Master of Arts in Social Emotional Learning
If you’re looking to expand your knowledge of social and emotional learning to empower educational communities, the Master of Arts in Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is the program for you. The MA in SEL is designed to help you make transformational change in your school community as you promote the intersectionality of SEL both in and outside of the classroom.
National University’s MA in SEL is the only dedicated SEL master’s program in the country — giving you an edge in the job market. The intensive coursework in this program immerses you in every aspect of SEL, enabling you to become an expert in the field. The fast-paced program is designed for highly motivated students and can be completed in as few as 10 months.
This program will equip you with research-based knowledge and skills in self-care, cognition, trauma, and the ability to create healthy environments and relationships that are culturally responsive, equitable, and supportive for the whole child. This deep dive into personal identity, culture, leadership, community, and programs provides an SEL foundation where positive school climates thrive.
The program is focused on your success, on bringing transformative, highly personal, individualized attention from instructors in small classes. Faculty in the MA in SEL program are among leaders in the industry, offering valuable expertise in the processes and principles associated with SEL. The four-week class schedules are designed to allow you to start sooner, finish faster, and focus on one class at a time, one month at a time. To receive a Master of Social Emotional Learning, students must complete 45 quarter units of graduate work. A total of 4.5 quarter units of graduate credit may be granted for equivalent graduate work completed at another institution, as it applies to this degree and if the units were not used in earning another advanced degree, and provided the coursework was completed within the past seven years.
Requirements for the Major
SEL 600 SEL Education Communities – 4.50
Analyze social-emotional learning (SEL) in education communities through the lens of SEL frameworks, competencies, cultural responsiveness and developmental indicators. Reflect on personal development of social-emotional competencies. Review SEL literature to develop a research focus and questions pertaining to social-emotional learning and culturally responsive classrooms.
SEL 605 Identity and Culture – 4.50
Prerequisite: SEL 600
An investigation into how personal culture, implicit bias, stereotypes, assumptions, values, and beliefs influence personal identity and impacts our ability to engage in dynamics of difference. Students will then self-assess and reflect upon personal cultural proficiency. That self-reflection will then intersect with the SEL tenets that foster an inclusive learning environment to construct a personal cultural growth plan.
SEL 610 Cognition and Emotion – 4.50
Prerequisite: SEL 605
How learners learn and instructors teach can be explained by brain research and by neuroscience. Social and emotional learning competencies are greatly impacted by cognition. The intersections between cognition, emotion, equity, and culture impact more than learning and can affect human creativity, innovation and critical thinking. Learners will explore how digital design and digital tools influence knowledge acquisition in a variety of learning environments.
SEL 615 SEL Action Research Methods – 4.50
Prerequisite: SEL 610
This course will examine and begin to formulate a four stage Action Research Plan that addresses Social Emotional Learning: 1) Clarifying vision and targets, 2) Articulating theory, 3) Implementing action and collecting data, 4) Reflecting on data and planning informed action.
SEL 620 SEL Frameworks – 4.50
Prerequisite: SEL 615
An exploration of various SEL frameworks that will provide evidence and structures for effective learning environments. Student learning is enhanced when educators are able to weave together academics with social emotional learning practices and pedagogies.
SEL 625 Trauma in Education – 4.50
Prerequisite: SEL 620
Identification of trauma-informed strategies for developmentally diverse classrooms and implementation of prevention strategies and protective factors are explored. Addresses assimilation of knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices and examination of the teaching of tolerance.
SEL 630 SEL Strategies – 4.50
Prerequisite: SEL 625
Examines equity-based pedagogical approaches to integrate SEL strategies and skills into academic content areas at different developmental levels. Learn how to apply evidence-based inclusive practices and examine the impact on students’ behavior and achievement outcomes. Determine how educational success can be achieved with curriculum integration strategies to support SEL and academic achievement.
SEL 635 Leadership and SEL in Context – 4.50
Prerequisite: SEL 630
Leadership skills to promote SEL in educational settings. Evidence-based practices to create a shared vision and cultivate a positive school climate to empower students and school leaders will be examined. Learners will adopt SEL leadership skills to transform school and district culture and increase student achievement by adapting or developing policy and procedures.
SEL 640 SEL and Assessment – 4.50
Prerequisite: SEL 635
Explore assessment practices that support social and emotional learning in educational settings. Practices include: Formative Assessment Strategies, Universal Design for Learning, Authentic Assessment, Personalized Learning, portfolio and performance-based assessment. Examine assessment of SEL programs and tools that measure the effect of SEL on individual behavior, overall school climate, and school-wide implementation.
SEL 680 SEL Capstone – 4.50
Prerequisite: SEL 600 SEL 605, SEL 610, SEL 615, SEL 620, SEL 625, SEL 630, SEL 635, & SEL 640
As the capstone course for the MA in SEL degree, learners will construct an action research project that includes the tenets of social and emotional learning. Project findings will provide evidence from scholarly literature and practitioner evidence collected throughout the program.
Degree and Course Requirements
To receive a Master of Social Emotional Learning, students must complete 45 quarter units of graduate work. A total of 4.5 quarter units of graduate credit may be granted for equivalent graduate work completed at another institution, as it applies to this degree and if the units were not used in earning another advanced degree, and provided the coursework was completed within the past seven years.
Program Learning Outcomes
Conduct and complete an action research project based on SEL research, theory, and practice that will create inclusive environments for the whole child
Evaluate the impact of SEL competencies on student success metrics at the various developmental levels
Distinguish the intersectionality between SEL, equity, cognition, and cultural responsiveness in educational communities
Examine SEL communities, frameworks, programs and policies
Develop SEL leadership skills to support teachers, administrators, and families in transforming school culture and climate
Admissions
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To that end, we’ve simplified and streamlined our application process, so you can get enrolled in your program right away. Because we accept and review applications year-round, you can begin class as soon as next month, depending on your program and location of choice.
Learn more about undergraduate, graduate, military, and international student admissions, plus admissions information for transfer students. You can also learn more about our tuition rates and financial aid opportunities.