Degrees for Education

Educational leaders serve in many capacities. No matter what position an individual holds within an educational organization, all energies should be directed at maximizing the academic achievement of all students being served.

The courses in the Educational Administration Option are designed to prepare leaders for this important work. Emphasis is placed on the role of schooling in a democratic society, instructional leadership, building collaboratives, managing and guiding change, and working with diverse populations. Because of our location, issues associated with urban schools are a primary focus of the program.

The College of Education at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at the University of California, Santa Barbara offer a field-based Ed.D. in Educational Leadership for working professionals. Graduates typically pursue employment in leadership and administrative roles in K-12 schools, community colleges, universities, government agencies, and other allied organizations.

Department of Graduate Studies in Education (DGSE) offers programs leading to the Master of Arts degree in Education with specializations in the following areas: Educational Leadership and Administration, School Counseling and Counseling in Higher Education Settings, and Special Education. In addition, the DGSE offers service credential programs in Administrative Services, School Counseling, and Special Education and a supplementary certificate in Computer Applications. The DGSE also houses the doctoral program in Educational Leadership, which is offered jointly with the University of California, Santa Barbara.

The DGSE faculty is committed both to meeting traditional program needs and to developing innovative and integrated approaches to long-standing and emerging issues in education. The faculty embodies the Department’s commitment to understanding and improving educational practice and research in a diverse society. To that end, all DGSE graduate programs are taught by professors recognized in their fields for teaching skills, research interests, and professional activities. These faculty members work diligently to maintain the highest standards of academic excellence, combined with problem-based instructional practices, and are respected for their teaching, scholarship, and service by professional practitioners at regional, state, and national levels.