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

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Undergraduate Minors

• Minor - Atypical Child Studies

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    This program provides 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.

    This minor requires the completion of 15 units / 5 courses. For more information, visit our Department of Child & Adolescent Development website.

• Minor - Child & Adolescent Development

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    The program offers a range of opportunities to examine the course of human development with special emphasis on the period from infancy through adolescence. This academic program is particularly appropriate for students planning to enter the fields of education, social welfare, nursing, child care, and other human services professions.

    This minor requires the completion of 15 units / 5 courses. For more information, visit our Department of Child & Adolescent Development website.

• Minor - Deaf Education

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    Students who complete this program develop a basic understanding of American Sign Language, introduction to deaf culture, and speech, language, and typical development.

    This minor requires the completion of 12 units / 4 courses. For more information, visit our Department of Special Education website.

• Minor - Elementary Education

  • This minor is currently not admitting new students.

    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 it's important to understand how individuals learn and process information, this minor is for you. Credits completed for this minor can also be applied toward our Multiple Subject Teaching Credential.

    This minor requires the completion of 12 units / 4 courses. For more information, visit our Department of Teacher Education website.

• Minor - Special Education

  • Choose to complete 1 of 3 tracks in either Mild-to-Moderate Disabilities, Moderate-to-Severe Disabilities, or Early Childhood Special Education. Credits completed for the Minor in Special Education can also be used towards one of our Education Specialist Credential Programs.

    This minor requires the completion of 12 units / 4 courses. For more information, visit our Department of Special Education website.

• Minor - Transformative Leadership

  • The Transformative Leadership Minor prepares SJSU undergraduate students of all academic backgrounds to enact meaningful change in local, state, and national settings. This program is an interdisciplinary approach to leadership development through engagement with anti-racist pedagogies and practices. By building a foundation and framework for developing an intersectional lens throughout this program, students develop their leadership goals around becoming transformative agents of change in their communities through meaningful, culturally affirming, and sustaining practices.

    This minor requires the completion of 15 units / 5 courses. For more information, visit our Department of Educational Leadership website.

Undergraduate Bachelor's Degrees

• BA - Child and Adolescent Development - Early Childhood Focus or Community Focus

  • Our BA in Child and Adolescent Development (ChAD) equips students with a solid foundation in theory and research while preparing them for graduate studies and/or careers in early childhood education settings or with children and their families in community settings. While enrolled in this program, students can elect to complete the Early Childhood Focus (Plan B1) or Community Focus (Plan B2) to best prepare themselves for either pathway.

    Program Overview

    - Official Title: Bachelor of Arts in Child and Adolescent Development
    - Format: Full-time or part-time
    - Units: 120
    - Start date: Fall (Freshmen and Transfers), Spring (Transfers)
    - Application deadlines: Visit the SJSU Admissions Freshman Deadlines webpage and Transfer Deadlines webpage

    For more information about these programs, visit our Department of Child & Adolescent Development website.

• BA - Child and Adolescent Development - Preparation for Teaching

  • Our BA in Child and Adolescent Development with a Preparation for Teaching (Plan A) equips students with a solid foundation in theory and research while preparing them to later earn a teaching credential and teach at the elementary or middle school level. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) also recognizes teacher prep degrees as verification of subject matter competence, which enables students who complete this program to receive a waiver for the subject matter examination (CSET for Multiple Subjects) required to earn a teaching credential.

    Program Overview

    - Official Title: Bachelors of Arts in Child and Adolescent Development, Preparation for Teaching
    - Format: Full-time or part-time
    - Units: 120 units
    - Start date: Fall (Freshmen and Transfers), Spring (Transfers)
    - Application deadlines: Visit the SJSU Admissions Freshman Deadlines webpage and Transfer Deadlines webpage

    For more information about this program, visit our Department of Child & Adolescent Development website.

• BA - Communicative Disorders and Sciences

  • This undergraduate degree program develops a strong foundation for those who want to positively impact lives through clinical careers in speech-language pathology and audiology. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) screen, evaluate, advocate for, and treat persons across the lifespan with speech, language, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders. Audiologists identify, diagnose, and treat persons with hearing and balance disorders.

    For more information about this program, visit our Department of Communicative Disorders & Sciences website.

    The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) website also has information available about careers in speech language pathology and careers in audiology.

• 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.

    For more information about these programs, visit the Liberal Studies website.

• Spartan Accelerated Graduate Education (SAGE) Programs - Complete your BA, MA, and Credential Programs Simultaneously

  • The Lurie College of Education’s Spartan Accelerated Graduate Education (SAGE) programs provide undergraduate students with an accelerated path to a teaching credential and masters degree. SJSU students can apply for SAGE programs when they meet the eligibility requirements, typically during their junior years.

    SAGE scholars pursue their bachelor’s and graduate degrees simultaneously, earning graduate credit as undergraduate students. These programs provide a rigorous and cohesive educational experience that integrates subject matter, pedagogy and research. The benefits are numerous, including:

    1) reducing the number of units to earn the bachelor’s, credential and master’s degrees

    2) allowing students to pay undergraduate fees for some graduate courses

    3) providing students with a seamless application when applying to a graduate career.

    Multiple Subject / Elementary Education Programs

    - BA, Liberal Studies Teacher Preparation, Multiple Subject Credential, and MA in Teaching (with an optional Spanish Bilingual Authorization)

    Single Subject / Secondary Education Programs

    - BA, African American Studies, U.S. History Minor, Single Subject Credential, and MA in Teaching

    - BA, Art, Single Subject Credential, and MA in Teaching

    - BS, Kinesiology, Single Subject Credential, and MA in Teaching

    - BA, Social Science, Single Subject Credential, and MA in Teaching

    Special Education Programs

    - BA, Liberal Studies, Education Specialist Credential, and MA in Special Education

    Learn more about each of these programs on the SJSU Catalog's SAGE webpage.

Credential Programs & Authorizations

• 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 authorizations to students with disabilities between the ages of birth and pre-Kindergarten.

    For more information about this program, visit our Department of Special Education website.

• 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.

    For more information about this program, visit our Department of Counselor Education website.

• 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.

    For more information about this program, visit our Department of Special Education website.

• 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.

    Program Overview

    - Format: Hybrid, evenings
    - Units: 30-51 units - view our roadmaps for more information
    - Start date: Fall or Spring
    - Program length: Mostly 2 years / 4 semesters
    - Application deadline: June 1 (Fall); November 1 (Spring)

    For more information about this program, visit our Department of Special Education website.

• Credential - Mild-Moderate Disabilities Education Credential

  • The Mild-Moderate Disabilities Education Specialist Credential Program prepares individuals to teach students from Kindergarten through age 22 who have mild to moderate disabilities which may include specific learning disabilities, mild to moderate intellectual disability, other health impairments, and serious emotional disturbance. Coursework covers formal and informal assessments, curriculum and instructional practices, methods for inclusive education, social communication strategies, collaboration skills, and positive behavior support. Individuals with the Mild-Moderate Disabilities Education Specialist Credential most often work in public school settings, but may also work in non-public schools or residential settings.

    Program Overview

    - Format: Hybrid, evenings
    - Units: 30-51 units - view our roadmaps for more information
    - Start date: Fall or Spring
    - Program length: Mostly 2 years / 4 semesters
    - Application deadline: June 1 (Fall); November 1 (Spring)

    For more information about this program, visit our Department of Special Education website.

• 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 requiring extensive support, such as autism, deaf-blindness, moderate to severe intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, and severe emotional disturbances. Coursework covers the areas of functional assessment, curriculum, instructional practices, methods for inclusive education, communication strategies, collaboration skills, and positive behavior support. Individuals with the Moderate Severe Disabilities Education Specialist Credential most often work in public school settings, but may also work in non-public schools or residential settings.

    Program Overview

    - Format: Hybrid, evenings
    - Units: 30-51 units - view our roadmaps for more information
    - Start date: Fall or Spring
    - Program length: Mostly 2 years / 4 semesters
    - Application deadline: June 1 (Fall); November 1 (Spring)

    For more information about this program, visit our Department of Special Education website.

• 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.

    For more information about this program, visit our Department of Teacher Education website.

• Credential - Pupil Personnel Services School Counseling (K-12)

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    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. A Master's degree in Counseling or a related field is required to obtain a clear PPS School Counseling Credential.

    For more information about this program, visit our Department of Counselor Education website.

• Credential - Pupil Personnel Services School Counseling Internship

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    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.

    For more information about this program, visit our Department of Counselor Education website.

• 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.

    For more information about this program, visit our Department of Teacher Education website.

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 - Child and Adolescent Development

  • Our MA in Child and Adolescent Development (ChAD) is designed for students who are passionate about early childhood through emerging adulthood, social/emotional developement, cognitive/language development, and more, and prepares our graduates for a wide range of career paths.

    Program Overview

    - Official Title: MA, Child and Adolescent Development
    - Format: Late-afternoon and evening classes
    - Units: 30, including 9 units of electives
    - Start date: Fall only
    - Program length: 2 years
    - Application deadline: March 1, 2021; letters of recommendation and transcripts accepted until March 20, 2021

    For more information, visit our Department of Child & Adolescent Development website.

• MA - Counseling and Guidance

  • The Counseling and Guidance MA degree program prepares individuals to apply the theory and principles of guidance and counseling to the provision of support for the personal, social, educational, and vocational development of students, and the organizing of guidance services within elementary, middle and secondary educational institutions. It includes instruction in legal and professional requirements, therapeutic counselor intervention, vocational counseling, and related sociological and psychological foundations.

    Program Overview

    - Official Title: Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance
    - Format: Full-time or part-time
    - Units: 48 (MA only), 60 (MA + PPS Credential), 60 (MA + LPCC option)
    - Start date: Fall or Spring
    - Application window: October 1 - February 1 (Fall); August 1 - October 1 (Spring)

    For more information about this program, visit our Department of Counselor Education website.

• MA - 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.

    The first 15 people who apply to this program by April 1 and are admitted for Summer 2021 will receive a $3500 scholarship!

    Program Overview

    This new Master’s Degree is designed to work in partnership with county LEAP programs to build upon the skills LEAP graduates bring to school settings. The program contains the following features:

    - Official Title: Educational Leadership, Concentration in Emancipatory School Leadership, MA
    - Format: Part-time, cohort, hybrid model with courses taught in-person and online
    - Units: 30 units
    - Start date: Summer
    - Program length: 14-month program (summer, fall, spring, summer)
    - Application deadline: April 1

    For more information about this program, visit our Department of Educational Leadership website.

• MA - Special Education

  • Our MA in in Special Education prepares students for leadership roles in special education through a core curriculum and elective coursework in areas of specialization. This rigorous program is designed for candidates with experience in the field to ask questions about practices, policies, educational strategies or attitudes that can be answered by conducting a research project.

    Program Overview

    - Official Title: Master of Arts in Special Education
    - Format: Full-time or part-time
    - Units: 30 (MA only), 43-51 (MA and credential)
    - Start date: Fall
    - Program length: 4 semesters (fall, spring, fall, spring)
    - Application deadline: June 1

    For more information about this program, visit our Department of Special Education website.

• MS - Speech-Language 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.

    For more information about this program, visit our Department of Communicative Disorders & Sciences website.

• MA - Teaching

  • 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.

    To learn more about, visit our Department of Teacher Education Multiple Subject Credential Program webpage or Single Subject Credential Program webpage.

• EdD - Educational Leadership

  • Tomorrow’s leaders will be those who thrive in a diverse, complex, technologically advanced world. The San José State University Ed.D. curriculum focuses on real-life case learning and engages in rigorous inquiry in core areas needed for leadership success in efforts to reform schools, engage communities and increase student achievement.

    Program Overview

    - Official Title: Ed.D., Educational Leadership
    - Format: Cohort
    - Length: 3 years / 9 semesters
    - Units: 60
    - Start term: Summer
    - Application window: November - March

    For more information about this program, visit our Ed.D. Leadership Program website.