Graduates

How to begin

• The GRE is required for admission. Click here for information about registering and preparing for the GRE.

• If  you are seeking certification and a Master's degree, you will be in our CASE program. Please go to the CASE website for more information about applying for the CASE program, including applying for a certification plan and a degree plan.

• If  you are seeking a Generic Special Education Master's degree only, you need to apply for admission to the Graduate College. Once you have been admitted to the university, you will receive a degree plan that lists all the courses required for your Master's degree.

• If you are seeking a Master's degree with a concentration in Behavioral Disorders, Autism, Learning Disabilities, or Educational Diagnostician, you need to 1) apply to the Graduate College and 2) complete the Master's  Concentration Application. The Master's Concentration Application is submitted to Dr. Scheuermann.

Comprehensive Examination

All special education graduate students at Texas State University are required to take a final comprehensive examination. You must pass the comprehensive exam to graduate. This exam may be taken after completion of 18 graduate hours; however, it is most commonly taken in the semester you expect to graduate, or the semester before you expect to graduate. The comprehensive exam is offered in the fall, spring, and once in the summer. To apply for the exam, contact Dr. Wheeler.

The comprehensive exam is a written exam consisting of 4 questions, each of which should take about one hour to complete. Each question addresses content in one of the following areas: (1) assessment; (2) instructional strategies; (3)  behavioral interventions, and (4) behavioral disorders or reading instruction (your choice). You will be given a study guide for each question, plus you may contact any special education faculty member for further guidance on how to prepare for the exam.

The Special Education Comprehensive Exam Policies and Procedures provides additional information about the exam.

General Information

• Graduate students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average in all courses listed on their degree plan.
• All students will have an advisor. You should go to your advisor if you have any problems with meeting the requirements of courses, getting the courses listed on your certification and/or degree plans, questions, etc. Following are the advisors for the different special education programs:
  • Dr. Larry Wheeler - generic special education master's students, educational diagnosticians
  • Dr. Brenda Scheuermann - master's with concentration in behavioral disorders/positive behavioral supports, CASE students entering in fall and spring semesters
  • Dr. Amanda Boutot - master's with concentration in autism/applied behavior analysis
  • Dr. Marilyn Goodwin - master's with concentration in learning disabilities/inclusion
  • Dr. Jo Webber - CASE students entering in summer semester

Texas Examinations of Educator Standards - TExES Exam

If you are planning to be certified in EC-12 Special Education in the state of Texas, the semester prior to your student teaching or inernship you should plan to take the TExES exam.

For more information click SPED TExES Flyer.

To register for the test visit www.texes.ets.org/texes/

TEACH Grant Program

Through the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, Congress created the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program that provides grants of up to $4,000 per year to students who intend to teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families. If, after reading all of the informa tin on this fact sheet, you are interested in learning more about the TEACH Grant Program, you should contact the financial aid office at the college where you will be enrolled starting with the 2008-2009 school year.

The first TEACH Grants will be awarded to eligible students for the 2008-2009 school year. For more information about click TEACH Grants.