DISCIPLINES REQUIRING A MASTER'S DEGREE

These disciplines lists must be used in conjunction with the Board of Governor’s minimum qualifications regulations (Title 5 Sections 53400-430). A few of the applicable rules specified in Title 5 are:

∑ Degrees and credits generally must be from accredited institutions (Section 53406).
∑ An occupational license or certificate is required in certain instances (Section 53417).
∑ A district may hire a person who possesses qualifications different from, but equivalent to, those listed on the disciplines list, according to criteria and procedures agreed upon by the governing board and the academic senate (Section 53430).

Title 5 regulations also specify minimum qualifications for additional faculty members, including health services professionals, non-credit instructors, apprenticeship instructors, DSPS personnel, EOPS personnel, learning assistance and tutoring coordinators, and work experience coordinators.

Whenever this list mentions a master’s degree, any degree beyond the master’s would also satisfy that qualification.

Under each of the disciplines below, the phrase “OR the equivalent” refers to the possibility of hiring faculty who do not possess the exact degrees listed, under a local process developed and agreed upon by representatives of the governing board and the academic senate, as provided for in Education Code Section 87359 and Title 5 Section 53430.
Further, these lists only reflect the statewide minimums for persons to be considered qualified to teach in a discipline. Each district may establish additional qualifications which are more rigorous than those listed herein.

Discipline Areas also included in the discipline:

Accounting:

•  Master’s in accountancy or business administration with accounting concentration OR
• Bachelor’s in business with accounting emphasis or businessadministration with accounting emphasis or economics with an accounting emphasis AND Master’s in business, business administration, business education, taxation, or finance OR
• The equivalent
• (NOTE: A bachelor’s degree with a CPA license is an alternative qualification for this discipline, pursuant to Title 5 Section 53410.1).

Agriculture:

• Master’s in agriculture, agriculture sciences or education with a specialization in agriculture OR
• Bachelor’s in any of the above AND Master’s in agriculture business, natural resources, animal science, plant science, soil science, forestry, homology, agricultural engineering, environmental horticulture, agronomy, or enology OR
• The equivalent

Anthropology:

• Master’s in anthropology or archaeology OR
• Bachelor’s in either of the above AND Master’s in sociology, biological sciences, forensic sciences, genetics or paleontology OR
• The equivalent

Art:

• Master’s in fine arts, art, or art history OR
• Bachelor’s in any of the above AND Master’s in humanities OR 
• The equivalent
• (Note: “Master’s in fine arts” as used here refers to any master’s degree in the subject matter of fine arts, which is defined to include visual studio arts such as drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, textiles, and metal and jewelry art; and also art education and art therapy. It does not refer to the “Master of Fine Arts” (MFA) degree when that degree is based on specialization in performing arts or dance, film, video, photography, creative writing, or other non-plastic arts.)

Astronomy:

• Master’s in any biological science OR
• Bachelor’s in any biological science AND Master’s in biochemistry, biophysics, or marine science OR
• The equivalent OR
• See Physics/Astronomy Biological Sciences

Business:

• Master’s in business, business management, business administration, accountancy, finance, marketing, or business education OR
• Bachelor’s in any of the above AND Master’s in economics, personnel management, public administration, or JD or LL.B. degree OR
• Bachelor’s in economics with a business emphasis AND Master’s in personnel management, public administration, or JD or LL.B degree OR
• The equivalent

Business Education:

• Master’s in business, business administration, or business education OR
• Bachelor’s in any of the above AND Master’s in vocational education OR
• The equivalent

Chemistry:

• Master’s in chemistry OR
• Bachelor’s in chemistry AND Master’s in biochemistry, chemical engineering, chemical physics, physics, molecular biology, or geochemistry OR
• The equivalent

Child Development:

• Master’s in child development, early childhood education

Early Childhood Education:

• Human development, home economics/family and consumer studies with a specialization in child development/early childhood education, educational psychology with a specialization in child development/early childhood education OR
• Bachelor’s in any of the above AND Master’s in social work, educational supervision, elementary education, special education, psychology, bilingual/bicultural education, life management/home economics, family life studies, or family and consumer studies OR
• The equivalent

Computer Science:

• Master’s in computer science or computer engineering OR
• Bachelor’s in either of the above AND Master’s in mathematics, cybernetics, business administration, accounting, or engineering OR
• Bachelor’s in engineering AND Master’s in cybernetics, engineering, mathematics, or business administration OR
• Bachelor’s in mathematics AND Master’s in cybernetics, engineering, mathematics, or business administration OR
• Bachelor’s degree in any of the above AND a Master’s degree in information science, computer information systems, or information systems OR
• The equivalent
• (NOTE: Courses in the use of computer programs for application to a particular discipline may be classified, for minimum qualifications purposes, under the discipline of the application.)

Counseling:

• Master’s in counseling, rehabilitation counseling, clinical psychology, counseling psychology, guidance counseling, educational counseling, social work, or career development, OR
• The equivalent
• (NOTE: A license as a Marriage, Family, and Child Counselor is an alternative qualification for this discipline, pursuant to Title 5 Section 53410.1.)

Dance:

• Master’s in dance, physical education with a dance emphasis, or theater with dance emphasis OR
• Bachelor’s in any of the above AND Master’s in physical education, any life science, physiology, theater arts, kinesiology, humanities, performing arts, or music OR
• The equivalent

Dietetics:

• See Nutritional Science/Dietetics

Drama/Theater Arts:

• Master’s in drama/theater arts/performance OR
• Bachelor’s in drama/theater arts/performance AND Master’s in comparative literature, English, speech, literature, or humanities OR
• The equivalent

Earth Science:

• Master’s in geology, geophysics, earth sciences, meteorology, oceanography, or paleontology OR
• Bachelor’s in geology AND Master’s in geography, physics, or geochemistry OR
• The equivalent

Ecology:

• Master’s in ecology or environmental studies OR
• The equivalent OR
• See Interdisciplinary Studies

Economics:

• Master’s in economics OR
• Bachelor’s in economics AND Master’s in business, business administration, business management, business education, finance, or political science OR
• The equivalent

Education:

• Master’s in education OR
• The equivalent Engineering: Master’s in any field of engineering OR
• Bachelor’s in any of the above AND Master’s in mathematics, physics, computer science, chemistry, or geology OR 
• The equivalent
• (NOTE: A Bachelor’s in any field of engineering with a professional engineer’s license is an alternative qualification for this discipline, pursuant to Title 5 Section 53410.1.)

Engineering Technology:

• Master’s in any field of engineering technology or engineering OR
• Bachelor’s degree in either of the above AND Master’s degree in physics, mathematics, computer science, biological science, or chemistry OR
• The equivalent

English:

• Master’s in English, literature, comparative literature, or composition OR
• Bachelor’s in any of the above AND Master’s in linguistics, TESL, speech, education with specialization in reading, creative writing, or journalism OR
• The equivalent

ESL:

• Master’s in TESL, TESOL, applied linguistics with a TESL emphasis, linguistics with a TESL emphasis, English with a TESL emphasis, or education with a TESL emphasis OR
• Bachelor’s in TESL, TESOL, English with a TESL certificate, linguistics with a TESL certificate, applied linguistics with a TESL certificate, or any foreign language with a TESL certificate AND Master’s in linguistics, applied linguistics, English, composition, bilingual/bicultural studies, reading, speech, or any foreign language OR
• The equivalent

Ethnic Studies:

• Master’s in the ethnic studies field OR
• The equivalent OR
• See Interdisciplinary Studies

Family and Consumer Studies:

• Master’s in family and consumer studies, life management/Studies/Home Economics: home economics, or home economics education OR
• Bachelor’s in any of the above AND Master’s in child development , early childhood education, human development, gerontology, fashion, clothing and textiles, housing/interior design, foods/nutrition, or dietetics and food administration OR
• The equivalent

Film Studies:

• Master’s degree in film, drama/theater arts, or mass communication OR
• Bachelor’s degree in any of the above AND Master’s degree in media studies, English, or communication OR
• The equivalent

Foreign Languages:

• Master’s in the language being taught OR
• Bachelor’s in the language being taught AND Master’s in another language or linguistics OR
• The equivalent

Geography:

• Master’s in geography OR
• Bachelor’s in geography AND Master’s in geology, history, meteorology, or oceanography OR
• The equivalent OR
• See Interdisciplinary Studies

Gerontology:

• Master’s in gerontology OR
• The equivalent OR
• See Interdisciplinary Studies

Health:

• Master’s in health science, health education, biology, nursing, physical education, dietetics, or nutrition OR
• Bachelor’s in any of the above AND Master’s in public health, or any biological science OR
• The equivalent

Health Services:

• Minimum Qualifications for these faculty members are specified Director/Health Services in Title 5 Section 53411.

Coordinator/College Nurse: 

History:

• Master’s in history OR
• Bachelor’s in history AND Master’s in political science, humanities, geography, area studies, women’s studies, social science, or ethnic studies OR
• The equivalent

Humanities:

• Master’s in humanities OR
• The equivalent OR
• See Interdisciplinary Studies

Instructional Design:

• Master’s in instructional design/technology OR
• Technology OR
• The equivalent

Interdisciplinary Studies:

• Master’s in the interdisciplinary area OR
• Master’s in one of the disciplines included in the interdisciplinary area and upper division or graduate course work in at least one other constituent discipline

Journalism:

• Master’s in journalism or communication with a specialization in journalism OR 
• Bachelor’s in either of the above AND Master’s in English history, communication, literature, composition, comparative literature, any social science, business, business administration, marketing, graphics, or photography OR
• The equivalent 

Law:

• JD or LL.B.
• (NOTE: Courses in aspects of law for application to a particular discipline may be classified, for minimum qualifications purposes, in the discipline of the application.)

Learning Assistance:

• Minimum Qualifications for these faculty members are specified Instructors: in Title 5 Section 53415.

Library Science:

• Master’s in library science, library and information science, OR
• The equivalent

Linguistics:

• Master’s in linguistics or applied linguistics OR
• Bachelor’s in linguistics AND Master’s in TESOL,  anthropology, psychology, sociology, English, or any foreign language OR
• The equivalent

Management:

• Master’s in business administration, business management, business education, marketing, public administration, or finance OR
• Bachelor’s in any of the above AND Master’s in economics, accountancy, taxation, or law OR
• The equivalent

Marketing:

• Master’s in business administration, business management, business education, marketing, advertising, or finance OR
• Bachelor’s in any of the above AND Master’s in economics, accountancy, taxation, or law OR
• The equivalent

Mass Communication:

• Master’s in radio, television, film, mass communication, or communication, journalism OR
• Bachelor’s in any of the above AND Master’s in drama/theater arts, communication, speech communication, business, telecommunications, or English OR
• The equivalent

Mathematics:

• Master’s in mathematics or applied mathematics OR 
• Bachelor’s in either of the above AND Master’s in statistics, physics, or mathematics education OR
• The equivalent

Music:

• Master’s in music OR
• Bachelor’s in music AND Master’s in humanities OR
• The equivalent

Nursing:

• Master’s in nursing OR
• Bachelor’s in nursing AND Master’s in health education or health science OR
• The equivalent OR
• The minimum qualifications as set by the Board of Registered Nursing, whichever is higher

Nutritional Science:

• Master’s in nutrition, dietetics, or dietetics and food Dietetics administration OR
• Bachelor’s in any of the above AND Master’s in chemistry, public health, or family and consumer studies/home economics OR
• The equivalent
• (NOTE: A Bachelor’s in nutrition, dietetics, or dietetics and food administration, and certification as a registered dietitian, is an alternative qualification for this discipline, pursuant to Title 5 Section 53410.1.)

Philosophy:

• Master’s in philosophy OR
• Bachelor’s in philosophy AND Master’s in humanities or religious studies OR
• The equivalent

Photography:

• Master’s in photography, fine arts, or art OR
• Bachelor’s in any of the above AND Master’s in art history or humanities OR 
• The equivalent

Physical Education:

• Master’s in physical education, education with emphasis in physical education, kinesiology, physiology of exercise, or adaptive physical education OR
• Bachelor’s in any of the above AND Master’s in any life science, dance, physiology, health education, recreation administration, or physical therapy OR
• The equivalent

Physical Sciences:

• See Interdisciplinary Studies

Physics/Astronomy:

• Master’s in physics, astronomy, or astrophysics OR
• Bachelor’s in physics or astronomy AND Master’s in engineering, mathematics, meteorology, or geophysics OR 
• The equivalent

Political Science:

• Master’s in political science, government, public administration, or international relations OR
• Bachelor’s in any of the above AND Master’s in economics, history, social science, sociology, any ethnic studies, JD, or LL.B. OR
• The equivalent

Psychology:

• Master’s in psychology OR
• Bachelor’s in psychology AND Master’s in counseling, sociology, statistics, neuroscience, or psychiatric social work OR
• The equivalent 

Reading:

• Master’s in education with a specialization in reading or teaching reading OR
• Bachelor’s in any academic discipline AND twelve semester units of course work in teaching reading AND Master’s in English, literature, linguistics, applied linguistics, composition, comparative literature, TESL, or psychology OR
• The equivalent

Recreation Administration:

• Master’s in recreation administration or physical education OR
• Bachelor’s in either of the above AND Master’s in dance, gerontology, or public administration OR
• The equivalent

Religious Studies:

• Master’s in religious studies, theology, or philosophy OR 
• Bachelor’s in any of the above AND Master’s in humanities OR
• The equivalent

Social Science:

• Master’s in social science OR
• See Interdisciplinary Studies

Sociology:

• Master’s in sociology OR
• Bachelor’s in sociology AND Master’s in anthropology, any ethnic studies, social work, or psychology OR
• The equivalent

Special Education:

• Minimum Qualifications for these faculty members are specified in Title 5 Section 53414.

Speech:

• Master’s in speech, speech broadcasting, telecommunications, rhetoric, communication, speech communication, or organizational communication OR
• Bachelor’s in any of the above AND Master’s in drama/theater arts, mass communication, or English OR
• The equivalent

Theater Arts:

• See Drama/Theater Arts

Women’s Studies:

• Master’s in women’s studies OR
• The equivalent OR
• See Interdisciplinary Studies