Graduate Degree Programs

The Department of Curriculum and Instruction offers a variety of degrees and programs. Programs have been designed for the certified teacher to receive a master's degree in an area of education that will enhance their current role in a educational setting. Additionally, the Department of Curriculum and Instruction offers programs that allow a post-baccalaureate student the ability to earn a teaching certificate prior to the granting of the master's degree. Some majors and certificates can be completed throough programs offered full-time during the day or part-time in the evenings. Before proceeding into any field of education at Texas State, the degree applicant should inquire as to certification requirements associated with or prequisites to the degree. Applicants must keep in mind that certification requirements and graduate degree requirements may not be related and that the satisfactory completion of degree requirements may not always lead directly to certification. The Master of Education degree offerings from the department consist of a minimum of 36 hours without a required thesis. Semester hour requirements vary within the major and minor areas. It is also possible to earn the degree of Master of Arts (M.A.) with majors in Elementary Education and Secondary Education with a minimum of 30 semester hours including the thesis. Students seeking either a master's degree or certification combined with a master's degree can typically begin their studies without completing background, or leveling classes. An exception to this would be approximately 6-9 hours of college level math, speech communication, computer literacy and 6 hours of English composition necessary for students seeking initial teacher certification. Candidates for the master's degree must complete a written comprehensive examination in the last semester of their master's program.

Majors and Degrees Offered

Educational Technology, M.Ed.
Elementary Education, M.A., M.Ed.
Elementary Education-Bilingual/Bicultural, M.A., M.Ed.
Elementary Education-Early Childhood Education, M.A., M.Ed.
Elementary Education-Gifted/Talented, M.A., M.Ed.
Reading Education M.Ed.
Secondary Education, M.A., M.Ed.
Special Education, M.Ed.

Majors

Educational Technology. The 39-hour Master of Education with a major in Educational Technology consists of 27-semester hours in educational technology and 12-semester hours in Educational Administration. Graduates will be prepared to teach technology applications, use technology to support student learning of subject-area content, and provide professional development, mentoring, and basic technical and instructional assistance to other professional educators on their campuses and/or in their districts. Click here for more information.

Elementary Education. The 36-hour master of Education with a major in Elementary Education usually consists of 24-27 hours in elementary education and an academic minor of nine to twelve hours, a composite minor grouped under the title of methods and materials; or a cognate for the certification track. A specialization in gifted and talented is also offered within this major. It is also possible to earn the degree of Master of Arts in Elementary Education with a minimum of 30 semester hours including the thesis. A student may also pursue the Master of Education with a major in Elementary Education degree with a 12-semester hour focus in educational technology. Click here for more information.

Elementary Education-Bilingual/Bicultural. The 36-hour Master of Education with a major in Elementary Education-Bilingual/Bicultural usually consists of 24 to 27 semester hours in bilingual and elementary education and a minor of nine to twelve hours in an approved academic area, such as reading, early childhood, secondary education, gifted/ talented education, educational administration, special education, or a composite area. Click here for more information.

Elementary Education-Early Childhood Education. The 36-hour Master of Education with a major in Elementary Education-Early Childhood Education usually consists of 24 to 27 semester hours in elementary and early childhood education and a minor of nine to twelve hours in an approved academic area, such as reading, secondary education, gifted and talented, educational administration, or special education, or a composite area. More

Elementary Education-Gifted and Talented Education. Students explore talent development across the life span and range of abilities, in addition to examining research, theories, and pedagogy related to advanced learning and learners. Students develop conceptual principles and practical skills that may be applied when teaching, coaching, or mentoring diverse learners in a variety of settings. The M.Ed. degree consists of 36 semester hours, including 15 semester hours in the specialization of Gifted and Talent Education. The 30-semester-hour M.A. degree, which requires a thesis, is designed for experienced teachers with a focused area of inquiry. Click here for more information.

Reading Education. The 39 hour major consists of 30 hours including courses in language and literacy development, reading and writing theory and research, teaching literacy from PK through grade 12, teaching with children's/young adult/adult literature, teaching reading and writing in a multilingual/multicultural environment, literacy assessment, a reading specialist internship, and a 9 hour cognate. Reading Education majors are prepared to meet the International Reading Association professional standards for Reading Specialist/Literacy Coach or the Reading Administrator. Certified teachers with three or more years of teaching experience who successfully complete the major and pass the Professional Reading Specialist TExES (Texas Examination of Educators Standards) examination qualify for the PK-12 Professional Reading Specialist certificate. A 12-hour academic minor is available for those students majoring in other areas. A 15-hour qualification for the Master Reading Teacher exam is also available. Click here for more information.

Secondary Education. The 36-hour Master of Education with a major in secondary education usually consists of 24 semester hours in secondary education and 12 to 15 semester hours in an academic minor or a composite program. Students who do not have a teaching certificate may be required to complete specific background courses before beginning graduate course work. A student may also pursue the Master of Education with a major in Secondary Education with a 12-semester hour specialization in educational technology. It is also possible to earn the degree of Master of Arts with a major in Secondary Education. The Master of Arts consists of a minimum of 30 semester hours including thesis. Click here for more information.

Special Education. The 36-hour Master of Education with a major in Special Education consists of 24 semester hours in special education. A 12-semester hour minor is required. A student may specialize in either generic Special Education or Educational Diagnostician. Click here for more information.

Click here for more information from the Graduate College.

Graduate Programs with Initial Teacher Certification

CMED

Certification and Masters Degree in Education (CMED) 36-semester hour option is offered only in the evenings and is not limited in enrollment. Students may begin the program in the fall, spring, or summer semester. Students are urged to take a minimum of two classes each semester in the program. A field experience will be required and may have to be arranged on the student’s own time. The program culminates with student teaching or an internship (if the student has significant classroom experience).

CASE

Career Alternatives in Special Education . Career Alternatives in Special Education (CASE), is a unique program developed to recruit mature individuals, who hold undergraduate degrees, who are interested in a second career to teach public school students who have disabilities. CASE provides training in teaching methods and special education techniques, and supports CASE participants in teaching positions in central Texas.

TRP

Teacher Recruitment Program (TRP)

is a full-certification program, designed for individuals who already hold a baccalaureate degree. TRP includes 18 hours of graduate course work, typically completed in two semesters of full-time attendance. The coursework may begin in either the fall or spring semesters. The first semester classes are delivered at the Round Rock Higher Educational Center (RRHEC). Field experiences are delivered on-site in area public schools. TRP includes a full semester of student teaching or internship. The Teacher Recruitment Program (TRP) is designed to provide an accelerated pathway to teacher certification in either of two possible areas:

Generalist (Early Childhood - 4th Grade)

Secondary (Grades 8-12) requires at least 24 credit hours in a teachable subject area.

TRP participants have the option to complete an additional 6 graduate classes for a Masters degree in Education (MEd.) if desired. A student wishing to complete a Masters degree must pass a written comprehensive exam. MORE

Graduate Program Supporting Teachers in Their Induction Year

The Teacher Fellows Program specializes in personalized induction and mentoring of new teachers. Each beginning teacher is immersed in teaching in a central Texas participating school district while completing a 36-semester hour M.Ed. in Elementary Education. The program provides an integrated curriculum focused on principles of constructivist learning, teacher research, project-based learning, and performance assessment.