Master of Social Work

at California State University - Monterey Bay USA

The Environmental Studies major provides you with a broad foundation in the environmental sciences, social sciences, environmental economics and policy, environmental history and communication. It also provides you with local, regional and global perspectives on current environmental issues and problems.

You will be able to think broadly on local, regional and global levels, understand and synthesize information from multiple disciplines and perspectives, communicate effectively and ethically, and to use your knowledge and skills to promote sustainable, equitable and healthy human and non-human communities.

The M.S. in Environmental Science offers innovative, interdisciplinary training in science and technology within the context of environmental policy. There are two M.S. degree options: Professional Science Master’s (PSM) and thesis.

Within the PSM option, you will deepen the skills you learn in the classroom through a professional internship. The PSM option gives you flexibility to structure your graduate experience around your professional interests. You will develop specialized skills that will distinguish your entry into a career that requires highly skilled professionals within technology and applied science-based companies, resource management and planning agencies, scientific and environmental consulting firms, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. The thesis option focuses on independent research intended for professional publication, and can launch you into a doctoral program or a professional career in scientific research, resource management, education, and policy.

Located at the nexus of world-class research agencies and institutes, state and regional preserves, the Fort Ord National Monument, and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, CSU Monterey Bay is a prime location for studying watershed, terrestrial, and coastal environments.

In the CS program, you will learn fundamental computer science concepts while applying your knowledge to solve real-world problems. Collaboration, team work, and communication skills are infused into the learning experiences with heavily project-based courses in a state-of-the-art technological environment.

You’ll begin by taking a set of common core courses to establish a strong foundation in computer science, followed by coursework in one of four concentration areas: Software Engineering, Network and Security, Data Science, or Game Development. The curriculum provides you the opportunity to learn concepts and develop skills in more than one concentration, helping you to become a well rounded computer science professional.

The B.A. in Music is a hands-on program that prepares students for careers in performance, composition for acoustic and electronic/interactive media, sound engineering, audio programming, and music education, across commercial, independent, and community sectors: Music students produce concerts, mixes, musicals, scores, performances, sound installations, texts, talks, electroacoustic compositions, and interactive and experimental multimedia work in a variety of collaborative, independent, and cross-disciplinary projects. Courses develop skills and experience in all aspects of music-making, including producing, performing, analyzing, composing, songwriting, mixing, editing, documenting, marketing, and programming.

Rooted in the liberal arts tradition of critical, interdisciplinary thought and practice, the degree emphasizes well-rounded musicianship through a balance of experience in performance, composition, musicology, ethnomusicology, music theory, acoustics, and music technology - each characterized by its own ways of thinking and doing - complemented by rigorous, fundamental training in critical listening, sight-singing, keyboard skills, and the fluent reading, writing, and digital engraving of Common Western Music Notation. Beyond these fundamentals, students craft a personal, inquiry-driven degree emphasis in response to a chosen research and creative agenda, leading to an ambitious scholarly-creative capstone thesis project in a chosen area of expertise.

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.

Emphasis
Students must select one of the following emphases and complete the requirements.

• Curriculum & Instruction
• Special Education
• Preliminary Teacher Credential
• Education Administration

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.

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 Teaching Credential emphasis combines initial studies in teaching and learning with graduate level scholarship for prospective teachers who seek a teaching credential and a Masters of Arts in Education Degree.

Program features

• Motivated candidates can complete the program in 24 months.
• Credential earned in 1 year, ability to teach and finish Master of Arts courses in final year.
• Year-long Field Placement in K-6 classrooms.

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 ability to communicate with Spanish speakers and appreciate Hispanic cultures gives you a tremendous advantage in a wide range of careers. Whether on the job or in your community, your Spanish language competency and cultural understanding can help you establish valuable connections in the inter-dependent global community.

You will attain an advanced level of proficiency in Spanish according to the criteria of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages(ACTFL) guidelines. You will also acquire a reasonable understanding and knowledge of Hispanic cultures through the study of literature, history, art, social science, philosophy, etc. in a variety of courses taught in Spanish and English. As you plan your program, you will be able to select a specific area of concentration (literature, culture, linguistics) in which to acquire a deeper knowledge relative to your particular interests and goals. Additionally, you will engage in real-life learning via your service-learning experiences where you will have opportunities to work with public and private agencies on projects that integrate your language skills with community needs. Finally, in your Senior Capstone project, you will have the opportunity to demonstrate thorough understanding of a topic of interest to you.

The program prepares you for successful professional careers in teaching, business and technology, travel, tourism, governmental and non-governmental agencies, and for graduate study in Hispanic languages and literatures, Chicano/Latino studies, linguistics, translation and interpretation, TESOL, or focused international disciplines such as policy, management and business.

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.