
Teaching, MAEd, and Single Subject Teaching Credential
Embrace your higher calling as an educator and earn your Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) degree in teaching with an embedded Single Subject Teaching Credential at Azusa Pacific University.
Why Pursue Your MA in Education at APU?
Our program builds instructional creativity, strong classroom leadership, and a dedication to student growth, so you can teach and inspire learning in middle and high school classrooms (grades 7–12).
Throughout our two-year master’s in education program, you benefit from:
- An integrated licensure pathway that blends graduate-level study with California Single Subject Teaching Credential requirements.
- Diverse real-world experiences across classroom settings to strengthen instructional and classroom management skills.
- Faculty mentorship from experienced educators who guide professional growth and reflective practice.
- Meaningful career preparation rooted in Christian values, compassion, and service.
Program at a Glance
Application Deadline
- Apply anytime! We accept and review applications on an ongoing basis and fill seats as they open each term.
- Start times are available throughout the year—fall, spring, and summer.
Program Information
- Program Units: 45
- Program Length: 2 years
- Cost per Unit: $675
- Base Cost: $30,375
Locations

What You”ll Learn
Strengthen your skills in connecting with, inspiring, and empowering students with an MAEd in Teaching degree. Rooted in a Christian framework, our graduate program equips you to lead with purpose and competence in 7th through 12th-grade classrooms.
Over the course of the 45-unit curriculum, you become proficient in:
- Designing and delivering effective instruction using research-based pedagogy and instructional design strategies.
- Supporting learners of all backgrounds and abilities through strategic and inclusive teaching practices.
- Assessing student learning with data-informed, developmentally appropriate evaluation methods.
- Creating engaging and supportive learning environments through strong classroom management and instructional leadership skills.
- Applying various pedagogical theories through in-class practice and real-world experience in middle and high school settings.
Get Started
MAEd Single Subject Credential Program Details
Built for aspiring secondary educators, the Master of Arts in Education and Single Subject Teaching Credential program covers a variety of educational methods, as well as specialization classes that deepen your expertise in a single subject. You also gain practical experience by participating in a supervised student-teaching placement.
These required coursework and classroom experience create a streamlined path to a California teaching license and support credential preparation in:
- Art
- Business
- English language arts
- Mathematics
- Music
- Physical education
- Science
- Social science
- World languages
For more information, review our steps to earning your CA teaching credential.
Informational Meetings
Attend an informational meeting to learn more about admission requirements, academic advising, and program expectations, and gain clarity before submitting your application.
To find upcoming meeting dates, locations, or registration details, visit the School of Education’s information meeting calendar or call (626) 815-5376.
Admission Requirements
Apply to APU to fast-track your preparation and position yourself for success in the classroom as a middle or high school teacher.
When applying to the master’s degree in education program, you must submit:
- Graduate application for admission
- $45 nonrefundable application fee
- Official transcripts from all institutions leading to and awarding the applicant’s
bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and all postbaccalaureate
study
- An official transcript is one that Azusa Pacific University receives unopened in an envelope sealed by the former institution and that bears the official seal of the college or university.
- A cumulative minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade-point average on the posted degree is required for regular admission status. Provisional admittance may be granted to individuals with a lower GPA if competency can be shown through multiple measures.
- Two letters of recommendation that assess your competence and character
- Appropriate recommendations include those who have supervised your leadership or teaching experience with children/youth in public or private settings, an employer who directly supervised you, or one faculty/academic reference (references from neighbors, friends, and relatives are not appropriate unless they have served as supervisors;additional letters are optional)
- Résumé (preferred) or statement of experience, including your most relevant work and volunteer experience
- 1-2-page personal statement addressing:
- Experiences from your background that enhance your teaching practice
- The most rewarding and challenging aspects of working with youth
- Your motivation for pursuing a career in teaching
- Preferred grade level and content areas, and why
- How you plan to support the success of all students and contribute to the teaching profession
- Proof of Certificate of Clearance (COC)
- Applicants for summer or fall Terms must have a COC valid through January 31, and applicants for the spring Term must have a COC valid through June 30 (view instructions on Obtaining a Certificate of Clearance (PDF). Applicants are encouraged to begin this step as soon as possible to allow time for the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing to process your information)
- Proof that the Basic Skills Requirement has been satisfied
- Proof of subject matter preparation or proof of paid registration for the next appropriate California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET) administration (view teacher test preparation resources)
Send official transcripts to:
Office of Graduate and Professional AdmissionsAzusa Pacific University
PO Box 7000
Azusa, CA 91702-7000
[email protected]
Next Steps
After all admission materials have been received, the faculty or department chair reviews your application and issues a written admission decision approximately.
International Admission Requirements
Azusa Pacific University is authorized under federal law by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the U.S. Department of State to enroll nonimmigrant, alien undergraduate and graduate students. APU issues and administers both the I-20 and DS 2019 (F-1 and J-1 status documents, respectively).
Along with meeting the standard admission requirements for the master’s in education program, if you are an international applicant you must also:
- Demonstrate proficiency in English through a placement test with the Academic Success Center, or through a TOEFL/IELTS score that meets program-specific requirements. Review APU’s English proficiency requirements to learn more.
- Request that official test scores be sent to APU. All other forms of proof indicated in the English proficiency requirements must be submitted directly to International Services.
- Provide a Graduate Affidavit of Financial Support (PDF) and a bank statement from within the last six months proving financial ability to pay for education costs through personal, family, or sponsor resources.
- Submit a copy of a valid passport showing biographical data, including your name, country of citizenship, date of birth, and other legal information.
- Get foreign transcripts evaluated. International credentials (transcripts, certificates, diplomas, and degrees) must be evaluated by a foreign transcript evaluation agency. Review our policy and a list of approved foreign transcript evaluation agencies.
Send official transcripts to:
Office of Graduate and Professional AdmissionsAzusa Pacific University
PO Box 7000
Azusa, CA 91702-7000
[email protected]
MA in Education Program Tuition
| Description | Cost |
|---|---|
| Education master’s degree, credential, authorization, and certificate programs (except School Counseling and School Psychology programs) (per unit) | $675 |
| Audit (per unit) | half-price tuition |
| Base Cost | $30,375* |
Note: This information is current for the 2025-26 academic year, but all stated academic information is subject to change.
*Base Cost (cost per unit x program units) is provided to aid in program comparison only.
Review APU’s graduate cost of attendance information to estimate the total amount of your MAEd in Teaching degree.
Financial Aid
At APU, we offer a broad range of financial aid options, including federal loans, state grants, fellowships, and scholarships, as well as comprehensive support from our admissions advisors. With their guidance and access to helpful resources, you can invest in your MA in Education: Teaching degree with confidence.
APU also provides information on numerous financial aid opportunities for prospective students in the School of Education. Discover more available scholarships.
For more information, contact the Student Services Center at (626) 815-2020.
Military and Veterans Benefits
If you are a veteran, serve in the military, or qualify as a spouse or dependent—you may access financial assistance that helps cover the cost of tuition, housing, and books. As a Yellow Ribbon and Military Friendly School, APU offers the support and flexibility needed to help you complete your master’s degree in teaching.
APU Alumni Tuition Scholarships
If you’re an APU alum, you may qualify for the School of Education’s alumni tuition discount.
To qualify, you must be in good academic standing and maintain satisfactory academic progress with a minimum cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 and be enrolled at least half-time. APU doctoral alumni are not eligible for the School of Education alumni discount.
If you meet the qualifications, your discount may be renewed each term. APU will pay $500 per term (up to $2,000 over the course of the program). This discount cannot be combined with other institutional aid , such as School of Education scholarships. If you qualify for both, you may choose to receive either the alumni discount or an APU scholarship.
If you have questions, we’re here to help! Connect with a representative who can walk you through the program details and application process.
Contact Your Admissions Representative
Additional Program Contacts
- Jessica Cannaday, EdD, program director, Single Subject Teaching Credential, [email protected], (626) 815-5598
- Stacy Kula, PhD, faculty coordinator, MAEd in Teaching, [email protected], (626) 815-5363
Fax
(626) 815-5416
Department of Teacher Education
Azusa Pacific University
PO Box 7000
Azusa, CA 91702-7000
Student Services Center
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (626) 812-3016
For details on the admissions process, financial aid, and class registration, visit apu.edu/ssc.
International Services
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1 (626) 812-3055
Visit apu.edu/international/.
- Azusa Pacific University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
- The School of Education receives accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), making APU one of only three schools in California with this distinction.
- Our credential programs are accredited by California’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).
By the Numbers
Outlook and Outcomes for 7-12th Grade Teachers
In today’s rapidly changing educational environment, we need adaptable teachers who bring passion, creativity, and expertise to their classrooms. APU’s MA in Education: Teaching prepares leaders in student-centered learning and empowers them to make a lasting impact in secondary education.
Featured Faculty
At Azusa Pacific University, you learn from the best. Our Department of Teacher Education faculty share their decades of experience and expertise with you, inspiring your growth as an educator.
Catherine Hahs Brinkley
Chair and Assistant Professor, Department of Teacher Education; Program Director, Liberal Studies/Undergraduate Education, K-8
HeeKap Lee
Faculty Coordinator, MAED in Teaching; Professor, Department of Teacher Education
Richard Barsh
Associate Professor, Department of Teacher Education

The Golden State Teacher Grant: An Overview and APU’s Connection
APU is proud to be a recipient of the Golden State Teacher Grant, helping prospective California teachers to fund their education in pursuit of a teaching credential.
Become a Change Maker at APU
With your Master of Arts in Education: Teaching and Single Subject Teaching Credential, you graduate ready to guide students’ intellectual growth, respond to real classroom challenges, and make a difference in secondary education.
At Azusa Pacific, each term consists of two sessions (Fall I and Fall II, Spring I and Spring II), each eight weeks in length. The 16-week student teaching semester covers Fall I and II or Spring I and II.
For more information, please review our academic calendar.