Degrees & Programs

Begin your journey towards becoming a transformative educator, counselor, therapist, school or community leader by enrolling at the SJSU Lurie College of Education.  Across our seven academic departments, we offer a variety of:

• Undergraduate minors
• Undergraduate Bachelor's degrees
• Credential programs and added authorizations
• Master's and doctoral degrees

Start your application process

Undergraduate Minors

• Minor in Atypical Child Studies
  The courses for this minor in Atypical Child Studies provide a solid foundation in both normative and atypical early childhood development.  The minor is particularly beneficial for students who plan to pursue careers in a number of branches of the social and life sciences, education, medicine and other human services professions focusing on atypical infants/children and their families.

• Minor in Child & Adolescent Development
  The courses for the minor in Child & Adolescent Development offer a range of opportunities to examine the course of human development with special emphasis on the period from infancy through adolescence.  The minor is particularly appropriate for students planning to enter the fields of education, social welfare, nursing, child care, and other human services professions.

• Minor in Deaf Education
  Develop a basic understanding of American Sign Language, introduction to deaf culture, and speech, language, and typical development over 4 courses.

• Minor in Elementary Education
  If you're interested in becoming a teacher, working in the non-profit sector, working in any type of child advocacy work such as law or social work, or plan to work in a diverse environment where understanding how individuals learn and process information is beneficial, then this 4 course minor is for you.

• Minor in Special Education
  Complete a 4-course track in Mild-to-Moderate Disabilities, Moderate-to-Severe Disabilities, or Early Childhood Special Education. Courses taken for the Minor in Special Education can be used towards an Education Specialist Credential Program. 

Undergraduate Bachelor's Degrees

• BA in Child and Adolescent Development - Community Focus
  This pathway is designed for students whose interests are in working with children and families in community settings.  This degree program also prepares students for graduate study in child and adolescent development or for the social sciences in general.

• BA in Child and Adolescent Development - Early Childhood Focus
  This pathway emphasizes early care and education and is designed for students interested in careers working in childcare or in agencies serving children and families.  This degree program also prepares students for graduate study in child and adolescent development or for the social sciences in general.

• BA in Child and Adolescent Development - Preparation for Teaching
  This pathway develop a foundation in subject matter commonly taught in K-8 schools.  This degree is designed for students interested in earning a teaching credential.

• BA in Communicative Disorders and Sciences
  This program develops a foundation for those who want to postively impact lives through speech-language pathology - identifying, evaluating, and treating children and adults with speech, language, cognitive-communication, and/or swallowing disorders - or audiology - identifying, diagnosing, and treating individuals with hearing and/or balance disorders.

• BA and Multiple Subject Credential, Integrated Teacher Preparation Program (ITEP) or BA, Multiple Subject Credential, and Spanish Bilingual Authorization, Bilingual Integrated Teacher Education Program (BITEP)
  Through a rich, rigorous, and cross-disciplinary program of study, we prepare teachers who create relevant and transformative educational experiences for students. 

Credential Programs & Authorizations

• Authorization - Autism Spectrum Disorders
  This Added Authorization will allow holders of Level I and II Mild/Moderate and other credentials to work with K-12 students (up through age 22) with autism spectrum disorders.

• Authorization - Early Childhood Special Education
  The Added Authorization in Early Childhood Special Education is available to individuals who hold a Clear Education Specialist Credential. Completion of this authorization extends special education teaching authorization to students with disabilities between the ages of birth and pre-Kindergarten.

• Authorization - Child Welfare and Attendance
  Child Welfare and Attendance professionals are skilled ‘trouble-shooters’ in correcting Average Daily Attendance (ADA) leaks.  Concerns and problem areas are assessed and addressed by examining attendance policies, procedures, records, and programs.

• Certificate - Autism Spectrum Disorders
  The Certificate in Theory, Knowledge and Practice about Autism Spectrum Disorders provides proof of advanced, specialized training based on best practices for individuals who work with children with autism spectrum disorders in early childhood through high school.

• Credential - Administrative Services
  We are currently not admitting any new students to this program.

• Credential - Early Childhood Special Education
  The Early Childhood Special Education Credential Program is a full-time or part-time post baccalaureate graduate program which prepares credential candidates to become fully qualified to work with families and their young children with disabilities, developmental delays or those at risk for developmental delays both in home-based and infant/toddler and preschool settings.

• Credential - Mild-Moderate Disabilities Education Credential
  All candidates participating in the Mild-Moderate Disabilities Program are prepared on and evaluated with California Standards for Teaching Preparation. Disabilities in the mild-moderate category include specific learning disabilities, mild to moderate intellectual disability, other health impairment, and serious emotional disturbance.

• Credential - Moderate-Severe Disabilities Education Credential
  The Moderate-Severe Disabilities Education Specialist Credential Program prepares individuals to teach students from Kindergarten through age 22 who have disabilities such as autism, deaf-blindness, moderate to severe intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, and emotional disturbances.

• Credential - Multiple Subjects / Elementary Education or Multiple Subjects / Elementary Education w/Bilingual Authorization

  If you are someone who shares a vision of teaching grounded in an ethic of care, has a commitment to social justice, and has a passion for engaging students in learning,then now is the time to take the next step in your teaching journey. Additionally, adding our bilingual authorization to your credential will prepare you to serve in dual immersion or bilingual school settings in California.

• Credential - Pupil Personnel Services School Counseling (K-12)
  The complex needs of today’s students emphasize the need for comprehensive counseling and guidance programs in schools.  This 54-unit program that qualifies individuals to work as school counselors in K-12 public schools.  Note:  A Master's degree in Counseling or a related field is required to obtain a clear PPS School Counseling Credential.

• Credential - Pupil Personnel Services School Counseling Internship
  Students in good academic standing in the PPS School Counseling Credential program are eligible to apply for a PPS Internship Credential (valid for up to two years) if offered a school counseling position by a local school district before completing all program requirements.

• Credential - Single Subject / Secondary Education
  Each of our three program options - Flexible Program, Yearlong Residency Program, and Internship Program - is designed to provide students with access to coursework and student teaching experiences in ways that best fit their needs.  Subject areas offered through our single subject credential program include Art, Biology, Chemistry, English, Foundation Level Science, French, Geoscience, Kinesiology, Japanese, Mandarin, Math, Music, Physics, Social Science, and Spanish.

Other SJSU Credential Programs

• Adapted Physical Education [pdf] | Department of Kinesiology
• PPS Social Work with Child Welfare Attendance | School of Social Work
• Math Integrated Teacher Prep Program | Department of Math
• Teacher Librarian | School of Information 

Master's and Doctoral Degrees

• MA in Child and Adolescent Development
  The masters program in Child and Adolescent Development (ChAD) provides students a comprehensive blend of theory and real-world application.  The program is designed for professionals who work in a wide range of child- and youth-oriented fields.

• MA in Counseling and Guidance
  Earn this degree with or without an additional Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) School Counseling Credential (required to work as K-12 School Counselors in California) and a Child Welfare and Attendance (CWA) authorization.

• MA in Curriculum and Instruction
  This program prepares students to obtain their preliminary credential to teach in K-8 schools, learn to engage in social justice practices, contribute to the development of cultural literacy, provide education that promotes democracy, and develop content knowledge expertise to teach in urban and suburban schools.

• MA in Educational Leadership, Concentration in Emancipatory School Leadership
  This program is designed for emerging K-12 school leaders who wish to engage with emancipatory leadership practices to improve educational opportunities for historically marginalized students and will prepare school leaders through deep engagement with research and practice through applied consulting on living case studies.

• MA in Special Education
  This 30-unit program is designed to prepare students for leadership roles in Special Education through a core curriculum and elective coursework in 3 areas of specialization: Mild-Moderate Disabilities, Moderate-Severe Disabilities, or Early Childhood Special Education.  The degree is designed to offer a combination of core curriculum, elective coursework, and methodology courses in Special Education research.

• MA in Speech Pathology with SLP Services Credential
  The Master’s degree program offers an in-depth study of communication disorders with an emphasis on articulation and phonological disorders, fluency disorders (stuttering), augmentative and alternative communication, voice disorders, dysphagia (swallowing disorders), neurogenic disorders, hearing disorders, language disorders, social aspects of communication, and cognitive aspects of communication.

• Ed.D. in Educational Leadership
  This three-year degree is designed to endow, challenge and nurture a diverse group of next-generation educational leaders with the knowledge and skills needed to build a P-16 public education system that provides all students with a high quality education.