Units: 45 quarter units (3 quarter units = 2 semester units)
Average Program Length: 1.5 years (full time) or 2-3 years (part time)
Start Dates: Fall, Winter, Spring, or Summer
Download the MA-IDE curriculum (268 kb)
The Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Education (MA-IDE) is designed for candidates who wish to develop a wide range of competencies and experiences beyond a teacher preparation program. The Master of Arts degree requires 15 courses (45 quarter units) and a culminating experience (i.e., action research project or ePortfolio). Students in the MA-IDE must choose one of the four emphasis areas, depending on their interests:
Emphasis Areas for Practicing Educators
The Curriculum & Instruction (C&I) and Science, Technology, Environmental Education, and Mathematics (STEEM) emphases are designed for practicing educators.
Curriculum & Instruction
Advisors: Sara Garcia, Pedro Hernandez-Ramos, Priscilla Myers, Harold Hoyle, Cheryl McElvain
The 15 courses in this emphasis are designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of new and experienced practicing preK-12 teachers in six major areas: (1) Improve learning outcomes for K-12 students with identified and unidentified learning challenges, (2) Improve learning outcomes for K-12 English Language Learners (ELLs), (3) Improve learning outcomes for K-12 students with low socioeconomic-status, (4) Increase reading and writing proficiency for all K-12 students, (5) Increase mathematics and quantitative reasoning proficiency for all K-12 students, and (6) Strengthen foundational knowledge of teaching, learning and schooling.
Science, Technology, Environmental Education, and Mathematics (STEEM)
Science Advisor: Margaret Lucero and Marco Bravo
Technology Advisor: Pedro Hernandez-Ramos
Environmental Education Advisor: Sara Garcia
Mathematics Advisor: Melissa Gilbert
This emphasis consists of 6 courses designed to offer candidates a rich and truly interdisciplinary option to further expand their content, pedagogical, and technological knowledge in these areas of practice. The environment serves as a connecting theme across all courses in this emphasis. Technology applications and skills are emphasized throughout the program with the goal of enhancing teaching practices and learning achievement. Connections among the disciplines to the real world are a major focus.
Emphasis Areas for Practicing and Non-Practicing Educators
The International Education (IE) and Learning with Technology (LT) emphases are designed for practicing and non-practicing educators, such as parents, volunteers, or staff who live and work in and around education in private life or in corporations, foundations, non-governmental organizations, start-up companies, community organizations, and other areas. A common core of 10 courses is complemented by courses from the emphasis areas plus electives selected in consultation with the student’s academic advisor.
International Education (IE)
Advisors: Cheryl McElvain, Priscilla Myers, Bob Michels, Pedro Hernandez-Ramos
This emphasis is designed for new teachers as well as experienced educators interested in exploring professional practice in private or public schools in foreign countries, or in a better and deeper understanding of the field of education in the U.S. contrasted with other contexts.
Learning with Technology
Advisors: Pedro Hernandez-Ramos, Steve Johnson, Harold Hoyle
Technology is transforming how schools function and how teachers and students work in the classroom. The courses in this emphasis are designed to provide students with a big-picture view of these changes as well as practical skills they can use in everyday practice in a variety of contexts, within and outside of schools.
