Graduate Program Overview
Several graduate program options are available to meet a variety of professional development needs and objectives. The Masters degree program is competitive with any in the nation, with a strong grounding in research-based theory and pedagogy, paired with early and continuous applications in structured and supervised fieldwork culminating in an in-depth, classical reading clinic course. The California Reading/Language Arts Specialist Credential shares most coursework with the Masters degree program, including the clinic course. Approximately 6 units of requirements at the end of the two programs differ. The California Reading Certificate is earned by completing specified courses totaling 17 units that typically are taken early in the Masters and Specialist Credential programs: Candidates pursuing the Masters degree and/or the Specialist Credential will also earn the Reading Certificate, though the Certificate may be pursued as a stand-alone program. Many candidates earn the Certificate, the Specialist Credential and the Masters degree.
Courses in the Masters, Credential, and Certificate programs are offered Monday through Thursday evenings, either at 4:00 pm or at 7:00 pm, to fit classroom teachers' schedules. All courses may be taken either at the Fullerton Campus or at the Irvine campus (less than a mile east of the I-5 exit at Sand Canyon).
At the present time, most courses hold several of the weekly class sessions in online formats, though no courses are offered completely online. Most courses make use of "BlackBoard" system websites, to facilitate candidates' access to course materials, resources, schedules, and communication systems. Faculty are available for counsel via email and posted office hours.
Full-time graduate study, for tuition purposes, is 6 units per semester, with full-time tuition required for 6 or fewer units taken (and an additional fee for units over 6 in a semester). For this reason, most candidates develop Study Plans based on exactly 6 units per semester. The Reading Certificate may be earned in 3 semesters, and the Masters degree and/or Specialist Credential may be earned in an additional 1 to 1 ½ years (a total of 2 ½ to 3 years).
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