The MA in Education with a California Teaching Credential in General Education puts theory into practice through an internship that provides paid, mentor-guided clinical experience and prepares teachers who make a difference in the world.
Work in schools should be informed by academic research and, likewise, discussions at the university need to be enriched by real-life classroom experience. We believe the best way to prepare great teachers is through real-world experience. Our program’s internship component provides a paid, mentor-guided teaching experience in a K–12 setting, where every assignment and class is designed to develop the skills, strategies, and attitudes you’ll need to interrupt cycles of academic failure. You will grapple with the academic and the theoretical as well as the practical and the clinical. You’ll be mentored by seasoned K–12 veterans, many of whom have taken time out of the K–12 arena to pursue doctoral work in our School of Educational Studies or to participate in research projects.
Our candidates simultaneously earn their master of arts degree and one of the following credentials:
- Preliminary Multiple-Subject Credential: For those who want to teach in elementary schools.
- Preliminary Single-Subject Credential: For those who want to work in middle and high schools teaching a specific subject.
Program Highlights
- Our teacher candidates must meet a clinical requirement in three out of four terms, translating to 42 weeks’ invaluable classroom experience—compared to six or seven weeks in standard programs.
- Each qualified student admitted to the program will be awarded a $20,000 California Future Teachers Fellowship.
- Teacher candidates who complete the program through the CGU internship typically earn an average of $48,000 annually within months of starting coursework.
- CGU’S Teacher Education Program has built strong relationships with more than 150 school districts, which recognize that CGU has a reputation for producing high-quality teachers; the result is ample internship opportunities for our student-teachers.
- Within five years of earning a Preliminary Credential in California, a teacher must earn a Clear Credential from an approved Induction Program. CGU has both a Preliminary Credential Program and an Induction Program.
- CGU’s Induction Program can jump-start advanced study by enabling you to earn units applicable to an MA or PhD from the School of Educational Studies.
