GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

The College of Education offers graduate programs in three academic departments.  These are the Department of Curriculum and Instruction; The Department of Education Administration and Psychological Services; and The Department  of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. For all Graduate Programs, please see the links on the  left menu under Graduate Programs.

GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION 

Majors and Degrees Offered

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

Elementary Education
The 36-hour Master of Education with a major in Elementary Education usually consists of 24 to 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.

Elementary Education-Bilingual/Bicultural
The 36-hour Master of Education with a major in Elementary Education-Bilingual/Bicultural usually consists of 24-27 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 and talented), educational administration, special education, or a composite area.

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, special education, or a composite area.

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 16, teaching with children’s young adult/adult literature, teaching reading and writing in a  multilingual/multicultural environment, literacy assessment, 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.  Neither the major nor the minor leads to initial certification as a teacher. Click here for information on the  Reading Program

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 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.

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

For more information about the degrees, certification and licensures listed above, please go to the Curriculum and Instruction webpage or click on the links to the left.


GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES

 Majors and Degrees Offered:

• M.Ed., Counseling and Guidance
• M.A., Developmental and Adult Education
• M.A., M.Ed., Educational Administration
• M.A., Professional Counseling
• M.A., School Psychology

Professional Counseling (COUN)
The Master of Education (M.Ed.) with a major in Counseling and Guidance consists of a minimum of 49 semester hours for School Counseling / Child and Adolescent Counseling specialization and 46 semester hours for Student Affairs specialization.  The School Counseling/ Child and Adolescent Counseling specialization meets academic requirements for certification as a school counselor.  The Student Affairs specialization prepares the student to work in post-secondary and higher education student support services.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) with a major in Professional Counseling consists of a minimum of 61 semester hours and offers a choice of two areas of emphasis:  community counseling, and marital, couple and family counseling.  Both areas of emphasis meet academic requirements for the Texas Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential.  The marital, couple and family counseling emphasis also meets academic requirements for the Texas Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) credential.

The M.Ed. in School Counseling/Child and Adolescent Counseling and both M.A. emphasis areas (Community Counseling and Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling) are accredited by the Council Accreditation Counseling and Related Educational Programs.

Developmental and Adult Education (DAE)
The 39-hour Master of ARTS (M.A.) degree in Developmental and Adult Education provides the knowledge and experience to develop and lead developmental and adult education programs in many educational settings: developmental reading, writing, and mathematics instruction programs in two-and-four-year colleges; college learning assistance centers; pre-college transition programs; alternative compensatory, or supplemental programs for school-aged youth; adult literacy, adult basic education, and GED programs; community-based adult education programs; business- and industry-based training and development programs; education programs in non-profit organizations; and continuing education and extension programs in colleges and universities.

Educational Administration (EDA)
The 36-hour Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree is designed for those students  seeking to become school a principal or assistant principal.

 A 36-hour Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Educational Administration with a specialization in Instructional Leadership is designed for those desiring to remain in the classroom while enhancing their instructional leadership skills, for example by serving as a master teacher, department chair, curriculum leader, mentor teacher, etc.

The 30-hour plus thesis Master of Arts (M.A.) degree is designed for those students seeking to become educational leaders.

School Psychology (PSY)
The 68-hour Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in School Psychology is fully approved by the National Association of School Psychologists.  Graduates of the program are eligible to apply for the following credentials: Licensed Specialists in School Psychology and/or Licensed Psychological Associate from the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists; and Nationally Certified School Psychologists from the National School Psychology Certification Board.

For more information about the degrees, certification and licensure programs listed above please go to the Educational Administration webpage. 

GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, AND RECREATION

 Majors and Degrees Offered:

• M.Ed., Health Education
• M.Ed., Physical Education
• M.S.R.L.S., Recreation and Leisure Services-Recreation Management
• M.S.R.L.S., Recreation and Leisure Services-Therapeutic Recreation

Health Education
The  Master of Education with a major in Health Education consists of 36 semester hours, including a 21-hour major and 15-hour minor, or a split minor of nine and 6 hours.  The thesis option is a 36-hour program with twenty-one hours of course work plus six hours of thesis in Health  Education and nine hours in the minor.

Physical Education
The Master of Education with a major in Physical Education has several specializations.

• Exercise Science Specialization is designed for the physical education professional (teacher/coach), personal trainer, rehabilitation specialist, athletic trainer, and physical therapist who want to focus on topics of study such as exercise physiology, biomechanics, motor learning, research applications to sport and human performance, etc..
• Sport and Leisure Management Specialization is designed for those individuals who desire more training in the area of sport management (e.g., athletic administration) or recreation administration.
• Education Foundations Specialization  (Master’s only or Master’s and Certification, MAC Program) emphasis gives public school and collegiate physical education teachers a broader understanding of teaching skills, which foster the possibility of obtaining education administrative certification.  The MAC program leads to state certification in all level physical education.

Recreation and Leisure Services
The Master of Science in Recreation and Leisure Services (M.S.R.L.S.) program is designed to prepare administrators, supervisors, educators, consultants, and researchers to assist people toward richer lives through leisure experiences.  M.S.R.L.S. students may pursue a thesis (30 hours) or non-thesis (36 hours) option.  The program offers professional preparation in two distinct specialization areas:

• Recreational management encompasses the administration and supervision of recreation and leisure services.  Recreational professionals seeking coursework for certification as Certified Park & Recreation professional (CPRP) would enroll in this option.
• Therapeutic recreation focuses on enabling individuals with special needs to experience the same leisure options as able-bodied individuals through the use of recreation as a treatment and education modality.  Individuals seeking to become a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) would enroll in this option

• Elementary
• Secondary
• Special Ed
• Educational Technology
• CASE, Gifted /Talented, Reading, Teacher Fellows, Teacher Recruitment Program
• Health, Phys Ed and Recreation
• School Administrator Programs
• Ph.D. Program

Please see departments for additional graduate programs