Master of Arts in Education with Concentration in Special Education

at California State University - Monterey Bay USA

The ability to communicate with Japanese speakers and appreciate Japanese culture gives you an advantage in a wide range of careers. Whether on the job or in your community, your Japanese language competency and cultural understanding can help you establish valuable connections in the global community.

The B.A. in Japanese Language and Culture prepares you to be an active participant in an ever-shrinking and increasingly interdependent world society by developing your literacy in global matters, multiculturalism and cultural diversity, as well as guiding you to achieve a higher level of language proficiency (Intermediate-High level according to the ACTFL guidelines). You will be able to communicate effectively in Japanese with well-rounded Japanese cultural knowledge in such areas as arts, history, humanities, literature, and social sciences.

The program prepares you for successful careers in professions such as teaching, business, technology, travel, tourism, foreign policy, governmental and non-governmental agencies, as well as for graduate study in Japanese studies, linguistics, Asian studies, translation and interpretation, TESOL, or focused international disciplines such as policy, management, environmental sciences, business management, law school, and business administration.

The profession of social work is committed to social and economic justice, ethics, diversity, and advocacy. The Master of Social Work education prepares social workers with an advanced knowledge base and skills to address complex social problems and to promote the well-being of individuals and society.

The Central Coast Tri-County area in particular is facing a critical shortage of MSW-level social workers. The MSW program at CSUMB is a response to community needs and focuses on local multicultural diversity and social justice. The purpose of the MSW program is to fulfill the local needs that have been historically neglected. It will prepare future generations of MSW-level social workers to serve the needs of local residents and communities in California’s Central Coast.

The scope of the program focuses on preparing social work professionals with clinical skills of which the local communities are in dire need. The MSW program is devoted to provide quality graduate education, build alliances with social work employers, as well as maintain strong relationships with the local communities of diverse cultural, ethnic, linguistic, and economic structures.

The Mathematics major prepares you to analyze complex discipline-based issues, synthesize information from multiple sources and perspectives, communicate skillfully in oral and written forms, and use appropriate technologies. The flexibility of the major gives you enough freedom to mold your degree along your particular interest toward a career or graduate school. Many mathematics majors pursue careers in industry (e.g. engineering, finance, business), teaching, and government service immediately upon graduation. Others continue on to graduate school, then pursue careers in research and university teaching.

Students in the Marine Science major apply a wide range of technologies to studying marine ecosystems. Through applied learning and research, you will gain the skills necessary to develop a sustainable balance between the unique environmental, recreational, cultural and economic opportunities in the Monterey Bay region.

Through lab and field experience, you will apply techniques of experimental design, data acquisition, analysis and presentation that provide you with the skills needed to monitor and analyze marine science problems. You are encouraged to interact with other Monterey Bay institutions, such as the Moss Landing Marine Labs, to take advantage of additional local expertise in marine and coastal ecology.

Graduates of the Marine Science major are prepared for a variety of career pathways in the public and private sector. Graduates are also poised to continue their education via graduate studies and research in ecology, environmental science and related fields.

The B.S. in Agricultural Plant and Soil Sciences prepares you for successful careers that support the long-term economic viability and sustainability of California’s fresh produce and horticulture industries.  The applied, interdisciplinary major incorporates practical, hands-on learning and industry or research internship placements to provide college-to-career pathways. You will develop expertise in crop management, including crop physiology and life cycles, the role of soil, water, nutrient and pest management on crop quality, yield, sustainability, and profitability, as well as relevant laws and regulations. The curriculum aligns with the content specified for Certified Crop Advisor certification and Pest Control Advisor certification.

The Liberal Studies (LS) B.A. program is designed for students who desire to become elementary or special education teachers. There are different pathways to choose from, depending on your interests:

LS BA Traditional Pathway - This pathway is for the Liberal Studies BA degree only. Upon graduation, students on this pathway may pursue a credential at CSUMB or another institution.

The School Psychology program is designed to prepare professional K-12 school psychologists with the essential competencies to provide the complex services demanded of schools within the educational system. The program is designed to foster development along the ten NASP domains, with a focus in each area around serving culturally and linguistically diverse students in diverse settings.

The Environmental Science, Technology & Policy major is an applied environmental sciences major emphasizing:

• Strong preparation for careers and graduate study in a wide range of fields including environmental resource assessment and management, environmental consulting, science education and marine science
• A rigorous, interdisciplinary science foundation integrating biology, chemistry, physics and the earth sciences
• Hands-on experience with advanced technologies for collecting, analyzing, visualizing and communicating scientific data
• Active, field-oriented learning through frequent outdoor fieldtrips, field and laboratory experiments, community-based service projects and internships
• Real-world application of science and technology for the benefit of society
• An understanding of the social, economic and political processes that influence when and how scientific information can improve environmental decision making
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, including written, oral, and multimedia communication formats

The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP) program is an innovative and rigorous degree program designed to prepare future practitioners to serve our local communities through a variety of interdisciplinary settings. The program focuses on a thorough understanding of human communication and its disorders. MS-SLP students are trained to be ethically responsible professionals through the use of evidence-based practices, community partnerships, and innovative technologies.

The Master of Arts in Education prepares strong education professionals to have an informed understanding of complex learning; the knowledge and skills to promote such learning; and the disposition to advocate effectively for the learning, living and growth of students, especially those who bring cultural, linguistic and other diversity to schools. The program coursework challenges educators to analyze and improve their instructional practice to better serve students with diverse ethnic and linguistic backgrounds, as well as students with special needs.

The Special Education strand of the MAE program is combined with our CLEAR Special Education Credential.

This program prepares strong professionals who have an informed understanding of what constitutes learning, the knowledge and skills to promote such learning, and the disposition to actively work toward change when policies or practices negatively impact the learning, living, or growth of students—especially those students with special needs who bring cultural or linguistic diversity to schools.

As such, the MAE with an emphasis in special education affords candidates an opportunity to expand their skill and knowledge base through exploration, analysis, and discussions about the latest trends and theories in special education in a scholarly environment that honors the free exchange of ideas, thoughts, and insights.