MA in Teaching Admission Requirements

The application form is quick and easy, taking less than 15 minutes to complete. 

A candidate with a degree in education, early childhood education, education studies, or any other degree in education will only be allowed to earn a multiple-subject teaching credential per AB 170. All bachelor’s degrees must be earned at a regionally accredited institution of higher education, and the institution’s regional accreditation status must have been in place at the time the degree was earned.

The amendment of AB 170 allowing candidates for multiple subject teaching credentials to hold a bachelor’s degree in education does not extend to single subject credential candidates who must still hold a bachelor’s degree in a subject other than education.

For domestic students, transcripts from the regionally accredited colleges or universities that awarded your baccalaureate degree may be sent through one of the methods noted below. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for initial admissions review; however, official transcripts must be received to complete an applicant’s file and enroll in the subsequent term.

• Electronic Transcript(s) emailed to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.
• Official transcript(s) may be sent from one of the following approved companies:
  • National Student Clearinghouse
  • Parchment
  • eSCRIP-SAFE

Hard-copy Transcript(s), in a sealed and stamped envelope, must be mailed to:

Pepperdine University-GSEP
5th Floor- Enrollment Processing
6100 Center Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90045, USA

One recommendation must be submitted directly from an individual familiar with the applicant’s competencies, character, potential, and/or ability as an educator. Academic recommendations from professors, instructors, or academic advisors; or professional recommendations from supervisors for employment, volunteer work, internship, or related activity satisfy this requirement. The online Recommendation Form should be emailed by your recommender to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.

You must submit a 250-500 word personal statement that reflects the applicant’s educational purpose and goals and incorporates an understanding of the Master of Arts in Teaching program mission (see the “Teacher Preparation Program Mission Statement” in this academic catalog, page 94), emailed to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu if not included in your online application.

A signed Statement of Responsibility Form emailed to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.

Completion of the Basic Skills Requirement (CBEST) is required by the end of the first term*. Coursework submitted to satisfy the CBEST will be verified by the Credentialing Department upon acceptance and submission of the tuition deposit. Documents must be emailed to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.

Applicants to this program must show completion of the California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET) or verify subject matter competence by the end of the first term*. CSET test scores are valid for 10 years and must be current in order for a candidate to be eligible for student teaching. Applicants who have successfully completed a Commission-approved Subject Matter Equivalency program must obtain a Subject Matter Equivalency letter from the college or university. The original Subject Matter Equivalency letter will be accepted in lieu of the CSET. Coursework submitted to satisfy the CSET will be evaluated by the Credentialing Department against the Subject Matter Domains established by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing upon acceptance and submission of tuition deposit. Coursework evaluations may be followed by requests for additional transcripts, catalog descriptions, course syllabi, or verification letters in order to confirm coverage of required subject areas. Please note that Pepperdine University is currently not authorized to evaluate coursework for Dance or Theater credentials. 

Your California Certificate of Character Clearance (COC) must be completed prior to admission to the Master of Arts in Teaching program. Note: State Law prohibits Pepperdine University from accepting a BA Degree in Education if a candidate pursues a Single Subject Teaching Credential in the MA in Teaching Program.

Current TB test results are required.

If your baccalaureate or master's degree GPA is lower than 3.0, please fill out this Exception Request Form and email it to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.

The application form is quick and easy, taking less than 15 minutes to complete. 

A candidate with a degree in education, early childhood education, education studies, or any other degree in education will only be allowed to earn a multiple-subject teaching credential per AB 170. All bachelor’s degrees must be earned at a regionally accredited institution of higher education, and the institution’s regional accreditation status must have been in place at the time the degree was earned.

The amendment of AB 170 allowing candidates for multiple subject teaching credentials to hold a bachelor’s degree in education does not extend to single subject credential candidates who must still hold a bachelor’s degree in a subject other than education.

All applicants who received or will receive their degree from a university outside of the US (unless the degree is from a university that is already regionally accredited within the US) are required to submit a detailed foreign transcript evaluation report from any National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) member, such as the International Education Research Foundation or the World Education Services, Inc.

A detailed foreign transcript evaluation report will contain the following:

• Foreign transcripts translated into English.
• A detailed course-by-course report with the grade point average calculated on a US 4.0 scale.
• A determination of US degree equivalency (regional accreditation equivalency is required)

If you are attending school outside of the US and have not completed your bachelor's degree at the time of application, we would need your current NACES member international transcript evaluation (please see above for requirements). Upon degree completion, you are required to provide an updated NACES member evaluation reflecting your final courses, final cumulative GPA equivalency and US degree equivalency.

Please have the evaluation service, send your updated evaluation to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.

One recommendation must be submitted directly from an individual familiar with the applicant’s competencies, character, potential, and/or ability as an educator. Academic recommendations from professors, instructors, or academic advisors; or professional recommendations from supervisors for employment, volunteer work, internship, or related activity satisfy this requirement. The online Recommendation Form should be emailed by your recommender to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.

You must submit a 250-500 word personal statement that reflects the applicant’s educational purpose and goals and incorporates an understanding of the Master of Arts in Teaching program mission (see the “Teacher Preparation Program Mission Statement” in this academic catalog, page 94), emailed to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu if not included in your online application.

A signed Statement of Responsibility Form emailed to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.

Completion of the Basic Skills Requirement (CBEST) is required by the end of the first term*. Coursework submitted to satisfy the CBEST will be verified by the Credentialing Department upon acceptance and submission of the tuition deposit. Documents must be emailed to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.

Applicants to this program must show completion of the California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET) or verify subject matter competence by the end of the first term*. CSET test scores are valid for 10 years and must be current in order for a candidate to be eligible for student teaching. Applicants who have successfully completed a Commission-approved Subject Matter Equivalency program must obtain a Subject Matter Equivalency letter from the college or university. The original Subject Matter Equivalency letter will be accepted in lieu of the CSET. Coursework submitted to satisfy the CSET will be evaluated by the Credentialing Department against the Subject Matter Domains established by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing upon acceptance and submission of tuition deposit. Coursework evaluations may be followed by requests for additional transcripts, catalog descriptions, course syllabi, or verification letters in order to confirm coverage of required subject areas. Please note that Pepperdine University is currently not authorized to evaluate coursework for Dance or Theater credentials. 

Your California Certificate of Character Clearance (COC) must be completed prior to admission to the Master of Arts in Teaching program. Note: State Law prohibits Pepperdine University from accepting a BA Degree in Education if a candidate pursues a Single Subject Teaching Credential in the MA in Teaching Program.

Current TB test results are required.

If your first language is not English, you must submit a minimum score of 550 on the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL). If taking the Internet-based TOEFL test, you will need a minimum score of 80. Information concerning the availability of this test outside of the US can be obtained by contacting TOEFL, Educational Testing Services, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA, or online. Our TOEFL code is 4630. As an alternative to the TOEFL, you may submit a score of at least 6.5 on the IELTS exam. Scores can be sent electronically by choosing "Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology" from the dropdown menu.

If your baccalaureate or master's degree GPA is lower than 3.0 or you're seeking an exception to our TOEFL/IELTS test requirement, please fill out this Exception Request Form and email it to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.