Curriculum and Instruction Programs
Online Resources
Graduate Studies in Talent Development
Talent Development and Creativity
Throughout the Life Course
The Talent Development program at Texas State values the creative potential and uniqueness of all people. The program develops advanced knowledge and skills for the equitable suppport of talent development and creative actions throughout the life course.
Texas State approaches Talent Development as a field of research, theory, policy, and practice that is focused on the process of developing expertise and meaning in a domain and on "new" ways of thinking, acting, and being throughout the life course. Students develop conceptual understandings and practical skills related to talent development and creativity. Graduates have used the knowledge that they developed through this program in their roles as classroom teachers, mentors of teachers and students, school district curriculum writers, school administrators, coaches, coordinators of advanced educational options, and university instructors. The Talent Development program is particularly well suited to the needs and interests of certified teachers who wish to continue both their professional and personal growth and who are striving for equitable and innovative systems in education.
M.Ed. and M.A. Degree Programs
Texas State University offers M.Ed. and M.A. degree programs in Elementary Education - Talent Development and M.Ed. degree programs in Secondary Education - Talent Development at the campus in San Marcos. These degrees have been designed as advanced studies programs. They do not lead to initial teacher certification. Graduate students who are pursuing initial teacher certification are invited to pursue the graduate minor in Gifted and Talented Education.
- M.Ed. program
- Non-thesis
- Includes comprehensive exams
- Typically 36 semester hours
- M.A. program
- Thesis
- Includes comprehensive exams
- Typically 30-36 semester hours
- Requires design and implementation of a research study related to talent development (thesis typically requires one year to complete after the rest of coursework is finished)
| Typical M. Ed. Program in Elementary Education – Talent Development (Degree code 231.22, 36 Semester Hours, begins Fall 2012) |
|---|
| CI 5309 Talent Development |
| CI 5375 Special Problems in Elementary Education (Choose one section: Mentoring, or Curriculum for Depth, Challenge, and Meaning) |
| CI 5310 Creativity: Theories, Research, and Applications |
| CI 5319 Social, Emotional, and Cultural Contexts of Advanced Development |
| CI 5311 Practicum in Talent Development (offered once a year, typically in the spring) |
| CI 5330 Multicultural Education |
| EDCL 5339 Developing a Personal Vision of Leadership |
| CI 5390 Research Seminar (must be taken in the first nine hours of enrollment) |
| One from the following: CI 5372 Educational Philosophy, DE 7326 Grants Management, or ED 7352 Qualitative Research |
| Approved minor course |
| Approved minor course |
| Approved minor course |
| Typical M. Ed. Program in Secondary Education – Talent Development (Degree Code 230.22, 36 Semester Hours, Begins Fall 2012) |
|---|
| CI 5309 Talent Development |
| CI 5376 Special Problems in Secondary Education (Choose one section: Mentoring, or Curriculum for Depth, Challenge, and Meaning) |
| CI 5310 Creativity: Theories, Research, and Applications |
| CI 5319 Social, Emotional, and Cultural Contexts of Advanced Development |
| CI 5311 Practicum in Talent Development (offered once a year, typically in the spring) |
| CI 5330 Multicultural Education |
| EDCL 5339 Developing a Personal Vision of Leadership |
| CI 5390 Research Seminar (must be taken in the first nine hours of enrollment) |
| One from the following: CI 5372 Educational Philosophy, DE 7326 Grants Management, or ED 7352 Qualitative Research |
| Approved minor course |
| Approved minor course |
| Approved minor course |
| Typical M. A. Program in Elementary Education – Talent Development (Degree Code 231.12, 30 - 36 Semester Hours, begins Fall 2012) |
|---|
| CI 5309 Talent Development |
| CI 5375 Special Problems in Elementary Education (Choose one section: Mentoring, or Curriculum for Depth, Challenge, and Meaning) |
| CI 5310 Creativity: Theories, Research, and Applications |
| CI 5319 Social, Emotional, and Cultural Contexts of Advanced Development |
| CI 5311 Practicum in Talent Development (offered once a year, typically in the spring) |
| CI 5330 Multicultural Education |
| CI 5390 Research Seminar (must be taken in the first nine hours of enrollment) |
| ED 7352 Qualitative Research |
| CI 5399A Thesis A |
| CI 5399B Thesis B |
Tips for Using the Online Apply Texas Application
Select Elementary Ed or Secondary Ed at the beginning of the application form. Work through the rest of the sections. The last section of the application form has custom questions for Texas State University. This is where you will select the concentration of Talent Development. Click on the concentration link. Choose Talent Development from the concentration choices.
Applicants for Fall 2012 and beyond should select a graduate minor of nine or more hours. For a personalized set of courses, Elementary Education-Talent Development students may select the nine-hour Methods and Materials minor, and Secondary Education-Talent Development students may select the nine-hour Secondary Composite minor (available beginning Fall 2012). These two minors provide flexibility for Talent Development students to pursue a focused area of interest or to pursue multiple areas of interest that may not fit well with the requirements of other minors.
Minor in Gifted and Talented Education (does not require teacher certification)
The 15-hour minor in Gifted and Talented Education (degree code: 230.02) includes coursework both in current Gifted and Talented practices and policies and in Talent Development for people of all ages, including students who need advanced educational options. This minor addresses the basic areas of professional development required by the State of Texas for teachers who work with any students with “gifts and talents.” Many school districts accept this university coursework as officially meeting the state’s basic Gifted and Talented professional development requirement, thus allowing teachers to focus on their students instead of being pulled away to attend multiple day-long district professional development sessions on gifted and talented education. Completion of this minor also provides a foundation for taking the state supplemental certification examination in Gifted and Talented, which can be added to an initial teaching certificate. Contact Dr. Susan Field Waite (sw22@txstate.edu) for more information on specific courses for this minor.
Advising
Dr. Susan Field Waite (waite@txstate.edu) is the major advisor for students with concentrations in Talent Development. She also is the minor advisor for students with a minor in Gifted and Talented.
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