2014-2015 University Catalog

1. Major-Minor Requirements: Eighteen (18) to twenty-one (21) hours in a major subject and twelve (12) to fifteen (15) hours in a minor or specialized area. Electives are taken to complete the thirty-six (36) hours for the degree. Minors not currently included as options for the degree will require department and dean approval.
2. Prerequisites (Stemwork): Eighteen (18) hours of education course work, including twelve (12) advanced hours. For each minor: twelve (12) hours of undergraduate work, including six (6) advanced hours. The College of Education, however, retains the right to examine the applicant’s prerequisites and to accept certain equivalent hours or to require additional work.
3. Thesis: The graduate student is expected to complete a thesis related to the major field of study. Graduate students in the College of Education may choose from a thesis or non-thesis track where available. Non-thesis track students will be required to write a major paper as prescribed by the department. Both thesis and non-thesis track students will be required to enroll in a Research Design course. Thesis track students will be expected to complete and successfully defend a thesis related to the major field of study and enroll in a thesis writing course offered by the College of Education.
4. Comprehensive Examination: A comprehensive examination shall be passed by the candidate covering the major field. The passing score will be valid for one year. Students majoring in Bilingual Education and admitted Fall 2007 or after will be required to pass both a written and oral comprehensive exam in the major and minor fields of study to satisfy degree requirements. All other master's degrees in the College of Education will require an oral comprehensive examination that may or may not be based on a written comprehensive examination.
5. A Second Master’s Degree: Students shall not be permitted to apply the same course credit to more than one master’s degree. To be admitted, students must satisfy all admission requirements including satisfying the GRE.
6. Undergraduate Courses for Graduate Credit: With the permission of the faculty advisor, up to six (6) credit hours of 4000-level courses, as indicated in the course descriptions, may be taken for graduate credit hours in the entire degree plan. These courses must include extra work over and above regular undergraduate syllabus requirements. Such work shall be prearranged with the course instructor.
7. Leave of Absence: Under unusual circumstances, a student may petition for a leave of absence. The student’s Advisory Committee Chairperson and the Chair of the Department must approve the petition. If the petition is granted, the registration requirement will be set aside during the period of the leave and will not count towards the requirement that the student complete a master’s degree within a period of five years or within the time specified for the particular program. Leaves will be granted only under conditions that require the suspension of all activities associated with the thesis.

POST-BACCALAUREATE TEACHER CERTIFICATION CANDIDATES
Candidates pursuing initial teacher certification may enroll in graduate level courses only if they have been accepted to Graduate Study in the College of Education.

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE APPLICATION PROCESS
        A.  When a student chooses a degree that has a professional certificate attached to it:
1. The applicant must inform the Office of Graduate Studies during the initial application process of the intent to pursue the certificate after completing the Master’s program (selection is made in the Apply Texas application). E.g. MSED-Educational Administration + Principal Certificate.

2. The Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) will then code the student in 2 programs (degree + certificate). When the student completes the degree and wants to begin the certificate, there is no need to apply again as the certificate program will be active. The Banner record will reflect this to allow registration and financial aid (if applicable).
        B.  If, however, the student does not indicate the certificate option during the initial application process, then the student will need to apply with OGS after finishing the Master’s program but before registering for certificate coursework. The student will follow the standard application process of submitting an application and fee.
        C.    For a student who finishes the Master’s degree and then wants to pursue a certificate different from the completed degree, the student will need to follow the standard application process of submitting an application and fee. The student will also need to be reviewed and admitted into the new program.

GRADUATE ADMISSION
The College of Education (COE) may grant provisional admission for a maximum of six graduate hours to students who have not submitted all relevant documentation and who hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Provisional status must be removed at the end of the six semester credit hours and before any other coursework can be taken.

BILINGUAL PROGRAM ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
To be considered for admission to the Master of Science in Bilingual Education, the student must complete the following requirements:

1. Complete Graduate Program Admission Application.
2. Completed stem work of 18 undergraduate hours in Education to include EDBE 3322, EDBE 3325, EDBE 4334 and EDBE 4336. (Equivalents may be determined by the faculty committee)
   
3. Completed 9 hours of advanced Spanish courses at the 3000-4000 level (Equivalents may be determined by the faculty committee).
4. Minimum GPA 2.75.
5. Prepare 2 essays (minimum of 300 words each) explaining desire to pursue a graduate degree in Bilingual Education: one essay in English; one essay in Spanish. In addition, the admissions committee may request a personal interview with the applicant.
6. The application must be approved by at least 3 faculty members.

ELIGIBILTY TO TAKE TExES EXAMS

Approval to take TExES Exams is based on the procedure and criteria listed below.

1. Eligibility to Test. To be approved and eligible to sit for a TExES exam, graduate students, including Post-baccalaureate and Alternative Certification Program (ACP) students must complete required coursework and be in good standing with the College of Education.
2. Test Preparation Sessions and Practice Tests.
1. Post-baccalaureate, ACP, and graduate students pursuing an initial teaching certificate must complete six clock hours of Test Preparation and pass the appropriate Practice Test(s) before receiving approval to take any TExES exam/s. Test Preparation Sessions will be scheduled and conducted by University faculty.
2. All students (ACP, post-baccalaureate, and graduate students) must complete the appropriate Practice Tests to be given approval to take a TExES exam. Approval for Practice Tests will be through the Certification Office in the College of Education with the Advisor’s consent. Practice Tests are administered through the Texas A&M International University Testing Center, by appointment only.
3. Post-baccalaureate and graduate students must obtain a successful passing score on the Practice Test to be approved to take the corresponding State test.
4. Alternative Certification Program students must complete six hours of test preparation and successfully complete a Practice Test to be approved to take the PPR exam.
3. Exam sequence. Students seeking certification must take the required TExES in a prescribed sequence, noted below:
1. Post-baccalaureate students must take the TExES exams in the following sequence:
1. The Generalist/Content Exam in the specialization/major area. This test may not be taken until all coursework in the specialization/major area has been completed.
2. Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test (BTLPT) (Bilingual EC-6 and 408). Students must have successfully completed all required Spanish courses, as applicable, prior to taking the BTLPT. Student must pass the BTLPT to be eligible to take the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities Exam (PPR).
3. Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities Exam (PPR). To be eligible to take this test, students must have passed the Generalist/Content Area Exam and must be the teacher of record or enrolled in an internship in the area of specialization/major and grade level in which certification is being sought.
2. ACP students must take required TExES exams in the following sequence:
1. The Generalist/Content Exam in the specialization/major area. This exam is taken after the students has been admitted into the Alternative Certification Program, and must be passed before obtaining a teaching position in a public school.
2. The Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities Exam (PPR). Students must have completed six hours of test preparation sessions, a Practice Test, EDCI 5300, be in good standing with the College of Education, and be in their first year of teaching to be eligible to take the PPR.
3. Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities Exam (PPR). To be eligible to take this test, students must have passed the Generalist/Content Area Exam and must be the teacher of record or enrolled in an internship in the area of specialization/major and grade level in which certification is being sought.
4. Taking a Second TExES Exam. Post-baccalaureate and ACP students must pass the TExES Exam they have been approved to take before attempting a second exam.
5. Students pursuing Bilingual Certification. Students pursuing certification in Bilingual Education, EC-6, must take the Generalist Exam for EC-6 and the Bilingual Supplemental Exam (EC-12).
6. Intervention. Post-baccalaureate, ACP, and graduate students who fail a TExES exam must complete an intervention designed to address domains/competencies on the exam which the student failed. Interventions will be carried out by faculty at Texas A&M International University. Students must successfully complete the intervention to be eligible to retake the TExES exam they failed.