PLEASE NOTE: This program is currently not accepting any new applications.
• Overview
• Benefits
• Audience
• Structure
• Registration
• Admission Requirements
• Program Prerequisites
• Financial Aid
• Contact

Overview

Organizations need employees at all levels to become change agents who can anticipate, adapt and effectively respond to changes in their work landscape. This includes the areas of planning training, emergency disaster preparedness, safety and security preparedness and rapidly changing demographics.

The Masters in Education, Workforce Development Advocacy Option (WDA), propels employees into the future by preparing them to become effective critical thinkers, problem solvers and organizational influencers. This program has been developed in response to today’s evolving work environment and diverse society.

Our program seeks to:

• Increase the number of workforce professionals who are able to address the workplace challenges of the 21st century
• Prepare workforce professionals to think critically using analysis and assessment as workplace tools
• Advance the effectiveness of a work setting, one workforce development advocate at a time
• Prepare workforce professionals to effectively use strategies to build collaborative work teams

Benefits

• Career Advancement
  The WDA program can open doors to a variety of career opportunities, including but not limited to these positions:
  
  
  • Consultant or policy researcher at city, state or national levels on issues of workforce development
  • Human resources manager
  • Corporate planner
  • Community college workforce development director
  • Global consultant on workforce development
  • Lobbyist at the state or national level
  • Key administrator or member of chambers of commerce, workforce investment, economic development, and state or county personnel boards
• Innovative Degree Using Real-World Curriculum
  The WDA is a one-of-a-kind degree offered at Sacramento State. Program courses are structured to engage participants in both theory and real-world learning opportunities, including a final project that applies the knowledge and principles needed to become an effective workforce development advocate.

• Cohort-Based Learning
  Students enroll in the program as a cohort. The cohort system provides the framework and network needed to complete graduate-level studies within a specified time frame. Students learn together, share their experiences and develop long-term professional relationships.

Audience

This program is ideal for professionals who are looking to obtain an advanced degree in workforce advocacy, including graduates from vocational education degrees and those actively engaged in the changing structures of employment fields. As the workforce changes, graduates of this program will be able to accurately prepare their organizations and colleagues to remain successful in their industry. Professionals in human resources, management, computer technology, training, administrative and vocational employment are ideally suitable for this program. Those who are always looking toward future trends are strong candidates to study workforce development. Individuals considering continuing education or increasing their career knowledge are also encouraged to apply.

Structure

This intense weekend-based graduate program is created for working professionals. Courses are offered Friday evenings and Saturdays. While being sensitive to students’ work and life balance, the program is designed to allow coursework completion within two years. The program consists of four semesters comprised of three courses each, with the exception of the final semester that is allocated to completion of the master’s project.

Registration

To become eligible for registration, formal application should be made to the College of Continuing Education at Sacramento State. Applicants must demonstrate successful completion of a bachelor’s degree as well as complete the graduate applications.

Admission Requirements

Admission as a classified graduate student requires:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum 3.0 overall GPA

Applicants who fall short of these admission requirements may be granted “conditional classified graduate status” if they are able to remove deficiencies through additional preparation prior to starting the program. Any deficiencies will be noted on a written response to the student’s application.

All applicants must file the following:

• A graduate application for admission (see CSUMentor.edu)
• A departmental application for admission
• One set of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
• A written statement of professional goals (300-500 words)
• Two current letters of professional reference

Application Deadline
The cohort application deadline is October 27.
To ensure full consideration, applicants are encouraged to submit their completed application packets by October 1.

Mail completed application packets to:
Sacramento State College of Continuing Education
Attn: WDA Program
3000 State University Drive East
Sacramento, CA 95819-6103

Program Prerequisites

EDS 103: Assessment and Instruction in Vocational/ Technical/Adult/Applied Academics Education
EDS 104: Teaching Diverse Learners in Vocational/ Technical/Adult Education
EDS 106: Instructional Supervision & Coordination I.

Applicants must demonstrate writing proficiency by completing the Writing Proficiency Exam, if not already completed.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is available for this program. Prospective students can apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Contact

For more information or to apply, contact us at (916) 278-4711 or wda@csus.edu.