How can California meet the need for quality educators in the midst of a severe teacher shortage impacting districts nationwide? A dynamic husband-and-wife teaching duo, Sunny and Charles Cho, may hold the answer.
Both 2024 graduates of Azusa Pacific University’s Master of Arts in Education: Learning and Technology program, the Chos said they were drawn to APU for its unique blend of accelerated coursework and faith-integrated community. For Sunny, a former engineer, the program’s hybrid format and the inclusion of all prerequisites within the curriculum made it the right choice for her career transition. Charles was equally motivated by the flexibility of the hybrid model and the opportunity to study at a Christian university that views teaching as a higher calling to transform children’s lives. Together, they earned their master’s and multiple subject credentials, with Sunny adding a single subject science credential.
Their experience at APU provided practical tools that have been instrumental in their first year of teaching. Sunny highlighted the value of learning classroom management skills and building school-home connections, noting that the stamina built during assignments prepared her for the realities of her kindergarten classroom in the Centralia School District. She emphasized that the reward is worth the work.
Charles emphasized the impact of student teaching and the extensive support from faculty mentor coaches: “They have extensive experience—they’re retired teachers and principals and they gave me so many tools to work with.”
Charles recently served as a long-term substitute for a 5th-grade class, applying the research-based strategies and personal growth he developed during his time in the program.
Alumni such as the Chos can pursue their dream of teaching because of programs tailored to their needs. To attract more future educators, APU is expanding its graduate offerings, launching flexible hybrid programs across its regional campuses. The hybrid model combines the freedom of online synchronous learning with one in-person Saturday residency per semester to strengthen hands-on skill development, professional community, and faculty mentorship. Launching this academic year, the programs will provide training for a diverse array of future educators—traditional students, busy professionals, and career changers answering a new call to serve, such as Bianca Contreras-Garcia, MAEd ’19, an elementary school counselor who loves supporting and advocating for her students.
Before enrolling at APU, Contreras-Garcia lost her husband and was looking for a way to provide a brighter future for herself and her son.
The faith-based values of APU pulled me to the program, and every person I encountered there was warm, understanding, and family-oriented as a community. APU provided me with a safe space to grow in both my career and education.Bianca Contreras-Garcia, MAEd '19
She received the Orange County Counselor of the Year Award after just one year of counseling. Her love for her students, their families, and her coworkers has made her an integral part of her school: “A good counselor will see their students as equal individuals, which gains a sense of respect from the children as they feel heard and valued.”
With schools facing incredibly high turnover, the need for skilled, values-driven teachers, dedicated counselors, and stable leadership is critical—and APU graduates such as the Chos and Contreras-Garcia are part of the solution. What sets an APU education apart is the strong commitment to building community. By combining live online learning with structured, high-impact, in-person Saturday residencies, students enjoy flexibility without sacrificing the deep human connection, cohort unity, and rigorous clinical coaching necessary for thriving long-term.
Expanded Options Built Around Students’ Lives
Starting in the 2026-27 academic year, APU is launching a flexible hybrid format across its regional campuses (High Desert, Inland Empire, Murrieta, Orange County, and San Diego) and the main Azusa campus.
The Hybrid Model
- Weekly: Live online evening classes that fit students’ schedules.
- Once per Semester: One on-campus weekend residency for intensive, hands-on faculty coaching and peer networking.
Program Offerings
- MA in Education and Teaching Credentials (Launching Fall 2026 | Regional Campuses) Earn your degree alongside Multiple Subject, Single Subject, Mild/Moderate Support Needs, or Extensive Support Needs credentials. Residencies focus on mastering real-world skills such as classroom management.
- MS in Educational Counseling (Launching Spring 2027 | Regional Campuses) Designed for future school counselors. Residencies focus on developing critical clinical skills and building expansive professional networks.
- MS in College Counseling and Student Development (Launching Fall 2026 | Azusa Campus) Engineered for students with demanding schedules or those living farther from the Azusa campus. Features one intensive residency weekend per semester as a professional and cultural anchor.
- New 12-Month MA in Education (Launching Spring 2027 | Regional Campuses) An accelerated 30-unit degree tailored for K-12 educators who already hold a credential, higher education professionals, and corporate adult educators. Features asynchronous online instruction paired with a one-day residency focused on curriculum, data-driven innovation, and adult learning.
Streamlining the Pathway: The 4+1 Partnership
For undergraduate students who plan to teach, APU’s 4+1 Partnership between the College of the Arts, Humanities, Sciences, and Theology and the Department of Teacher Education allows subject-specific majors—English, math, biology, chemistry, history, and art—to complete a bachelor’s degree, a Single Subject Teaching Credential, and a Master of Arts in Education in just five years by taking 9 units of graduate education classes their senior undergraduate year, saving time and reducing cost.
The APU Difference: Impact Grounded in Faith
Ultimately, what distinguishes Azusa Pacific education and counseling graduates is the holistic integration of character development, ethics, and a Christian worldview. Students are taught to view teaching and counseling not merely as professions but as divine vocations rooted in servant leadership. Guided by their training from a Christian worldview with an enduring commitment to seeing students achieve their God-given purpose, APU-trained educators and counselors enter their communities prepared to advocate for the underserved, navigate challenges with integrity, and make a measurable, compassionate difference in the lives of the individuals they serve.