By admin 
Aspiring teachers will soon be able to earn their master’s degree and teaching credential within one year at the University of California, Davis.
Read more Coroner IDs homeless woman, 56, fatally stabbed in downtown Roseville
The school is launching a new master of education degree and teaching credential program in July 2027. This four-quarter program is replacing the School of Education’s existing six-quarter Master of Arts in education pathway. It will be phased out once current students complete their degrees. Officials said they hoped the shorter length of program would make graduate education more affordable and attainable for those interested in teaching, especially amid long-standing teacher shortages in California.
“Teachers are critical to preparing the next generation to learn, grow and succeed,” said Chancellor Gary May. “Our new master’s degree expands access to teacher preparation and helps develop the educator workforce California needs to support student success and strengthen communities across our state.”
The program will combine rigorous coursework and mentorship opportunities with hands-on teaching placements in diverse urban, suburban and rural K-12 districts in the Sacramento region, according to its website. Courses will focus on teaching methods, instructional development and educational research.
The Master of Education degree — like the Master of Arts in education pathway it is replacing — will prepare students for the multiple subject credential; single subject credentials in agriculture, English, math, science and social science; and bilingual authorizations in Spanish and Mandarin. The program will begin in the summer quarter so it fits with the K-12 student teaching schedule.
“As teacher educators, we encourage our students to continually reflect on their practice and consider how they can better serve their students. We have a responsibility to do the same,” said professor Alexis Williams. “The new M.Ed. reflects that commitment. We’re creating a more accessible pathway into the profession while remaining focused on preparing teachers who can create equitable and meaningful learning opportunities for the students and communities they serve.”
Read more Is that a whale swimming in the Sacramento River? Look for these wild visitors
Approved by the University of California in August, the new program seeks to make graduate education more accessible for those who are balancing work or family responsibilities and weighing the cost of school against other financial obligations. Equipped with a master’s degree, the school hopes its graduates will qualify for higher pay.
The program’s other aim is to meet the state’s need for more teachers. California does not track the number of unfilled teaching positions in its public school system that serves more than 5.7 million students. A useful indicator of teacher shortages is the prevalence of temporary teaching permits which, by law, are only to be issued when fully credentialed teachers cannot be found. The number has tripled since 2012-2013, with close to 8,000 permits granted statewide in 2024-2025.
“Meeting our region’s workforce needs begins with making sure aspiring teachers have access to strong preparation,” said Ed Manansala, El Dorado County Schools superintendent and an advisor to the School of Education dean. “Schools need educators who understand their communities and who can support students with a wide range of strengths, languages and learning needs.”
Applications for the first cohort in the M.Ed. program are now open. The priority deadline for scholarships is Jan. 15, followed by the general application deadline on March 1. Applications will continue to be accepted if space is available through June 1. Prospective students can visit the UC Davis School of Education’s application page for more information.
Read more Bay Area man jailed after leading Woodland police, CHP on 85-mile chase to Chico