Develop a deep understanding of how to advocate for reform in our community institutions to establish equity, access, and social justice.
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Program Information
Next Start
August 2024
Program Format
8-week courses, 5 terms year-round
Program Length
2 or 3 years, 50–60 units
Cost Per Unit
$475 · Financial aid and scholarships available
Application Deadlines
July 15 for Fall · November 15 for Spring · April 1 for Summer
Create Change and Tackle Inequality
The educational and community leadership way of thinking combines academic disciplines and empowers students to promote change for social justice, which is in demand by employers like theCity of San José, San José Unified School District, Santa Clara County Office of Education, Stanford University, and many more. By developing comprehensive leadership, problem solving, communication, and advocacy skills, education and community leadership graduates tend to have fulfilling careers in the arts and design, community and social services, education, media and communication, operations, and beyond.
Our online Bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies program with a concentration in Educational and Community Leadership program is taught by our renowned SJSU faculty in collaboration with expert instructional designers. When you complete this program, you will earn the same quality degree as all of our SJSU graduates and have the same opportunity to proudly cross the stage during your SJSU commencement ceremony.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants to all SJSU Online programs must fulfill our general SJSU Online requirements.To view the program's courses, roadmap, and more, visit the Interdisciplinary Studies, Educational and Community Leadership, BA catalog webpage.Students who choose the Early Childhood Education Specialization must also have or find access to field placement in a suitable early childhood setting.
Valuable Learning Experiences
Our program combines courses from our Departments of Child and Adolescent Development, Communicative Disorders and Sciences, Educational Leadership, Special Education, and Teacher Education and includes plenty of opportunities to apply your learning within and beyond your classes. Completing our program will enhance your ability to:
- Demonstrate leadership skills that promote change for the betterment of all individuals within a community system.
- Create interdisciplinary strategies to manage challenges within one’s professional field.
- Advocate an anti-racist approach to establish social justice with diverse communities.
Featured Classes
View 2-Year Roadmap
Core Course
Communication, Leadership, and Social Justice
Utilize a critical lens to develop a foundation for analysis of oral and written communication in the community. Expand personal written and oral communication styles to help amplify your voices in the community and in your careers.
Core Course
Emerging Technology for All Learners
Learn effective use of the computer to meet exceptional learning needs, including special education software evaluation, word processing for written language development, individualized lessons with graphics and speech and database management for cognitive and language development.
Early Childhood Specialization
Foundations for Early Childhood Curriculum
Understand foundations for implementing developmentally appropriate early childhood education curriculum. Examine history and theories underlying curriculum models; assessment of children’s learning; research and standards applicable to curriculum in language, literacy, and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) content areas.
Inclusive Education Specialization
Psychological Foundations of Education
Research cognitive, affective and social/emotional development related to school settings. Examine theories of development, learning and instruction. Discuss individual differences, measurement, evaluation, instructional goals, classroom management and diversity in the classroom.
Core Course
The Right to Learn: Language, Dignity, and Education
Debate about the role of formal schooling within a democratic society and analyze the ways in which access to schooling and its benefits have been disparately allocated across US history.
Inclusive Education Specialization
Prepare to work with diverse communities – both in school and beyond school education settings – through pathways such as teacher credential programs, special education credential programs, afterschool programs, and resource coordinators. Complete special education credential courses so that you can later complete a special education credential at SJSU with fewer courses and enroll in the credential as an intern.
Early Childhood Education Specialization
Prepare to qualify for a Master Teacher and Site Supervisor Early Childhood Permit. This pathway is recommended if you are interested in later pursuing a credential to become a transitional kindergarten (TK) teacher or a career working with children ages 0-5 and their families.
What can you do with an Educational and Community Leadership degree?
Through exposure to a curriculum that explores societal inequities and methods to accentuate strengths of a community and of its members, you will develop leadership skills that apply to a wide range of careers in education, child and youth services, community organizations, and social services.
Education administrators in the Bay Area earn an average annual salary of $64,000 and an upper range of $98,000, according to Glassdoor.
Take a look at some of the top sectors, top companies, and examples of job titles of our alumni, according to LinkedIn.
Top Job Titles
Top Companies
Top Sectors
Expert Faculty and Diverse Classmates
Learn about the expertise of our Educational and Community Leadership faculty and how our program is enabling students from all walks of life to accomplish their goals.
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