Address

1009 Moore Hall
Box 951521
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1521

Phone

(310) 825-8326

Email

info@gseis.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.A., M.Ed./Credential, M.Ed., Ed.D., Ph.D.

Admission Limited to

Fall

Exceptions only in special cases

Deadline to apply

December 1st
January 4th: M.Ed./Credential — Teacher Education Program
February 1st: M.Ed — Principal Leadership Institute

GRE (General and/or Subject)

GRE: General

Not required for Teacher Education Program. CBEST and CSET are required for these applicants. Consult department for additional information.

Letters of Recommendation 

3, at least, documenting qualifications and/or professional experience

Other Requirements

In addition to the University’s minimum requirements and those listed above, all applicants are expected to submit the departmental application, resume and a statement of purpose. For those applying to the Teacher Education Program, Principal Leadership Institute, and Educational Leadership Program, applicants participate in a small group process.

For the Joint Ph.D. in Special Education, all applicants need approval of continuance from the review committee at UCLA and CSULA.

M.A.: The M.A. degree in Education is an academic master’s degree designed to meet the needs of individuals preparing for careers in basic research or for advanced graduate study.

Acceptance into a particular division is dependent on the availability of openings in that division and the applicant’s desired emphasis area; preference is given to applicants with relevant background and experience.

M.Ed.: The M.Ed. Degree is a professional degree program designed for individuals preparing for mid-level professional positions in schooling or for advanced professional graduate study.

The following requirements are applicable in accordance with selected emphases:

Student Affairs. This is a one-year full time program, starting in Summer Session C. Students proceed through the program as a cohort. The program prepares its graduates for entry level professional programs in student affairs.

Teacher Education. This is a two-year program leading to qualification for a Multiple or Single Subject Teaching Credential and a Master of Education degree. Applicants with the highest qualifications in all subject areas, particularly mathematics, science, and the humanities, are particularly encouraged to apply. Experience in working with children is advantageous.

The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing has authorized the Department of Education to offer professional programs that lead to the (1) Multiple Subject Instructional Credential with the Cross-Cultural Language and Academic Development/Bilingual Cross-Cultural Language and Academic Development (BCLAD) emphasis; (2) Single Subject Instructional Credential with the CLAD/BCLAD emphasis; and (3) Administrative Services Credential. Credential programs (1) and (2) are taken concurrently with the M.Ed. in Teacher Education; credential program (3) is taken concurrently with the M.Ed. In administrative program studies in education.

Ph.D.: The Ph.D. degree in Education is a strongly research-oriented academic degree designed for individuals preparing for careers in basic research or college-level instruction. Major foci include theory, research methodology, basic studies, and in-depth knowledge in education and an approved cognate field.

Applicants must have demonstrated academic excellence and the potential for scholarly research.

Acceptance into a particular division is dependent on the availability of openings in that division and the applicant’s desired emphasis area; preference is given to applicants with relevant background and experience. A student is admitted by a division and must formally apply for a change of division.

Joint Ph.D. Program in Special Education

A joint Ph.D. program in Special Education is offered by UCLA and California State University, Los Angeles.

Ed.D.: The Ed.D. degree is a professional degree designed to meet the needs of individuals preparing for careers of leadership and applied research in the schools and community educational programs. Major foci include practice, applied studies, and knowledge related to professional skills. The major foci of the Educational Leadership Program include innovation and change in schools, postsecondary education and related areas.

To be admitted into the Ed.D. program, applicants must have at least three years of successful professional experience in education or the equivalent and demonstrated evidence of potential for professional leadership. Students are admitted by a division or by program and must formally apply for a change of division or program.

The only program currently accepting applications for the Ed.D. degree is the Educational Leadership Program.

Latin American Studies, M.A./Education, M.Ed.

The Department of Education and Information Studies and the Latin American Studies Program offer an articulated degree program which allows students to combine study for the M.A. in Latin American Studies and the M.Ed., with an emphasis in curriculum. Articulated programs do not allow course credit to be applied toward more than one degree. This program is not currently accepting applications.

Law/Education Concurrent Degree

The Department of Education and the School of Law offer a concurrent degree program which allows students to design a program of study leading to the J.D. and any advanced degree in education (M.Ed., M.A., Ed.D., or Ph.D.). If the program meets the degree requirements in both schools, students are awarded both degrees on its completion. This program is not accepting applications for 2012-2013.

Master of Arts

Advising

When admitted the student is assigned a faculty adviser within the selected field.

Areas of Study

The M.A. emphases in divisions 2 through 5 are the following:

Psychological Studies in Education. Developmental studies in education and learning, and instruction.

Higher Education and Organizational Change. Education training, public policy analysis, research in higher education, and teaching in higher education.

Social Research Methodology. Applied statistics and psychometrics, quantitative and qualitative research, evaluation methodology, and economic analysis.

Social Sciences and Comparative Education. Philosophical/historical studies in education, cultural studies in education, race and ethnic studies in education, comparative/international studies in education.

Curricular Divisions. Students contact the Office of Student Services regarding faculty member(s) to be consulted with respect to enrollment and research opportunities and/or course sequencing in each division or emphasis field.

Division 1: Urban Schooling. Education 220A, 229, 237, 242, 246A, 262B, 262H, 262J, 264, 272, 275, 276, 277, 279, 284, 290.

Division 2: Psychological Studies in Education. Education 205, 212A, 212B, M217A, 217B, 217D, 433A, 433B.

Division 3: Higher Education and Organizational Change. Education C209A, 209C, 209D, 221, 234, 235, 238, 239, 249B, 250A, 250B, 250C, 259A, 261F, 263.

Division 4: Social Research Methodology. Education 202, 211A, 211B, 218,  222A, 222B, 222C, 222D, 226, 230A, 230B, 230C, 231A, 231B, 231C, 231D, M231E, 233A, 255A, 255B, 255C, 411.

Division 5: Social Sciences and Comparative Education. Education 200A, 204A, 204B, 204C, 204D, 204E, 206A, 208A, 208C, 252B, M253A, 253B, 253C, 253E, 253G, M266, 268, 270, 274, 282, 283.

Academic Interinstitutional Programs. Formal discontinuance pending.

Special Studies. Education 288, 296A, 296B, 296C, 299A, 299B, 299C, 375, 498A, 498B, 498C, 499A, 499B, 499C, 596, 597, 598, 599.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

A minimum of nine upper division and graduate courses (36 units) must be completed in graduate standing although no specific upper division courses are necessary. Six courses (24 units) must be taken in the Education 200 and 500 series; no more than two 500-series courses (eight units) may be applied toward the divisional course minimum and toward the graduate course minimum.

Two research methods courses approved by the faculty adviser must be selected. Additional courses to complete the 36-unit requirement may be selected from offerings in Education and/or other departments with consent of the assigned faculty adviser and consent of division head. Courses must be completed with a grade of C or better and with an overall grade point average of at least 3.0.

Students contact the Office of Student Services regarding faculty member(s) to be consulted with respect to enrollment and research opportunities and/or course sequencing in each division or emphasis field.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

The comprehensive examination is concerned with central topics in the selected division and field of emphasis. Questions are comprehensive in nature and are designed to measure the breadth and depth of knowledge, as well as ability to focus that knowledge on specific problems. The examination is offered twice yearly, once in Fall Quarter and once in Spring Quarter.

Students may be passed, passed with honors, or failed on the examination. Students who fail the examination are given a second opportunity to take the examination at the discretion of the student’s adviser and a third opportunity on a two-thirds majority of all divisional faculty voting on this issue. No fourth sitting for the examination is permitted. Students who fail the comprehensive examination, but who have been allowed to retake it, may do so at any scheduled sitting with consent of the divisional faculty.

Thesis Plan

Every master’s degree thesis plan requires the completion of an approved thesis that demonstrates the student’s ability to perform original, independent research.

Before beginning work on the thesis students must obtain approval of the subject and general plan from the department and from the thesis committee chair. The thesis committee must be formed and a petition for advancement to candidacy for the degree must be filed no later than one quarter prior to completion of course requirements for the degree. The University thesis and dissertation adviser and the Graduate Division publication, Polices and Procedures for Thesis and Dissertation Preparation and Filing, provide guidance in the final formatting of the manuscript. The department does not require a formal examination for the thesis plan.

Time-to-Degree

From graduate admission to completion of required courses, normal progress is from one to two years (three to six quarters). The comprehensive examination may be taken during the last quarter of coursework or during a quarter subsequent to the completion of coursework. Students on the thesis plan prepare the thesis subsequent to the completion of coursework. A maximum of seven quarters is permitted for completion of the degree.

Master of Education

Advising

When admitted the student is assigned a faculty adviser within the selected field.

Areas of Study

Student affairs, teacher education, and administrative credential.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

A minimum of nine upper division and graduate courses (36 units) must be completed in graduate standing. At least five courses (20 units) must be in the professional education (400) series. For the student affairs specialization, a total of 14 courses are required, including seven graduate courses. No 500-series courses may be applied toward the degree. Education 597 may be taken on an optional basis. A field experience minimally approximating one course is required for all M.Ed. emphases. Information regarding specific course requirements in a selected M.Ed. emphasis may be obtained from the Office of Student Services.

Teaching Experience

Teaching experience, if required, is indicated for each emphasis above.

Field Experience

Required for all students. The type of field experience varies depending on the specialization.  Examples of the required field experience include observation and participation in K-12 classrooms and administrative offices, student teaching, and internships in student affairs settings at the post-secondary level.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

The master’s comprehensive examination for the M.Ed. degree in student affairs is offered during Spring Quarter. The examination consists of a written examination designed to assess comprehension of professional knowledge basic to the selected field of emphasis, including key concepts and principles, major theoretical positions, and fundamental issues and understanding of the broad educational context in which the selected professional field resides.

Information regarding examination foci for the M.Ed. degree in student affairs is available from the faculty adviser.

The master’s comprehensive examination for the M.Ed. degree in administration is in the form of an inquiry project on a topic investigated in depth. Students address major theories studied in the program and link those theories to the practices in areas of leadership, teaching and learning, equity and access, and professional growth.

Students may be passed, passed with honors, or failed on this examination. Students who fail this examination are given a second opportunity to take the examination at the discretion of the student’s adviser and a third opportunity on a two-thirds majority of all divisional faculty voting on this issue. No fourth sitting for the examination is allowed. Students who fail the comprehensive examination, but who have been allowed to retake it, may do so at any scheduled sitting with consent of the divisional faculty.

The master’s comprehensive examination for the M.Ed. degree in teacher education is in the form of an inquiry project. The inquiry project process represents the developmental and collaborative philosophical approach of the teacher education program. Students submit essays on various topics ranging from cultural, linguistic, and pedagogical practices in education. The portfolio is submitted in May of the student’s second year.

The inquiry project examination is graded pass, pass with honors, or fail. Students who fail the examination are given a second opportunity to take it at the discretion of the student’s adviser and a third opportunity on a two-thirds majority vote of all program faculty. No fourth sitting for the examination is allowed.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

From graduate admission to completion of required courses, normal progress is from one to two years (three to six quarters). The comprehensive examination may be taken during the last quarter of coursework or during a quarter subsequent to completion of coursework. A maximum of seven quarters is permitted for completion of a master’s degree.

Doctor of Philosophy

Advising

At the time of admission to the department, the student is assigned a faculty adviser within the selected field.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

All Divisions: Urban Schooling; Psychological Studies in Education; Higher Education and Organizational Change; Social Research Methodology; Social Sciences and Comparative Education.

Students also may receive specialized interdisciplinary training in culture, brain, and development. Interested students should consult the Center for Culture, Brain and Development website.

Foreign Language Requirement

The department does not have a foreign language requirement for the Ph.D. degree. However, students in the Social Sciences and Comparative Education Division are required to demonstrate reading competence in a language other than English.

Course Requirements

A program of study for a Ph.D. student is determined by the student and the faculty adviser and must conform to division and department requirements. A minimum of 18 courses is required as indicated below. At least 10 of the total courses must be in the 200 series.

(1) A sequential three-quarter research practicum designed to provide an overview of research in the field of study. Students complete a research paper by the end of the sequence.

(2) Five courses from offerings in the student’s selected division.

(3) Three upper division or graduate courses from other academic departments of the University related to the student’s proposed area of research (the cognate).

(4) Appropriate research methods courses to enable demonstration of intermediate/advanced level competence in at least one area of research methodology. This requirement is satisfied by completing four methodology courses as specified in the list approved by the department; the approved list is available in the Office of Student Services.

The remainder of the courses to complete the required total may be chosen by the student; such courses must be in compliance with the selected division’s guidelines and must be approved by the student’s faculty adviser. Divisional course requirements may be waived, under exceptional circumstances, by the division. Students submit a petition, endorsed by their adviser, to the division head. Wherever additional academic background is needed, a faculty adviser may require other coursework.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

Academic Senate regulations require all doctoral students to complete and pass University written and oral qualifying examinations prior to doctoral advancement to candidacy. Also, under Senate regulations the University oral qualifying examination is open only to the student and appointed members of the doctoral committee. In addition to University requirements, some graduate programs have other pre-candidacy examination requirements. What follows in this section is how students are required to fulfill all of these requirements for this doctoral program.

Doctoral Screening Examination. A written examination is taken after completion of appropriate coursework determined by the division. This examination is concerned with central topics in the selected division and field of emphasis. Questions are comprehensive in nature and are designed to measure the breadth and depth of knowledge, as well as to focus that knowledge on specific problems.

Students taking the doctoral screening examination ordinarily are not allowed to take more than nine courses before taking the examination. This limit is intended to ensure that students demonstrate basic competencies as early as possible in their doctoral training.

All students admitted to a doctoral program without a master’s degree are required to take the doctoral screening examination.

In a first sitting for this examination, students may be passed with honors, passed at the master’s level (the terminal master’s), or failed. Students passed at the master’s level are given one further opportunity to pass at the doctoral level; students who fail are given a second opportunity to take the examination at the master’s level only.

Students who fail the doctoral screening examination, but who have been allowed to retake the examination, must do so at the next sitting. They can take up to 12 units per quarter until they have successfully completed the examination. Of these 12 units only four may be a doctoral 200- or 400-level course; the remainder must be the 597 course. After satisfying the above requirements, students are eligible to take the following qualifying examinations:

Doctoral Written Qualifying Examination. The examination is offered twice yearly, once in Fall Quarter and once in Spring Quarter. The written qualifying examination tests the core knowledge of the division and emphasis the student has selected. The questions on the examination reflect a research and theoretical orientation. Students may be passed, passed with honors, or failed on this examination. Students who fail this examination are given a second opportunity to take the examination at the discretion of the student’s adviser and a third opportunity on a two-thirds majority of all divisional faculty voting on this issue. No fourth sitting for the examination is allowed. Students who fail the doctoral written qualifying examination, but who have been allowed to retake it, should do so at the next scheduled sitting with consent of the divisional faculty.

University Oral Qualifying Examination. The oral examination is conducted by the student’s doctoral committee, which selects topics from both education and the cognate discipline(s) that are related to the student’s written research proposal. On a majority vote of the doctoral committee, the University Oral Qualifying Examination may be repeated once.

Advancement to Candidacy

Students are advanced to candidacy upon successful completion of the written and oral qualifying examinations.

Doctoral Dissertation

Every doctoral degree program requires the completion of an approved dissertation that demonstrates the student’s ability to perform original, independent research and constitutes a distinct contribution to knowledge in the principal field of study.

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

Not required for all students in the program. The decision as to whether a defense is required is made by the doctoral committee.

Time-to-Degree

From admission to the doctoral program to the written and oral qualifying examinations: three to four years (nine to 12 quarters).

From admission to the doctoral program to the approval of the dissertation prospectus: three to four years (nine to 12 quarters).

From approval of dissertation prospectus to the university oral qualifying examination: same quarter.

A maximum of 21 quarters is permitted for completion of a doctoral degree.

Doctor of Education

Advising

At the time of admission to the department, the student is assigned a faculty adviser within the selected field.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

The Ed.D. degree is offered for emphases in Divisions 1 through 4 and in the Educational Leadership Program. Administration, curriculum, and teaching studies emphases are offered for school, postsecondary and continuing education administrators, education policy analysts, program and curriculum developers, and teacher educators. Educational psychology emphases are offered for those interested in practical issues related to special education, educational technology, and computer-assisted instruction. Higher education and work emphases focus on administration in relation to corporate or proprietary education and training, community colleges, and continuing education. Social research methodology emphases are applied measurement and evaluation leadership.

The only program currently accepting applications for the Ed.D. degree is the Educational Leadership Program.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

A program of study for an Ed.D. student is determined by the student and faculty adviser, and must meet division or program and department requirements. A minimum of 18 courses is required.

(1) Three research methods courses, with no more than two introductory (first tier) courses and at least one intermediate/advanced (second tier) course, selected from the departmental list approved for the Ed.D. degree.

(2) Nine education courses, of which at least six must be from the Education 400 series; all courses must be approved by the faculty adviser.

(3) Three supplemental courses selected from offerings in the department (outside the student’s field of emphasis) or in another UCLA professional school or department.

(4)  One sequential three-quarter field practicum (Education 499A-499B-499C). Divisional or program course requirements may be waived, under exceptional circumstances, by the division or program.  Students submit a petition, endorsed by their adviser, to the division or program head. Whenever additional academic background is needed, a faculty adviser may require other coursework.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

Academic Senate regulations require all doctoral students to complete and pass University written and oral qualifying examinations prior to doctoral advancement to candidacy. Also, under Senate regulations the University oral qualifying examination is open only to the student and appointed members of the doctoral committee. In addition to University requirements, some graduate programs have other pre-candidacy examination requirements. What follows in this section is how students are required to fulfill all of these requirements for this doctoral program.

Doctoral Screening Examination. A written examination is taken after the completion of appropriate coursework determined by the division or the program. This examination is concerned with central topics in the selected division and field of emphasis or program. Questions are comprehensive in nature and are designed to measure the breadth and depth of knowledge, as well as to focus that knowledge on specific problems.

Students who take the doctoral screening examination ordinarily are not allowed to take more than nine courses before taking the examination. This limit is intended to ensure that students demonstrate basic competencies as early as possible in their doctoral training.

All students admitted to a doctoral program without a master’s degree are required to take the doctoral screening examination.

In a first sitting for this examination, students may be passed, passed with honors, passed at the master’s level (the terminal master’s), or failed. Students passed at the master’s level are given one further opportunity to pass at the doctoral level; students who fail are given a second opportunity to take the examination at the master’s level only.

Students who fail the doctoral screening examination, but who have been allowed to retake the examination, must do so at the next sitting. They can take up to 12 units per quarter until they have successfully completed the examination. Of these 12 units, only four may be a doctoral 200 or 400 level course; the remainder must be the 597 course. After satisfying the above requirements, students are eligible to take the following qualifying examinations.

Doctoral Written Qualifying Examination. The written qualifying examination is offered twice yearly, once in Fall Quarter and once in Spring Quarter. The examination tests the core knowledge of the division and emphasis the student has selected. The questions on the examination reflect a professional orientation. Students may be passed, passed with honors, or failed on this examination. Students who fail this examination are given a second opportunity to take the examination at the discretion of the student’s adviser and a third opportunity on a two-thirds majority of all divisional faculty voting on this issue. No fourth sitting for the examination is allowed. Students who fail the doctoral written qualifying examination, but who are allowed to retake it, should do so at the next scheduled sitting with consent of the divisional faculty.

University Oral Qualifying Examination. The oral examination is conducted by the student’s doctoral committee, which selects topics from education that are related to the student’s written dissertation proposal. On majority vote of the doctoral committee, the University Oral Qualifying Examination may be repeated once.

Advancement to Candidacy

Students are advanced to candidacy upon successful completion of the written and oral qualifying examinations.

Doctoral Dissertation

Every doctoral degree program requires the completion of an approved dissertation that demonstrates the student’s ability to perform original, independent research and constitutes a distinct contribution to knowledge in the principal field of study.

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

Not required for all students in the program. The decision as to whether a defense is required is made by the doctoral committee.

Time-to-Degree

From admission to the doctoral program to the written and oral qualifying examinations: three to four years (nine to 12 quarters).

From admission to the doctoral program to the approval of the dissertation prospectus: three to four years (nine to 12 quarters).

From approval of dissertation prospectus to the university oral qualifying examination: same quarter.

A maximum of 21 quarters is permitted for completion of a doctoral degree.

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for termination of graduate study. A graduate student may be disqualified from continuing in the graduate program for a variety of reasons. The most common is failure to maintain the minimum cumulative grade point average (3.00) required by the Academic Senate to remain in good standing (some programs require a higher grade point average). Other examples include failure of examinations, lack of timely progress toward the degree and poor performance in core courses. Probationary students (those with cumulative grade point averages below 3.00) are subject to immediate dismissal upon the recommendation of their department. University guidelines governing termination of graduate students, including the appeal procedure, are outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A student may be recommended for termination either by the Committee on Degrees, Admissions and Standards, or by the faculty of a division or program. The student’s adviser or the program head is given the opportunity to review and respond to a recommendation for termination from the Committee. In addition to the standard reasons outlined above, a student may be recommended for termination who fails a master’s performance or doctoral screening examination. A student may appeal a decision by the Committee to the dean of the school.