The cognate pathway is a 36-unit course of study, including 18 units in student’s program area of concentration, 9 units of core courses (EDUC 570 , EDUC 571 , and EDUC 572 ), and a 9-unit cognate course of study. The cognate course of study is a group of courses which students choose in consultation with a faculty advisor and/or committee chair, which allows students to examine areas of interest related to their M.A. concentration. In order to work with their three-member committee on the cognate project, students must take EDUC 572 (Supervised Study for the Cognate Project) as their final course in the M.A. program.
The cognate project (e.g., professional article, video, website, or field-based product) is a significant undertaking through which students connect their cognate course of study with the M.A. core courses, program concentration, and/or work in the field. The project displays understandings, practices, and theoretical perspectives on the candidate’s program area of concentration and cognate course of study. Projects should arise out of candidate’s goals and professional interests and may take virtually any form. The project may address, for example, implications of the cognate course of study for the classroom, reflections on new teaching practices, response to scholarly research, or educational theory. A written reflection that includes the theoretical context for the project must be included. Students must present the completed project to their three-member committee in a public forum.
