Research and Centers

The Texas State University Animal-Assisted Counseling (AAC) Academy is a professional training program that promotes the human-animal bond through the study and practice of animal-assisted counseling and play therapy.

The Assessment and Counseling Clinic serves to meet the psychoeducational needs of persons in the university, San Marcos and Hays County communities.

The Biomechanics/Sports Medicine Lab is a 2700 square foot multi-disciplinary research and teaching center focusing on biomechanics, physical medicine, and strength and conditioning research. Multiple biomechanical measurement systems are available for faculty and student research.

The cardiovascular physiology laboratory investigates lifestyle interventions with the potential to mediate arterial stiffness and endothelial function including yoga, aerobic exercise and resistance training.

Educators and education leaders are invited to attend a wide variety of CTWP professional development programs including a Summer Institute, Open Institutes, Advanced Institutes, and other professional growth settings that bring colleagues together to explore the most successful research-based approaches for teaching writing.

Services include diagnostic assessment and evaluation, clinic and home based educational programs founded in applied behavior analysis (ABA), social skills groups, job-coaching, functional behavior assessments, behavior intervention planning, consultations, and leisure skills training through our very popular summer camp.

Scholars from multiple academic and diverse disciplines conduct collaborative research projects, interventions, and programs with a particular emphasis on enhancing the quality of life of underserved communities. Scholarly investigations and intervention programs are conducted in schools, community agencies, and neighborhoods in Austin, Comal, Guadalupe, Hays, Bexar counties. The Community Engaged Scholarship Lab (CESL) provided the researches a physical space to analyze and interpret data, conduct individual and/or focus group interviews, and lead training programs.

The Education Institute (TEI) is a nationally recognized resource that provides quality research and innovative educational services to communities and professional organizations, including school districts and state agencies, which work collaboratively with diverse and underserved populations. TEI faculty and staff are involved in developmental and adult education, family literacy, and migrant adult education projects that include providing direct services, professional development and training, policy planning and research.

The Exercise Physiology Laboratory is a research and teaching center focusing on the study of basic and applied exercise physiology principles. The facility houses state-of-the-art biomedical equipment used to assess exercise metabolism and body composition (ParvoMedics Metabolic Measurement Cart, Trackmaster Treadmill, Lode Corvial Cycle Ergometer, and Cosmed Bodpod).

The Human Performance Laboratory contains exercise equipment (e.g., heart rate monitors, treadmills, exercise bicycles, and metabolic analyzers) and software for evaluating human performance, prescribing exercise, and analyzing diets. Students gain invaluable work experience by conducting exercise tests on Texas State employees and students as well as on community members in the HP Lab.

The mission of the Institute for Play Therapy is to offer quality play therapy training to professionals in the community and to encourage play therapy networking, research, and resources.

The Mission of the LBJ Institute is to transform Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in order to increase the participation and success of diverse communities of educator and students through fostering collaborative communities, conducting rigorous research, providing evidence based professional development and improving STEM teaching and learning.

The Metabolic and Applied Physiology Laboratory (i.e., MAP Lab) involves work with human subjects with a focus on dietary and excercise interventions aimed at improving aspects of cardiometabolic health and performance.

The SEW Lab activities are initiated and overseen by Andrea Dennison, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor at Texas State University in the School Psychology program. Dr. Dennison’s work focuses on identifying personal, social, and environmental factors that promote and protect healthy well-being.

The Texas State University 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 an 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.

The Teacher Recruitment Program (TRP) provides an accelerated pathway for individuals, who hold a baccalaureate, who are seeking initial teacher certification.

Texas State University College of Education created The Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award in 1995 to honor authors and illustrators who create literature that depicts the Mexican American experience. It is named in honor of Texas State University distinguished alumnus Dr. Tomás Rivera.

This laboratory is directed by Dr. Joni Mettler. The primary focus of the lab is muscle metabolism and neuromuscular response to inactivity, and exercise training interventions. We integrate basic science muscle physiology and neuromuscular physiology techniques to examine muscle adaptations due to physical inactivity, training and muscle fatigue with an emphasis on how these changes translate to muscle function.