BA, Educational and Community Leadership

Teacher in classroom with children

Create Change and Build Opportunity ✊🏽

We've developed this pathway for individuals who have accrued some college credits with a flexible and engaging opportunity to complete their bachelor’s degree. The curriculum is entirely online and brings together a variety of academic disciplines including education and the social sciences with a focus on leadership skills and promoting social justice to support career advancement.

CR Program Newsletter: The BAIS Edition

Use the links below to learn more about what this means for a few of our students: Doris, Jeff, Mona Lisa, and Ruby!

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Current social movements in California and across the United States have highlighted the need for reform in our community institutions to establish access and opportunities for engagement. To have effective reforms, our local communities need a broad range of highly skilled educators and social servants. In addition to the core courses in leadership and social justice, our new BA in Interdisciplinary Studies offers course pathways in:

  • Early childhood education - supporting the development of children age 0 to 5 and their families
  • Inclusive education - educational approaches to serve k-12 students of diverse backgrounds, languages, and abilities in both formal and informal learning environments

Request more information

Program Overview

  • Official title: Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, Concentration in Educational and Community Leadership
  • Format: Part-time, 100% online, year-round
  • Units: 60
  • Start dates: Summer, Fall, or Spring
  • Program length: 2 years
  • Program cost: $500/unit
  • Application deadlines:
    • Apply by July 15 for Fall Start
    • Apply by November 15 for Spring Start
    • Apply by April 1 for Summer Start

We will work with applicants to apply for . If you work for a Local Education Agency (LEA) such as a school district, there may be grants to support your educational costs.

The B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies Program at 91Թ has partnered with the Santa Clara County Office of Education, Santa Cruz County Office of Education, San Mateo Union High School District, and STEM Preparatory Schools to support classified staff working for these educational institutions with the Classified School Employee Grant Program.

The Classified School Employee Grant Program provides guidance and financial assistance to future educators who seek a Teaching Credential. The Classified School Employee Teacher Credential Grant awarded by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing provides $4000 per year in stipends to assist classified employees pursuing a teaching credential.
If you have questions regarding this grant, please contact our program (degreecompletion-education@sjsu.edu).

Each spring semester, current students can also apply for 91Թ Lurie College of Education scholarships for the following academic year.

View our steps to apply

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

As a result of completing this program, students will learn how to:

  1. Develop strategies to manage problems within one’s professional field using an interdisciplinary approach.
  2. Take leadership opportunities (planning, coordination, technology, and managing) that promote change for the betterment of all individuals within a community system.
  3. Use an assets-based approach when supporting child, youth, adult, and community development.
  4. Advocate an anti-racist approach to establish social justice with diverse communities.
  5. Communicate ethically and responsibly in oral and written form across settings, purposes, and audiences.

Admission Requirements

  • Completion of all four CSU-approved General Education requirements with a C- or higher.
    • (A1) Oral Communication/Speech
    • (A2) Written English Composition
    • (A3) Critical Thinking/Logic
    • (B4) Math/Quantitative Reasoning (above the level of intermediate algebra)
  • GPA of 2.0 or better
  • In choosing the Early Childhood Education specialization pathway, students must have or find access for field placement in a suitable early childhood setting.

Contact us to check your eligibility for the program.

Steps to Apply

  • Look through our information on how to apply
  • Contact our enrollment counselors so we can check your eligibility to apply - completing 60 units of lower-division general education (GE) requirements - and assist you with:
    • Locating transcripts from your previous schools to review courses
    • Guiding you through the steps to applying on CalState Apply
  • Complete the 91Թ Transfer Steps to Admission
  • Please contact us before submitting your application so we can ensure you have the requirements needed to apply and provide you any assistance you need.

Program Coursework | 60 Units

21 Units of Core Courses

- ChAD 100W - Writing Workshop (fulfills 91Թ Area Z writing requirement)
- ChAD 101 - Research Methods in Child Development
- EDLD 110 - Seminar in Educational and Community Leadership
- EDLD 120 - The Right to Learn: Language, Dignity, and Education (fulfills 91Թ Area V GE)
- EDLD 140 - Positional, Solidarity, and Social Justice Leadership
- EDLD 150 - Communication Leadership and Social Justice
- EDSE 241 - Emerging Technology for All Learners

6 Units Upper-division General Education

- Earth & Environment (Area R)
- Self & Society (Area S)
- Culture & Global Understanding (Area V) - fulfilled by EDLD 120 core course

18 Units University Elective Courses

- Fulfilled with any extra units you bring in (up to 10 units)
- Take courses in other pathway as electives

15 Units Specialization Courses (Students select one pathway)

Early Childhood Education (options for Site Supervisor Child Development permit)

- ChAD 60 - Child Development
- ChAD 152 - Foundations for Early Childhood Curriculum
- ChAD 160 - Child Development Practicum
- ChAD 161 - Administration of Early Childhood Programs
- ChAD 164 - Contemporary Parenting

Inclusive Education

- EDEL 102 - Psychological Foundations of Education
- EDEL 108E - Teaching Reading in Linguistically & Culturally Diverse Classrooms
- EDSP 110 - Survey of Communication Disorders
- EDSE 224 - Methodologies for English Learners with/without Disabilities
- EDSE 228A - Topics in Collaboration and Transition

 

 

Upcoming Information Sessions

Contact Us

Meet our B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies Support Staff

Zahira LCOE                                       John LCOE

Zahira Ramirez,
Administrative Support
Coordinator
John Jabagchourian,
Program Coordinator