Master of Science in Transformative Teaching (MSTT) Capstone Options
During their final year in the Master of Science in Transformative Teaching in Secondary Education program (the MSTT), students complete one of three culminating (capstone) projects, each of which has an authentic, external audience:
- Submitting an article for publication in a professional journal;
- Presenting at a regional or national professional conference; or
- Applying for National Board Certification
Students typically select their capstone option during their second summer in the MSTT program, and work closely with program faculty throughout the development, revision, and submission process. All students enroll in a capstone seminar (EDSC 594) during their final semester in the MSTT program.
See below for brief descriptions of each capstone option, as well as a short video featuring program alums talking about their capstone experience. Additional information about the capstone process, helpful resources, and evaluation criteria is provided during program orientation and as part of students’ first class in the MSTT program (EDSC 501: Introduction to Graduate Studies).
Click here for a brief video overview of our capstone options, and see the links below for more detailed information, including questions and answers with program faculty and alumni.
For additional information about MSTT capstone pathways, please contact the EDSC Graduate Program Advisor, Dr. Alison Dover, at adover@fullerton.edu .
Capstone Options
Submitting an Article for Publication
Do you enjoy curriculum development, research and writing? Students who select this capstone pathway write about their work as culturally and linguistically sustaining teaching, and submit their work for publication in an educational journal. Some students choose to write conceptual or theoretical analyses exploring an aspect of just, equitable and inclusive teaching within their disciplines; others publish original curriculum developed during their graduate experience; and others write about qualitative, quantitative or action research conducted within their own school or classroom.
Click the links below to explore recent articles published by graduate students in our program:
- Justice Then and Now: Engaging Students in Critical Thinking about Justice and History (Ryan Cummings, 2019)
- The Four Levels of Implementing Mathematical Wrap in Your Classroom (Rodney Perez, 2020)
- Culturally Responsive Teaching in an Oglala Lakota Classroom (Rebeka Stowe, 2017)
Presenting at Professional Conferences
Do you enjoy attending and presenting at academic and professional conferences? Students who select this capstone pathway develop a workshop or lecture related to just, equitable and inclusive teaching in their discipline, and present it at a local, regional or national conference for teachers. Students accepted to present their work at regional or national conferences are eligible for travel grants to pay for their trip and conference registration, and all students are eligible to present their work virtually or face-to-face at CSUF’s spring conference on culturally and linguistically sustaining teaching and annual Titan Grad Slam .
In recent years, graduate students have presented at an array of professional conferences including:
- The Peoples Education Conference
- The National Association for Multicultural Education Annual Conference
- The California Mathematics Council Conference
- The National Council of Teachers of English
Click here for a list of other conferences of interest to MSTT students.
Applying for National Board Certification
Do you enjoy reflecting on and assessing your teaching? Teachers who apply for National Board Certification develop and submit a comprehensive portfolio demonstrating their expertise in their subject area and positive effect on student learning. Students who select this capstone option receive feedback and guidance as they develop and finalize their National Board portfolios, and then submit their portfolio for external evaluation at the conclusion of their final semester in the MSTT program. Earning National Board Certification is widely considered the highest level of professional recognition for K-12 teachers, and teachers who earn certification are eligible for an array of district and state financial incentives (as of 2023, for example, California offers an incentive of up to $25,000)
To learn more about the National Board process and incentives, visit the following links:
- Introduction to National Board Certification
- Financial incentives for California teachers (click here for incentives for teachers in other states)
- California Teachers Association National Board Support
For additional information about MSTT capstone pathways, please contact the EDSC Graduate Program Advisor, Dr. Alison Dover, at adover@fullerton.edu .
