Pacific Oaks College - Online
Pacific Oaks College
Pacific Oaks College is an accredited higher education institution offering bachelor's, master's, and certificate programs in human development, counseling, education, early childhood education, and teacher credentialing.
Pacific Oaks' main campus is in Pasadena, Calif, and classes are also offered at convenient instructional sites throughout California (Chico, Porterville, Sacramento, Salinas, Santa Cruz, and Visalia) and online.
Founded more than 60 years ago by a small group of Quaker families, Pacific Oaks College is dedicated to the fundamental Quaker principles of inclusion, social justice, and the valuing of every human being. The institution is known and recognized for its pioneering efforts to reduce bias within our nation's education system, and for equipping graduates with the skills they need to help people from diverse backgrounds, learning styles, and strengths uncover and realize their unique individual potentials.
Three basic concepts underlie the educational philosophy at Pacific Oaks:
- that every individual has a fundamental worth;
- that growth is a dynamic and life-long process;
- and that every individual has a unique identity and human potential.
Students report that attending Pacific Oaks College is a transforming experience, enabling them to emerge empowered to stand up for themselves and others-and to help those they serve become all they can be. Our graduates have gone on to become teachers, counselors, policy-makers, college instructors, early childhood program directors, and parent education specialists.
MA in Human Development (Online)
- Offered at our main campus in Pasadena, as well as online and at convenient academic centers in Salinas, Sacramento, Visalia, Porterville, and Santa Cruz.
- May be completed in as little as two years, part-time.
- Program builds competence in human development, knowledge of the social and political contexts of development, communication skills, integration of theory into practice, and research--preparing graduates to take on leadership roles in a range of settings serving young children and their families.
- Graduates are prepared to work in a vast range of settings and many of our graduates have gone on to become community college instructors, administrators, supervisors, and teachers in early childhood settings worldwide--helping to spread our inclusive, strength-based approach.
- Students complete a master's project/thesis based on their individual field experiences--providing an original contribution to knowledge and understanding in the field of human development.
- Students may apply for simultaneous enrollment in both the MA program and one of our Teacher Credentialing programs that lead to the Preliminary MSEL or Education Specialist Level 1 teaching credential in the state of California.
- Applicants who do not have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college may apply for a BEquivalency. Mature students with strong leadership experience may qualify for documentation of a BEquivalency by completing at least 60 transfer units including all general education transfer requirements, and documenting their experience-based learning in a Pacific Oaks Assessment of Experience seminar.
Accreditation
Pacific Oaks College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Pacific Oaks College has been accredited by WASC since 1959.