Social and Multicultural Foundations Program Requirements

In addition to the nine (9) units of prerequisite courses, the program requires 33-36 units of upper division and graduate courses, of which a minimum of 24 units must be at the 500/600-level. Therefore, a maximum of three courses, not including prerequisites, may be taken at the 300 or 400 level. Please note that when choosing courses below the 500/600 level, only those with an asterisk in the CSULB Catalog may be applied to the program. Also note that no program courses may be taken on a credit/no credit basis.

The four main areas of the program are detailed below:

1. SMF Program Courses (15 units total)
2. Research Methods Course (3 units)
3. Electives (12 units total)
4. Exit Requirement (3-6 units). Please note that students who choose the comprehensive examination exit requirement will complete 33 units, while students who elect to complete a master's thesis will complete 36 units.

1. SMF Program Courses (15 units)

Choose any five courses from the following seven SMF graduate-level seminars:

EDP 573 - Intercultural Communication in Education (3 units)

Introduction to the facets, parameters and techniques of intercultural communication and its relationship to functioning in a multicultural educational environment. This course situates intercultural communication within the broader social, cultural and historical context and within the study of culture itself.

EDP 574 - Sociological Foundations of Education (3 units)

Relationships between society and the schools: local/national ideologies and political/economic influences; education as a social function; current trends and issues as they affect education. (Not open to students with credit in ED P 480.)

EDP 575 - Intellectual Foundations of Educational Reforms, 19th Century to Present (3 units)

Historical survey of the intellectual and ideological foundations of U.S. educational reform movements, with emphasis on the 19th and 20th centuries. Focus on individual educational philosophers and on major curriculum orientations, with consideration of their impact on diverse groups.

EDP 576 - Education & Diversity: Historical & Contemporary Perspectives (3 units)

Survey of major canons in U.S. educational history during the 19th and 20th centuries from the perspectives and experiences of various diverse groups; analysis of the implications for the diverse populations; and educational approaches that better serve educationally diverse students.

EDP 582 - Comparative International Education (3 units)

An overview of education in selected countries; a study of institutional organization, as well as issues which develop in particular social, economic, and political contexts; an examination of types of educational problems and solutions which are commonly shared.

EDP 583 - Global Education (3 units)

Background on critical world issues and cultural influences, as well as methods and resources for application in the classroom. Format includes resource speakers and practitioners, map activities, and cultural simulation exercises.

EDP 672 - Language and Educational Policies (3 units)

Analysis of contemporary and historical language policies, educational language policies, and legal decisions and attitudes in the U.S. which provide the context for current language practices in the schools; comparison of U.S. experiences with those of other nations.

2. Research Methods Course (3 units)

Choose one of the following research methods courses:

EDP 520 - Research Methods in Education (3 units)

Prerequisite:EDP 400. Examination and application of educational research methodology including various types of qualitative and quantitative methods, research designs, sampling methods, inferential statistics and hypothesis testing, and the structure and content of a research proposal.

EDP 595 - Qualitative Research Methods (3 units)

Introduction to the theory and application of ethnographic and qualitative methods in educational settings with special emphasis on applications for educational linguistics, educational anthropology, and research related to language arts instruction. Surveys the basic rationale for qualitative/ethnographic inquiry and basic concepts and methods for applications in teacher-as-researcher approaches and for action research.

3. Electives (12 units)

Students must complete 12 units of approved elective courses. For convenience, potential electives are listed together below in three groupings of related courses. However, the program provides students with the flexibility to design their own course of study, in which elective courses may be taken in any combination. Electives may also include SMF Program Courses exceeding the 15 units required above or courses not listed below, that must be approved in consultation with the student's advisor. Students may find course descriptions of potential elective courses in the current CSULB Catalog. Please note that when selecting courses below the 500 level, students may choose only those with an asterisk beside the course number in the current CSULB Catalog, which indicates that the course is acceptable for credit for a CSULB master's degree.

Race, Class, and Gender Studies in Education

Language, Literacy and Culture

International/Global Education

4. Program Exit Requirement (3-6 units)

After completing all course work and the advancement to candidacy process, students must officially select either the option of Directed Research plus the Comprehensive Exam or the Thesis option. Please note that an application, available from the Graduate Studies office or the SMF Program Coordinator, is necessary to secure consent for either exit requirement and requires the signature of the SMF Program Coordinator, Department Chair, and Associate Dean. The application should be submitted to the EDPAC department office (ED1-10) after securing the signature of the student's advisor.

Students must choose either:

EDP 697 Directed Research (3 units) AND Comprehensive Exam

OR

EDP 698: Thesis (6 units)

Last update: 7/9/07