PK-12 Educational Leadership (M.A.)

If you are applying for the Fall 2025 semester, please check back in September for updated application dates. The application opens October 1st each year for fall start.

Important Dates for Fall 2025

Please submit your Cal State Apply application prior to sending in official transcripts.

Steps 1-4: Admission to SDSU

Steps 1-4 must be completed through the SDSU Graduate Admissions Office.

• Get general help and tips on how to complete the Cal State Apply application.

• Application Guide: Cal State Apply Tutorial.

Step 5: Admission to Program

Your program application has been created in a system called Interfolio. For help, refer to this Interfolio Tutorial (PDF).

Please gather the required items below and have them ready to upload to the Interfolio program application

Statement of Leadership Philosophy

Write a Statement of Leadership Philosophy, 1-2 pages, addressing your beliefs and values about leadership, curriculum and instruction, students, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders.

Resume/CV

Prepare a resume or Curriculum Vitae to accompany your Interfolio program application, which will include your education and employment history as well as any academic honors, awards, scholarships, and publications.

Letters of Recommendation

Contact 2 individuals who you have interacted with academically and/or professionally and who would be able to write a letter of recommendation for you. One of the recommenders must be an immediate supervisor. Recommenders will submit their recommendations directly into the Interfolio program application.

Please collect names and email addresses so you are ready to request these letters in the Interfolio program application.

Self Assessment

Additional Required Documents - if seeking the Credential:

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California Clear Credential

Hold a valid California Clear Credential.

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Verification of Passing CBEST Scores

If you do not have a copy of your original CBEST test results, you will need to request them from the CA Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

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Verification of Experience

A minimum of 5 years of successful, full-time experience in a public school, nonpublic school, or private school of equivalent status located in California or another state, or a combination of experience earned in California and another state. This experience may be teaching, pupil personnel work, librarianship, health services, clinical or rehabilitative services, or a combination of teaching and school services. (Substitute teaching does not apply.)

Verification of experience must be on the district or employing agency letterhead and signed by the superintendent, assistant superintendent, director of personnel, or director of human resources. School or district personnel other than the applicant must verify all experience. (See an example: Verification of Experience Template.)

Note: To earn the credential, you must have a full 5 years of teaching experience at the time you finish the program.

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Go to Program Application

Get in Touch

Application Process Questions

• [email protected] 

Program Questions

• [email protected] 
• Jose Escobedo, graduate advisor, [email protected]