BA, Educational and Community Leadership
Create Change and Tackle Inequality ✊🏽
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.
Use the links below to learn more about what this means for a few of our students: Doris, Jeff, Mona Lisa, and Ruby!
- How our program is helping them accomplish their goals 🎯
- Examples of significant learning moments they've had 💡
- How their professors have impacted them 🌟
Current social movements in California and across the United States have highlighted the need for reform in our community institutions to establish equity, access, and social justice. To have effective reforms, our local communities need a diverse corps 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
- Program Overview
- Program Learning Outcomes
- Admission Requirements
- Upcoming Info Sessions
- Steps to Apply
Connect with current students on our Discord Server
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: $450/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 Federal Pell Grants. 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 SJSU 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 SJSU Lurie College of Education scholarships for the following academic year.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
As a result of completing this program, students will learn how to:
- Develop strategies to manage problems within one’s professional field using an interdisciplinary approach.
- Take leadership opportunities (planning, coordination, technology, and managing) that promote change for the betterment of all individuals within a community system.
- Use an assets-based approach when supporting child, youth, adult, and community development.
- Advocate an anti-racist approach to establish social justice with diverse communities.
- Communicate ethically and responsibly in oral and written form across settings, purposes, and audiences.
Admission Requirements
- Completion of at least 60 transferable semester units or 90 quarter units. A maximum
of 70 units from community colleges can be transferred toward the degree.
- Completion of all CSU Lower Division General Education Requirements (39 units).
- 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 SJSU 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
Upcoming Information Sessions
Contact Us
- Phone: 408-924-3227
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-2pm
- Email: degreecompletion-education@sjsu.edu
- SJSU Online webpage: https://www.sjsu.edu/online/programs/interdisciplinary-studies.php
Meet our B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies Support Staff
Zahira Ramirez,Administrative SupportCoordinator |
John Jabagchourian,Program Coordinator |
