Master of Arts in Critical Multilingual Education

91ÁÔÆæState University, Long Beach                         Policy Statement 

  26-08 

June 25, 2026 

 

 

Master of Arts in Critical Multilingual Education 

 

(This degree elevation was approved by the 91ÁÔÆæ Academic Senate on March 26, 2026, approved by the President on March 27, 2026, and approved by the CSU Chancellor’s Office on June 24, 2026.) 

 

The Master of Arts in Education, Option in Dual Language Development will elevate to a standalone degree, the Master of Arts in Critical Multilingual Education. 

 

Curriculum – Master of Arts in Critical Multilingual Education 

The M.A. in Critical Multilingual Education (CME) program is a two-year, 30-unit program that fosters the development of critical educators who apply research-based knowledge in designing and implementing a culturally and linguistically affirming dual language/immersion curriculum for a variety of language learners (i.e., native English speakers, multilingual speakers, emergent bilinguals). Candidates develop strategies and approaches for building students’ literacy and language development in multiple languages. The CME program continues to develop teacher leaders and advocates of linguistically diverse students, families, communities, and the field. 

The program offers candidates opportunities to examine how language actively creates, maintains, and gives meaning to racial categories through everyday interactions, institutional practices, and social processes. Candidates will engage in interdisciplinary coursework to explore how the relationship between race and language impacts domains like politics and education. To promote multilingualism and culturally affirmation in K-12 classrooms, candidates will critically reflect on issues that impact dual language classrooms and students to identify approaches that support students’ academic, social-emotional, and socio-political growth through instruction. 

 

The course schedule is designed to accommodate working professionals, with evening courses and both inperson and online coursework. The CME program also encourages graduates of 91ÁÔÆæ’s MSCP, ESCP, and SSCP who also received their Bilingual Authorization (BILA) to apply; 9-units from their 91ÁÔÆæ Credential program can be applied to the CME program to graduate one (1) semester early. Please visit to learn more about the CME program. 

 

Applicants who want to attain their BILA (Spanish, Korean, Chinese-Mandarin, or Vietnamese) while pursuing their MA in CME are also encouraged to apply to the CME program. If accepted into the CME program, students will take the appropriate BILA courses in place of CME elective coursework to graduate in two-years (30-units) – no additional coursework is required. Please note that the CME program does not lead to an initial  

 

Prerequisites 

The following are required for admission to the program: 

  1. Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
  2. Minimum 3.00 overall grade point average in last degree (not credential or certificate) earned from an accredited institution of higher education. Applicants whose overall GPA is less than 3.00 but meet the University minimum GPA requirement and who present compelling evidence of academic and professional potential either through recent academic performance and/or experiential background, may be considered for admission at the discretion of the program admission committee.
  3. A valid US teaching credential.
  4. Proof of one of the following:
    1. A valid US teaching credential with a Bilingual Authorization or certification.
    2. Valid Language Development Specialist (LDS) Certificate, CLAD Certificate, teaching credential with an English Learner Authorization or CLAD Emphasis.
    3. Possession of the certificate in Early and Middle Childhood/English as a New Language or Early Adolescence through Young 

Adulthood/English as a New Language 

  1. Six (6) college semester units of a language other than English or verified equivalent.
    1. Passing scores on Tests II, IV, and V of the 91ÁÔÆæSubject Examinations for Teachers (CSET): World Languages. Scores used for certification purposes may be no older than ten years from the individual passed exam date.
  2. International applicants have additional university application requirements, including meeting the English language proficiency requirement. Please visit for more information. 

Application 

Applicants use Cal State Apply to submit university application materials and MyCED to submit program application materials before the deadline. Deadlines and details about the Program Materials (e.g., statement of purpose prompt, recommendation prompts) may be found in the Application Process section of the College of Education Graduate Studies Advising website. Please contact the College of Education Graduate Studies Advising Team if you have questions. 

Submit official transcripts from the college or university from which you earned your bachelor’s degree. This set of transcripts will be used to determine grade point average eligibility. Failure to submit transcripts in a timely manner will result in a delayed review of the application. After an initial review, select applicants are invited for an interview with program faculty. 

Classified Admission 

 

Successful applicants are admitted to the program with Classified admission status. 

Advancement to Candidacy - Clear Admission 

91ÁÔÆæ should advance to candidacy as early as possible. They should meet with the program coordinator to plan their program. 

 

For Advancement to Candidacy (Clear Admission status), students must: 

 

  1. Resolve all incomplete grades.
  2. Complete 6 units of program requirements.
  3. Maintain a 3.0 grade point average. 

 

Please contact the College of Education Graduate Studies Advising if you have questions. 

 

Requirements 

 

Research methods (3 units) Take the following: 

  • EDCI 533 Action Research Methods: Teachers as Inquirers (3 units, Modality: Hybrid/Mixed modality) Prerequisites: For students in the Masters of Arts in Education Option in Curriculum and Instruction and Option in Dual Language Development. Pre-Requisites  and . 

Core courses (18 units) Take all the following: 

  • EDCI 532 Socialization of Language and Literacy in More than One Language (3 units, Modality: 

    Hybrid/Mixed modality) 

Prerequisite: Admission to Master of Arts in Education, Option in Dual Language Development. 

  • EESJ 562 Resistance, Agency and Identity in Education (3 units, Modality: Hybrid/Mixed modality or in-person) 

Prerequisites: Enrollment of non-degree students only allowed with instructor permission. 

  • LING 572 Language and Social Justice (3 units, Modality: In-person) Prerequisite(s): Graduate student status 

  • EDCI 541 Designing Curriculum and Instruction in Primary and Second Language Settings (3 units, 

    Modality: Hybrid/Mixed modality) 

Prerequisite: Admission to Master of Arts in Education, Option in Dual Language Development. 

  • EDSP 554 Foundations of Special Education and Dual Language Development/Immersion (3 units, Modality: Hybrid/Mixed modality)

Prerequisite: Admission to the Master of Arts in Dual Language Development.  Program consent required. 

  • EDCI 695 CME Seminar (3 units, Modality: Hybrid/Mixed modality) 

Prerequisites: For students in the Masters of Arts in Education Option in Curriculum and Instruction and Option in Dual Language Development.  Pre-requisites  

Electives (9 units) 

 

Take one of the following: 

  • EESJ 566 Education and Global Inequities (3 units, Modality: Hybrid/Mixed modality or in-person) Prerequisites: Enrollment of non-degree students only allowed with instructor permission.
  • EDCI 505 History of Education in the US (3 units, Modality: Hybrid/Mixed modality)Prerequisite: Admission to Master of Arts in Education Option in Curriculum and Instruction, Elementary and Secondary.
  • LING 560 Teaching Second Language Composition (3 units, Modality: In-person) PREREQUISITE – NONE
  • LING 562 Second Language Testing and Assessment Composition (3 units, Modality: In-person) PREREQUISITE – NONE 

Take one of the following: 

  • EESJ 564 Language, Culture, and Education (3 units, Modality: Hybrid/Mixed modality or inperson) Prerequisites: Enrollment of non-degree students only allowed with instructor permission.
  • EESJ 568 Globalization, Power, and Global Inequities (3 units, Modality: Hybrid/Mixed modality or in-person) Prerequisites: Enrollment of non-degree students only allowed with instructor permission.
  • EDCI 530 Cross-cultural Education: US and Global Perspectives (3 units, Modality: Hybrid/Mixed modality) Prerequisite: Admission to Master of Arts in Education Option in Curriculum and Instruction, Elementary and Secondary or Dual Language Development. 

Take one of the following: 

  • LING 550 Teaching Second Language Listening and Speaking (3 units, Modality: In-person) Prerequisite(s)/Corequisite(s):  (prerequisite) or  (prerequisite or co-requisite)
  • LING 561 Second Language Curriculum Development (3 units, Modality: In-person) Prerequisite: LING 325 or consent of instructor. 

 

 

 

EFFECTIVE: Fall 2027 

Academic Plan Code: EDELMA08PB 

Career: Master’s 

College: College of Education 

Department: Teacher Education 

Delivery: Hybrid 

Support: State-Support 

CIP: 13.0101 

CSU Major Code: 08015 

Teach-out: Existing students in the MA in Education, Option in Dual Language Development will have the choice of completing the original degree option, or this new standalone degree. A new academic plan code is set for this elevation. 

Summer Requirement: 91ÁÔÆæ following the Asian Language BILA & MA in Critical Multilingual 

Education are advised to take summer classes. Traditional pathways do not require summer enrollment.