Program Description

Master of Arts in Educational Administration with Preliminary Administrative Services Credential

Educational administrators in TK-12 serve in many capacities. No matter what position an administrator holds within an educational organization, all efforts should be directed at supporting equitable academic opportunity and achievement for all students. The courses in the EDAD program are designed to prepare leaders for this important work. Emphasis is placed on (1) examining the role of a school leader, with heavy emphasis on instructional leadership (2) using data to solve problems of practice, (3) leading school improvement to create more equitable schools, (4) managing and guiding change, and (5) working collaboratively with diverse families and communities. The program's primary mission is to educate candidates who will assume leadership positions in diverse, urban, TK-12 schools and districts.

Program classes are fully online, offering a mix of asynchronous and synchronous online classes.  Classes are held typically on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6:00-8:00 pm. 

  • Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
  • 15 upper-division units in education.
  • Minimum 2.85 overall grade point average in last degree (not credential or certificate) earned from an accredited institution of higher education. Applicants whose overall GPA is less than 2.85 but meet the University minimum GPA requirement and who present compelling evidence of academic and professional potential either through recent academic performance and/or experiential background, may be considered for admission at the discretion of the program admission committee.
  • Please see the “Preconditions for California Educator Preparation Programs” from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing at this link, specifically pages 25 & 26 for all of the preconditions for the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential. Before admission to the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential program, the candidate must:

1. Possess one of the following:

(a) valid clear or life California teaching credential that requires a baccalaureate degree and a program of professional preparation, including student teaching or the equivalent, and holds an English learner authorization; or

(b) valid clear or life California designated subjects teaching credential in adult education, career technical education, vocational education or special subjects, provided the applicant also possesses a baccalaureate degree, and holds an English learner authorization; or

(c) valid clear or life California services credential in pupil personnel services, health services for school nurse, teacher librarian services, or speech-language pathology or clinical or rehabilitative services requiring a baccalaureate degree and a program of professional preparation, including field work or the equivalent.

2. Meet the basic skills requirement as described in Education Code section 44252(b), unless exempt by statute.

(Note: If a student is pursuing the M.A. only and not the credential, the credential requirement can be waived.  Please contact a program advisor.)

  • Applicants must have a minimum of 3 years of credentialed service (teaching, counselor, or psychologist) in order to be eligible for the program.  (Note: If a student is pursuing the M.A. only and not the credential, this requirement can be waived.  Please contact a program advisor for more information.)
  • Admission preference will be given to applicants with 5 or more years of credentialed classroom teaching and/or related credentialed educational experiences.
  • International applicants have additional university application requirements including meeting the English language proficiency requirement. Please visit The Center for International Education (CIE) website at www.csulb.edu/cie for more information.

Please see the University Catalog for course descriptions. 

Take all of the following courses (30 units). A typical schedule for completing these units is outlined below.*

Semester 1

EDAD 621A (1 unit) Seminar: Introduction to Educational Leadership

EDAD 625 (2 units) Leadership, Organizational Management, and Social Justice

EDAD 636 (3 units) Applied Research for School Leaders: Using Data for School Improvement and Equity

Semester 2

EDAD 621B (1 unit) Seminar: Equity and Educational Leadership

EDAD 651 (2 units) Urban Schools & Communities: Social, Political, and Cultural Issues

EDAD 655A (3 units) Introduction to Instructional Leadership for Equity

Summer (3 units)

EDAD 680 (3 units) Field Experience in Educational Administration

Semester 3 (9 units)

EDAD 621C (1 unit) Seminar: Collaboration and Educational Leadership

EDAD 655B (3 units) Instructional Leadership: Leading Professional Learning & School Improvement

EDAD 652 (3 units) Resources in Educational Administration

EDAD 623 (2 units) Legal Aspects of Education

Semester 4 (6 units)

EDAD 621D (1 unit) Seminar: Preparing for Educational Leadership Positions

EDAD 655C (2 units) Instructional Leadership: Teacher Supervision & Coaching

EDAD 695 (3 units) Master’s Research Project in Educational Administration

Exit Requirements

Exit Requirements for Master's Degree

  1. Advancement to Candidacy
  2. Complete Action Research Study
  3. File to Graduate

*Students who already have an M.A. and wish to pursue only the credential may complete a 27-unit program.  The program duration and cost are the same, but credential-only students won’t need to take EDAD 695 in the final semester. If you are interested in a preliminary administrative services credential and already have an Ed.D., we may be able to offer course equivalency and an accelerated program.  Contact one of the program faculty coordinators for more information.

Before recommendation for the Preliminary Administrative Services credential, candidates must:

  1.  Open a file with the University Credential Center (note: fee required)
  2. Meet the basic skills requirement as described in Education Code section 44252(b), unless exempt by statute.
  3. Possess one of the following:
    1. valid clear or life California teaching credential that requires a baccalaureate degree and a program of professional preparation, including student teaching or the equivalent, and holds an English learner authorization; or
    2. valid clear or life California designated subjects teaching credential in adult education, career technical education, vocational education or special subjects, provided the applicant also possesses a baccalaureate degree, and holds an English learner authorization; or
    3. valid clear or life California services credential in pupil personnel services, health services for school nurse, teacher librarian services, or speech-language pathology or clinical or rehabilitative services requiring a baccalaureate degree and a program of professional preparation, including field work or the equivalent.
  4. Verification of five years of successful experience in a position requiring one of the credentials in item #3 above.  Must verify one of the below:
    1. Five years of successful, full-time teaching experience with an employing agency as defined in Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations section 80054(g)(1) and (2)(A);
    2. Five years of successful, full-time experience in the fields of pupil personnel, school nurse, teacher librarian, or speech-language pathology. or clinical or rehabilitative services with an employing agency as defined in Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations section 80054(g)(1) and (2)(A); or
    3. combination of (3a) or (3b).
  5. Verification of successful completion of the California Administrator Performance Assessment (CalAPA). (Note: fee required)
  6. Presentation of a professional Exit Portfolio to program faculty with program artifacts of course- and field- related experiences documenting the candidate’s competence and readiness to serve as a school administrator.
  7. Recommendation of the Administrative Credential, to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, will be processed through the Credential Center.