Education Programs Available at California State University Fullerton
California State University Fullerton appears in our ranking of the Top 20 Online Master’s in Instructional Design.
Through its College of Education, California State University Fullerton offers a number of programs for current and future teachers. The university has a Pathways to Teaching program that allows students majoring in other subjects to meet the requirements for California teachers. Students will need to apply to the university and begin classes before making an appointment with an advisor to talk about this program.
The university also offers options for future professionals who need their teaching credentials. Instead of just asking students to major in education, this California university asks students to pick a subject area. They can major in elementary education, secondary education, special education or reading education. The elementary education major is a dual program with an emphasis on bilingual education. Students learn how to instruct their students in both English and Spanish. The university also offers a clear credential program for those who want to teach multiple subject areas. It helps students get their credentials to teach two or more subject areas in California.
Also available are some graduate and doctoral education programs such as a Master of Science in Education. The concentrations in this program include bilingual education, elementary curriculum and instruction and education technology. Students can earn graduate degrees in literacy and reading, secondary education, special education or teaching math. A doctoral program is also available in education leadership. It requires that students focus on either P-12 leadership or community college leadership. Majors will take 60 credits of classes over three years, which include the credits they earn for their dissertations. The university expects students to attend conferences and other events as part of their studies too.
Five different education degree programs are also available from California State University Fullerton online. Those majoring in elementary and bilingual education can focus on education technology or curriculum and instruction, while those majoring in instructional design and technology can choose between the university’s full degree program or its certificate program. Other online graduate degree programs offered include a Master of Science in Education with a concentration in literacy and reading or special education.
About California State University Fullerton
California State University Fullerton is a public university and a large branch of the California State University system located in Fullerton. Established in 1959 as Orange County State College, it would become Orange State College in 1962 and California State College at Fullerton two years later. Once it gained university status, the college became California State University Fullerton. It also uses the names Cal State Fullerton and CSUF. One of the unique features of the university is that it has a deep commitment to the Hispanic population of the state. CSUF has a higher rate of Hispanic students than any other school in the state. The university also received a designation that allows it to offer programs designed for Asian Americans, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders.
CSUF is one of the largest contributors to the economy of the state and the region. It also ranks as one of the region’s largest employers. Washington Monthly and U.S. News and World Report rank CSUF as the 92nd and 221st best university in the United States. An increase in the number of students applying over the years helped the university increase its enrollment to more than 40,000 students.
California State University Fullerton Accreditation Details
Cal State Fullerton has regional accreditation, which lets it provide students with financial aid packages and accept transfer students. That accreditation comes from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Both the online and traditional education programs offered by the university across all levels have accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) too.
California State University Fullerton Application Requirements
Undergrads can apply to CSUF without declaring a major in education or after picking that major. The priority deadline for the fall semester is October 30th of the year before, and the university often fills all spots in those programs by the end of November. Students need to pay a $55 application fee or request and receive a fee waiver. They’ll also submit the Cal State application and pick Fullerton as the campus they want to attend. The university only accepts those with a GED or a high school diploma and a minimum GPA of 3.0. Students should also submit an SAT/ACT score and a transcript that shows they took the minimum college prep courses, including four units of English classes and two units of a foreign language. Cal State Fullerton recommends that students take a campus tour before they apply too.
Graduate students have until July first to submit their applications and start in the fall. CSUF offers full acceptance to those who have a background in education and an undergrad GPA of 3.0 or higher. Those who do not meet these requirements may receive conditional acceptance, which means they will need to take prerequisites through the university. All graduate students must also provide Cal State Fullerton with a current resume, copy of a valid teaching license, at least two letters of recommendation and a statement of purpose of roughly 500 words.
Tuition and Financial Aid
CSUF charges undergrads $2,871 per semester, which lets them take seven or more credits of classes. They also pay fees of $590 each semester. Students enrolled in a credential program pay $575 in fees and a tuition rate of $3,330 per semester. Though graduate students pay the same amount in fees, they also pay $3,588 for their tuition every semester. CSUF charges a different rate for education doctoral candidates of $5,919 in tuition and $240 in fees, both of which are due each semester.
As a state university, CSUF keeps its tuition rates affordable and offers financial aid to further reduce a student’s cost. The university requires that students file the FAFSA when they apply for admissions and that they apply for external scholarships too. Financial aid packages for those who demonstrate more need include university employment, grants, loans, and scholarships. The university offers need and merit scholarships but also offers programs for students with strong performance or athletic skills. Graduate and doctoral students can get financial aid as well. The education degree programs offered by California State University Fullerton include scholarships and special programs available from its College of Education too.