workshops; and for further study at the doctoral level; in addition to becoming more effective teachers. School districts frequently award salary increases to teachers holding master’s degrees, and master’s degrees are usually required for part-time teaching at the community college or university level.

During this program, students will:

• Experience and implement innovative English Language Arts teaching practices, especially drawing on reform methodology and curricula.
• Acquire greater fluency with educational technologies, including Internet resources, one-to-one technology implementation and digital communication.
• Investigate current research in English Language Arts teaching and learning and how it translates into practice.
• Conduct applied classroom-based research.
• Deepen their knowledge and understanding of broad issues, policies and controversies that impact schools in general and English Language Arts teaching in particular.
• Develop as leaders in English Language Arts education through presentations and participation in professional organizations and support networks.

A. Requirements for Admission

1. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
2. Employment or experience as a teacher of English Language Arts or related field.
3. Teaching credential (may be waived for private school teachers or college instructors).
4. Submission of a completed department application.
5. Submission of a completed application to CSUN via Cal State Apply.
6. Cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5.

B. Requirements for Classified Status

By the end of the first semester of the program students must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 or a GPA of at least 3.0 for the M.A. program.

C. Corequisite

Maintenance of a 3.0 GPA.

D. Degree Requirements

1. Core Courses (21 units)

SED 600 Research in Secondary Education (3)
SED 610EN Educational Issues and Implications for Multiethnic English and Literacy Classrooms (3)
SED 617 Technology in the Secondary Reading/Language Arts Curriculum (3)
SED 625EN Theory and Research in the Teaching of Secondary School English (3)
SED 633 The Program in Reading and Literature Instruction in Multiethnic Secondary Schools (3)
SED 653 Issues in the Teaching of Composition and Language (3)
SED 690EN The Multiple Roles of the English Language Arts Educator (3)

2. Electives (6 units)

Electives are selected from various graduate-level course offerings across the college or university, with the approval of the program advisor. In some cases, preliminary credential program courses may be approved.

3. Culminating Experience (3 units)

SED 697 Directed Comprehensive Studies (3)
or SED 698 Thesis or Graduate Project (3)

Total Units Required for the M.A. Degree: 30