Advance your teaching career by earning your master’s with a specialization in elementary education. Choose from our concentrations in curriculum and instruction, language and literacy, or multicultural and multilingual.
Why Get a Master's in Elementary Education?
You became a teacher to inspire the love of learning and prepare all children for success. With a master’s degree in elementary education, you’ll become an even better mentor and leader. This degree will put you on the path to becoming a master teacher, supervising teacher, subject matter teaching specialist, or department chairperson. You’ll build on the work from your credential program and choose an area of further specialization that matches your interests.
Why Study Elementary Education at CSUN?
Training California's Best Teachers
We're the #1 university for preparing public school teachers in California and each year our alumni are among the LAUSD Teacher of the Year award winners.
Inclusive Education Leader
We’re nationally known as a leader in inclusive education. We train teachers who are culturally competent and ready to thrive across diverse, dynamic Southern California school districts.
Faculty Who Inspire
You won’t just be another face in a lecture hall — you’ll get to know your faculty members who are just as passionate about mentoring their students as you are about yours.
Large University Resources, Tailored to You
You’ll have access to all the support and opportunities that come with being a student at the largest public college of education in California. But the flexibility of our programs designed for working professionals, small cohort sizes and specificity of concentration options ensure you’ll get an education that aligns with your needs and goals.
What You'll Learn
Our two-year options are designed for full-time working teachers. From the outset, you'll focus on what's most important to you, taking courses specific to your chosen concentration.
This option is designed to broaden your knowledge of curriculum design and develop your classroom leadership skills. The program covers language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, interdisciplinary arts and multicultural teaching strategies. Designed according to justice-oriented frameworks, you'll learn the latest classroom best practices and technologies, as well as how to conduct and integrate research into your practice.
In this option, you’ll build on your passion for literacy and learn how to support all students in becoming successful readers, writers, thinkers and speakers. Designed with justice-oriented frameworks, you’ll learn the latest classroom best practices and technologies, as well as how to conduct and integrate research into your practice.
You’ll become well-versed in literacy theory and you’ll also have hands-on experience working with learners in our Literacy Center and in classrooms.
This option is for both bilingual teachers and teachers of English Language Learners. You’ll learn to develop a comprehensive and balanced approach to teaching linguistically and culturally marginalized students in K-8 settings. You'll study culturally relevant and sustaining pedagogies, language acquisition, teaching strategies for Emergent Bilinguals and English Learners, family and community assets, and multicultural arts education.
Careers & Outcomes
Graduates of our master's in elementary education have obtained advanced teaching roles in the following school districts and charter networks:
- Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)
Alumni Spotlight: Marcela Alvarez '22
"[At CSUN,] I have found a brilliant, supportive, amazing community. I have been a part of a school that really wants to make changes here in L.A. Faculty and staff here are so supportive, they just really want you to succeed."
Admission Information
To be considered for admission to CSUN as a master’s student, you will need to:
- Meet university requirements.
- Meet department requirements for the Master of Arts in Elementary Education.
- Apply to both the university and the specific graduate program of interest.
Learn more about applying for a master's program at CSUN.