Department of Educational Research and Administration
M.A. in Education,
Administration and Supervision OptionDr. Sharon Brown-Welty, Department Chair
Dr. Kenneth Magdaleno, Graduate Program Coordinator
- Making a Difference in a Diverse Society | Program Development | The Four Program Dimensions | Quick Facts
Making a Difference in a Diverse Society
As potential leaders in today's educational environment, students in the graduate programs at California State University, Fresno are preparing to effect change within a culturally diverse society. The societal changes influencing our schools economically and technologically are making the call for educational reform resonate louder than ever. The Education Administration faculty at the university has developed a special program for professional educators. Its design and purpose is to cultivate the knowledge and skills necessary to become leaders in the culturally diverse San Joaquin Valley school systems.
The Administration and Supervision option was previously redesigned from resources provided by the Danforth Foundation of St. Louis, Missouri. The principles of the Danforth model, now integrated into a standards-based program, in combination with our faculty expertise have provided the framework for the M.A. degree, which blends on-the-job experience with university classes. Candidates advance through the program with professionals from other school districts, taking classes which reflect diversity of the children and young adults they instruct. The early and intensive field experience, which places candidates in varying rural and urban environs and provides the impetus for understanding our diverse culture, has been cited as a major strength of the program.
The objectives of the option are to prepare future administrators who are active scholar-practitioners, instructional leaders, and agents of change. Our graduates are responsible, service-oriented professionals who are sensitive and creative in defining alternative solutions to educational problems. Ultimately, it is the goal of our program to instill within our graduates a vision for improving the quality of life and meeting the needs of a multicultural society.
Program Development
The model that guides our program along the lines of the "Making a Difference in a Diverse Society" theme exceeds the requirements of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). Completing the 31-unit M.A. in Education with the administration and supervision option is a prerequisite for both preliminary and professional administrative certification for all students. We believe that only students who are capable of completing a program of the highest standards should be recommended as public school administrators. The Administrative Services Credential is a two-tier program that authorizes one to function in an administrative position in a K-12 and adult school setting.
The Preliminary Administrative Services Credential is a 24-unit program which focuses on Administrators as Instructional Leaders. Local school superintendents, working with faculty on program modifications, have made it clear that they need entry-level administrators who are prepared to assist teachers to improve the academic performance of students in culturally diverse classrooms.
The Four Program Dimensions
The faculty in the School of Education and Human Development have designated four dimensions around which all programs in Graduate Education revolve. The philosophical and ideological dimension forms the basic or core knowledge essential to American education.
The cognitive and reflective dimension encompasses thoughtful planning, decision making, and problem analysis as well as basic management and leadership functions. Critical thinking is deployed through introspective questionnaires, case studies, and simulations, as well as reflective journals and portfolio creations.
Students are expected to reflect on, integrate, and apply knowledge in each class, but particularly, in extensive field experiences which occur at each level. The faculty take pride in the field experience requirements in both credentials and view this component as a key element in the program configuration and student experience.
The San Joaquin Valley is rich in cultural diversity. Local districts actively recruit administrators with an eye toward this diversification. As a result, the faculty recruits students who are from underrepresented groups throughout these districts. The result is an ethnic mix within the program that reflects the many different cultures which comprise the educational environment of our valley.
We believe our program to be among the most competitive and innovative of any in the nation. Growth of our program from less than 100 to now more than 300 students in the past few years demonstrates the demand for our quality education.
The independent three-year doctoral program, DPELFS (Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership at Fresno State) offers our students the opportunity to further advance their educational and career opportunities. Program integration of the master's and doctoral program has been achieved. Several courses in the doctoral program may be counted towards coursework in the Master's Degree and administrative credential programs.
In the Education Building, the Education and Human Development Center is divided into the Clinical Center, which provides laboratory space for tutoring, small group testing, and counseling, and the Learning Development Center, which will provide opportunities for KSOEHD and university students to observe child development and learning processes. Additional space in the Center is available for small group and seminar meetings, demonstration teaching, and other clinically related activities.
The Interdisciplinary Instructional Center houses KSOEHD computer classrooms, computer self-study laboratories, and a demonstration classroom. Two of the classrooms have audio/video transmission to remote classrooms and educational centers in the region which enables faculty in those locations to observe exemplary university teaching.
The Education Offices and Administrative Center provides office space for the program administrators, and includes an Admissions and Records Center, a Liberal Studies Advising Office, faculty meeting rooms, and special projects offices. A number of "Smart" classrooms are now equipped with teleconferencing capabilities to state, national, and international sites.
In the Graduate Research Center students conduct research, develop projects, write theses, and fulfill other degree requirements. This area is used as a research base in developing and conducting collaborative research initiatives with area school districts and the community.
The Instructional Technology Center is comprised of a curriculum materials resource area, a media development area, and a media technology center. The emphasis here is on the development and use of instructional media and materials, and on the audio-video technology development within the building and regional sites.
The Extended Education Center serves as the academic outreach arm of the university. It makes available programs designed to enhance and enrich the quality of life of individuals and communities through the acquisition of knowledge, experience, and skills. Adjacent to this complex is a 200-seat auditorium which has distance learning technology capabilities and serves as a university meeting site.
With this expansion and development, we have assumed a regional leadership role as a university wholly dedicated to Making a Difference in a Diverse Society.