FAQs
About Educational Administration
The CSULB Educational Administration (EDAD) program equips leaders in TK-12 schools to serve as principals or other school administrators that require an administrative credential. We offer a credential-only program (27 units) or an MA + credential program (30 units).
The CSULB EDAD program is a 3-semester (27 unit) program to earn the preliminary administrative services credential (PASC). Students also have the option of pursuing an M.A. in Educational Administration (30 units) along with their PASC credential—the M.A. requires one additional 3-unit course and typically a 4th semester is also recommended. The EDAD program is offered in a cohort model, so everyone takes the same classes at the same time. It is not possible to complete the program in less than 3 semesters.
If you already have a Master’s degree and are only looking for a preliminary administrative services credential (PASC), you are welcome to apply to the credential-only program, which is 27 units spread across 3 semesters. Please note that students who are pursuing the credential-only option are not eligible for federal financial aid. For an additional 3 units (30 units total), you can earn an M.A. in Educational Administration with your PASC. Further, in the EDAD695 research class (3 units), you will have an opportunity to explore a problem of practice of your choice related to educational leadership, developing your skills as a practitioner-researcher!
Applying
Please visit the Application Process page.
Visit the GSO Tips & Tutorials for Applying page for an application flow chart, advice on how to be a competitive applicant, and free resources and tips on the statement of purpose, letters of recommendations, and resume.
Our admissions requirements are largely based on the preconditions for the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential established by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). Please see the application process eligibility web page for details.
The GPA requirement is a minimum 2.85 overall grade point average in last degree (not credential or certificate) earned from an accredited institution of higher education. For more information please see the Eligibility page.
Two. For additional information on recommendations, please visit the Online Application Submission.
Recommendations are due by the MyCED application deadline. For additional information on recommendations and the MyCED application deadline, please visit the Online Application Submission website.
No. There is no GRE requirement for this program.
Maybe. Although most students pursue both the M.A. and the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential, on rare occasions a student chooses to apply for just the M.A. degree. It is still a 2-year, 30-unit program. If you are interested in just the M.A., we ask that you reach out to the program coordinator (stephen.glass@csulb.edu) before applying.
Yes. You would just apply for the credential-only program, which is 27 units spread across 3 semesters. Please note that students who are not enrolled in a degree program are not eligible for federal financial aid.
Graduate school fees are set by the CSU Board of Trustees each academic year. The current fee structure may be found on the Enrollment Services website. Please note that there are additional fees associates with the program, including but not limited to textbooks, credential file, graduation, and the California Administrator Performance Assessment (CalAPA).
Degree Requirements
Yes! Beginning with our Fall 2025 cohort, the EDAD program will be fully online. We will offer the same rigorous courses and support that we are known for but in a fully online setting. Students can expect a mix of asynchronous online work and synchronous online (Zoom) classes.
Beginning Fall 2025, the EDAD program will be completely online, offering a mix of asynchronous and synchronous online classes. Synchronous class sessions are held on either Tuesday or Thursday evenings, typically from 6-8pm. While the exact schedule may vary from semester to semester, you can usually expect to have one synchronous class per week (sometimes two) with additional asynchronous work to complete each week.
Beginning in Fall 2025, the EDAD program is a fully online 3-semester program to earn the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential (PASC). (Note: Adding the M.A. option adds an additional 3 units and may add a 4th semester to the program.) Students will take 9 units in their first fall semester, 6 or 9 units in the spring semester, an optional 3 units over the summer, and 9 units in their second fall semester.
