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2015-2016 University Catalog



Home >> Graduate Degrees>>

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
GRADUATE DEGREES

Master of Arts in Communication (MA) (or Non-Thesis)
Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology
(MACP) (or Non-Thesis)
Master of Arts in English (MA)
Master of Arts in History & Political Thought, History Concentration (MA) (or Non-Thesis)
Master of Arts in History & Political Thought, Political Science Concentration (MA) ( or Non-Thesis)
Master of Arts in History & Political Thought, History & Political Science Concentrations (MA) (Non-Thesis)
Master of Arts in Language, Literature and Translation (MA)
Master of Arts in Sociology (MA) (or Non-Thesis)
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Master of Science in Biology (MS) (or Non-Thesis)
Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MS) (or Non-Thesis)
Master of Science in Mathematics (MS) (or Non-Thesis)
        Mathematics Education Track (MS) (Non-Thesis)
Master of Science in Psychology (MS)

COLLABORATIVE PH.D. IN HISPANIC STUDIES OFFERED BY TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY-COLLEGE STATION
Texas A&M International University, through the Department of Humanities, cooperates with Texas A&M University in College Station in the delivery of their Ph.D. degree in Hispanic Studies.

Faculty in the Department of Humanities occasionally teach courses via TTVN for the program, and students in the program from the Laredo area are offered access to our university’s TTVN facilities to take courses delivered by faculty in College Station or at Texas A&M University at Kingsville, another university cooperating in the delivery of the program. Faculty from our college also serve, as needed, on dissertation committees.

Locally-based students in the program have also taught courses for the Department of Humanities in the past as graduate teaching assistants and currently as adjunct faculty.

Persons interested in admission into the program must apply directly to Texas A&M University in College Station at http://hispanicstudies.tamu.edu/html/application-and-admission.html.

Dr. Irma Cantú is the TAMIU contact for the program and may be reached at Irma.cantu@tamiu.edu or call her at 956-326-2657.

ACCREDITATION
The Master of Public Administration program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).

Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management

BIOLOGY GRADUATE PROGRAM ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
To be admitted to MS in Biology:
        1.     A candidate must have a bachelor’s degree in biology or related field (related fields such as Botany, Environmental Sciences (with a biology emphasis), Marine Science (with biology emphasis), Marine Biology, Microbiology, Neurobiology and Zoology).  
        2.     An overall GPA of 2.5 or higher (on a 4 point scale) and a 3.0 GPA in biology (or related field). If the GPA in biology is between 2.75 and 3.0, the student may be admitted on probation and must earn a B or higher in the first 9 hours of graduate courses in the program. If the overall GPA is below 2.5 or in biology below 2.75 the student will not be admitted.
        3.     No GRE will be required for admission to the Master of Science in Biology.
        4.     Approval of the graduate committee of the Department of Biology and Chemistry. The decision by the committee will be based on the interests the candidate has in biology and if a graduate faculty member can and will work with the candidate. The candidate’s interest will be determined by the personal statement the candidates writes for admission. The statement should describe what research the students is interested in doing in the program and how working with a faculty member(s) in the Department can achieve this. Students are strongly encouraged to conact potential mentors prior to applying.
        5.     Admission to the thesis program will be determined by the acceptance of the student by an advisor. A student’s admission for a thesis can be denied because the student’s interest does not match any research program available. A student can be admitted to the non-thesis but the students will be required to take comprehensive exam to complete the degree.

A candidate applying for the MS in Biology without a degree in biology or related field can be admitted if the candidate takes the required stemwork. The following are normally the minimum requirements as preparation for graduate coursework: CHEM 1311/1111, CHEM 1412, CHEM 2423, BIOL 1306/1106, BIOL 1311/1111, BIOL 1413, BIOL 3406, BIOL 3410, BIOL 3412 and BIOL 3413.  A candidate without a degree in biology must have an overall GPA of 2.5 in their bachelor's program and a GPA of 3.0 in stemwork for the Master in Biology, including chemistry, to be admitted to the program. In addition, the student should give a justification that is accepted by the graduate committee of the Department of Biology and Chemistry why they are seeking a degree in biology. The GPA includes stem work taken before the application and all stem work required by the graduate committee of the Department of Biology and Chemistry to fulfill the requirement.

COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
All application materials for the Counseling Psychology Graduate Program are due by March 1 for Fall admission and October 1 for Spring admission. Students ordinarily begin their graduate studies in the Fall semester, however, with special permission of the Chair of the Department of Behavioral, Applied Sciences and Criminal Justice, the student may begin graduate studies during the summer session. To be considered for admission to the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology Program, the student must complete the following requirements before March 1 or October 1.

  1. Have earned a 3.00 GPA in the upper-level courses of undergraduate preparation.
  2. Have three letters of recommendation from academic sources sent to the Department of Behavioral, Applied Sciences and Criminal Justice.
  3. Have a bachelor’s degree and have satisfactorily completed the following prerequisite courses: PSYC 3302, PSYC 4301, PSYC 4303, and PSYC 4308.
  4. Have submitted scores for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test.
  5. Have completed a personal interview with the Counseling Psychology Graduate Admissions Committee, which is scheduled during the month of April or November.

Students accepted for admission to the Counseling Psychology Graduate Program will be notified of a general information and orientation meeting held during the month of August for the Fall admission and December for Spring admission. The purpose of this meeting will be to outline departmental expectations of students, to provide orientation to institutional and departmental procedures, and to provide other information that may be of use to graduate students.

LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR EXAM
Completion of the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology allows the graduate to sit for the Licensed Professional Counselor Exam. Upon passing the exam and completion of additional required internship hours, the graduate is eligible to become a Licensed Professional Counselor.  

CRIMINAL JUSTICE GRADUATE PROGRAM ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Admission to the Master of Science program in Criminal Justice is competitive. The decision to admit applicants is based upon a number of factors. The undergraduate GPA, as well as writing skills in the personal statement and writing sample all play a significant role in evaluating each applicant’s ability to be successful in the Master’s program. Other factors that are considered include letters of recommendation, the resume and other graduate work where applicable. It is extremely important to ensure that the application packet contains the applicant’s best work. Failure to provide all of the required documents in the proper format or length will result in the automatic non-admission to the program.

All application materials for the Master of Science in Criminal Justice are due by the date prescribed by the Office of Graduate Studies & Research to be considered for admission. Students may apply and begin the graduate program in the Fall, Spring, or Summer if fully admitted into the program (to begin in summer, the application materials must be received by the due date for Spring). Students who are provisionally admitted, must begin the graduate program in the Fall or Spring. In addition, all provisionally admitted students must take two required courses prior to completing any other graduate course work and receive a B or better in both required courses in order to proceed to full admission.

In those cases where the undergraduate major and minor differs from criminal justice, the applicant may be required to take developmental undergraduate courses. These cases will be reviewed by the criminal justice faculty.

The following are the admissions criteria for the master’s program in criminal justice:

        1) Submit an application for graduate studies by the due date provided by the Office of Graduate Studies & Research. Deadlines may be found at: http://www.tamiu.edu/gradschool/
        2) Pay the application fee.
        3) Submit transcripts from all colleges/universities attended.
        4) Provide evidence of overall and upper-level GPAs.
                a. Applicants who have an overall 3.0 GPA and upper-level GPA of 3.2 in their major may be fully admitted into the program, provided all required documentation in the proper length and format are submitted.
               b. Applicants who have already earned a Master’s degree from an accredited University may be fully admitted into the program provided all required documentation in the proper length and format are submitted.
               c. Applicants who have an overall GPA of less than 3.1 and an upper‐level GPA of 3.0 or better will be considered for provisional admission provided all required documentation in the proper length and format is submitted. The complete application packet must demonstrate to the criminal justice faculty that the applicant is capable of successfully completing the Master’s program.
        5) Submit a Personal Statement describing research interests and indicating how the research interests and academic/professional background will assist in successfully completing the online degree program.
        6) Submit three letters of recommendation to the Office of Graduate Studies & Research: two academic and one professional letters of recommendation and they should indicate:
                a. Applicant's academic performance (or job performance) that is relevant to show competency to be successful in graduate education
                b. Applicant’s ability to succeed in an online program where a good deal of motivation, dedication and self-direction is necessary
                c. Applicant's strengths and weaknesses
        7) Submit a resume.
        8) Submit at least a 10 page writing sample that demonstrates:
                a. Knowledge of contemporary issues in the field of criminal justice
                b. Academic writing skills
                c. Elements of good writing and comport with American Psychological Association's (6th edition) writing style/format.

The criminal justice faculty may request a personal interview.

DECLARATION OF TRACK
If admitted to the master’s in criminal justice program, students will be asked to declare thesis or non-thesis track. Descriptions of both are available from this page: http://www.tamiu.edu/catalog/current/gradcoas.shtml.
Students who declare thesis track must:
        1. Meet with a faculty member during the first semester of enrollment in the MSCJ program and obtain commitment from that faculty member to serve as thesis advisor.
        2. Maintain a 3.5 GPA during the first full year of enrollment in the MSCJ program.
                a. Students who do not maintain a 3.5 GPA during the first full year of enrollment may petition to remain on thesis track by writing a letter to the criminal justice faculty that includes:
                        i. Reasons for first year GPA
                        ii. Name of thesis advisor and confirmed or potential thesis committee members
                        iii. Research question to be answered by the thesis
                        iv. Methodological plan to answer the research question
                        v. A statement from the thesis advisor supporting continued enrollment in thesis track
        3. Enroll in CRIJ 5398 and CRIJ 5399 during the last two semesters of the program.

LANGUAGE, LITERATURE, and TRANSLATION ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
For admission to the Master of Arts Language, Literature, and Translation, applicants must:
        •  Have an undergraduate GPA of 3.20 or higher. Exceptions will be considered upon request.
        •  Submit one personal statement in English and  one in Spanish (approximately 500 words each) describing the reasons the student wants to enroll in the program and explaining his/her academic             profile and trajectory.
        •  Successfully complete an examination administered by the department, which will consist of a translaton from English into Spanish and from Spanish into English of short texts. Students will be                     allowed to use dictionaries.

MATHEMATICS PROGRAM ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Admission to the MS degree program requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a major in mathematics, mathematics with secondary certification, or related field in science. The student’s entire record will be considered including the completed application for admission, overall undergraduate GPA, upper level GPA, GPA in the discipline, a Statement of Purpose, and two sealed letters of reference attesting to qualifications of applicant.

• Satisfaction of all other requirements of Texas A&M International University for graduate admission
• Students must submit transcripts from all institutions attended and two sealed letters of reference (at least one of which from faculty outside the departmental graduate admission committee)    to the Office of Graduate Studies and Research (OGSR) for acceptance into the MS degree program.
• Students will not be fully admitted to the graduate program of the University until all of the above entrance requirements are met. If an applicant does not meet these minimum requirements,    OGSR may approve admission of the applicant on a conditional basis using the graduate admission formula.

Stemwork
It is strongly recommended that a student seeking a MS degree in Mathematics should have a bachelor’s degree with a major in Mathematics or related field. However, if a student is seeking a MS degree in Mathematics without a Bachelors in Mathematics, then the following are the minimum requirements as preparation for the graduate coursework: MATH 1316 (or MATH 2412), MATH 2413, MATH 2414, MATH 2415, MATH 3310, MATH 3320 (or MATH 3325), MATH 3360, MATH 3365, MATH 4310, MATH 4335. The student’s advisor and/or committee may require additional courses if thought necessary to prepare the student for a specific field in mathematics.

MS IN PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
All application materials for the Master of Science in Psychology are due by the date prescribed by the Office of
Graduate Studies and Research to be considered for admission. Students may apply and begin the graduate program
in the Fall or in the Spring.
The following are the admissions criteria for the MS in the Psychology Program:
        1)    Submit an application for graduate studies by the due date provided by the Office of Graduate Studies and Research. Deadlines may be found at: http://www.tamiu.edu/gradschool/
        2)    Pay the application fee.
        3)    Submit an official transcript from the last institution attended and an official transcript from the institution where the highest degree was earned. In some cases it may be the same institution.
        4)    Submit two letters of recommendation from academic or professional sources to the Office of Graduate Studies and Research.
        5)    Include a statement of purpose with a minimum of 300 words describing your academic and career goalsand objectives.
        6)    Include a sample of your academic writing skills (it may be an undergraduate research paper, a book chapter, or a journal article).

Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management
The Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management is open to current master’s students at TAMIU and at any other accredited university and to graduates of any baccalaureate or master’s program from an accredited university. Undergraduate students who are eligible to take graduate courses are also eligible for admission to the Certificate program. Current students must be in good standing with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0. While individual courses may be taken by TAMIU Master of Public Administration students for elective credit, MPA students who wish to receive the Certificate must apply for admission to the certificate program.

For Currently Enrolled TAMIU Graduate Students: To be accepted for admission to the Certificate program, students must be currently enrolled in a master’s program and be in good academic standing with a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 point scale. Current TAMIU students are encouraged to apply for admission within the first 30 days of enrollment in the first class in the Certificate program.

For students holding a master’s degree from a accredited university and those currently enrolled at an accredited university other than TAMIU: Application for admission must be received by the Office of Graduate Studies and Research prior to enrolling in the first class in the Certificate program. Other university requirements for non-degree seeking students must be completed as well. There is no GRE requirement for admission to the Certificate program.

Decisions regarding admission to the Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management program will be made by the MPA faculty and conveyed to applicants within two weeks of submission of all required materials.

GRADUATE DEGREES REQUIREMENTS

See Academic Regulations - Graduate Degrees for specific TAMIU regulations.

  1. Major/Minor Requirements: Twenty-four to thirty-three hours in a major subject and six to twelve hours in a minor. Minors not currently included as options for the degree will require department and dean approval.
  2. Concentrations: Eighteen hours in each of two areas of concentration.
  3. Admission: No student seeking a graduate degree will be permitted to register for a graduate class until such time that he or she has been admitted to the University. Individuals wishing to take courses for personal growth, etc. may register for up to six hours as non-degree seeking. These courses may not be applicable to a degree program.

    Students seeking admission to the Graduate School in the College of Arts and Sciences must apply by November 1 for the Spring Semester and April 1 for the Fall Semester.

    To be considered for admission to the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, students must complete additional admission requirements before March 1 for Fall Semester or October 1 for Spring Semester.

    Students wishing to change degree plans must re-apply to the University. College of Arts and Sciences students who do not enroll for course work in a subsequent semester, are required to complete a "Leave of Absence" form.
  4. Prerequisites (Stemwork): Twelve advanced semester hours in the major subject to six advanced semester hours in each minor. The department, however, retains the right to examine the applicant’s prerequisites and to accept certain equivalent hours or to require additional work.

    The maximum load for a graduate student for a long semester is nine (9) hours. The maximum load for summer school is six (6) hours per session. Any SCH load in excess of the maximum must be approved by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
  5. Thesis/Interdisciplinary Study: This is defined as a professional paper in the major field. All required course work must be completed before thesis is started.
  6. Written Comprehensive Examination: A comprehensive examination shall be passed by the candidate covering the major and minor fields, and each will be VALID FOR ONE YEAR. Exams will be given each long semester. A student who fails to pass one or more questions of the exam will be allowed one opportunity to repeat and pass the exam.
  7. Oral Comprehensive Examination: Oral exams must be completed by mid-November or mid-April.
  8. Thesis Defense: Thesis must be successfully defended before the faculty advisory committee for completion of graduate degree program.
  9. 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 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.
  10. Additional Master's Degree Policy: Students shall not be permitted to apply the same course credit to more than one master’s degree except in the Master of Public Administration program. Students pursuing the Master of Public Administration as an additional master's degree, may obtain the degree upon successful completion of the major curriculum and substituting hours attained in the first masters program for nine hours of electives.
  11. In Absentia: Students in master’s degree programs in the COAS requiring a thesis who have completed all course work on their degree are required to register each subsequent fall and spring semester until the thesis receives final approval. Students who do not comply with this requirement will have their registration blocked.
  12. 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.
  13. Combined BA/MA Degree: Undergraduate students with majors in Communication, English, Criminal Justice, History, Mathematics, Political Science, Psychology or Sociology may pursue a combined BA/MA, BA/MS or BS/MS program.  Students with an overall GPA of 3.2 or higher and a field GPA of 3.5 (3.25 for Mathematics) or higher (after completing at least six 3000-4000 level SCH; 9 SCH in Political Science with 3 SCH at the 3000-4000 level) may apply for admission to the Master of Arts/Master of Science program during their junior year. Students accepted into the program will begin taking graduate courses during the senior year. Students must attain a “B” in their coursework to remain in and continue the combined program.

    Students will need to complete all admission requirements to the program during their junior year. This includes: Application to the University for admission to graduate study and submission of an official copy of the student’s undergraduate transcript to the Dean of Graduate Studies. The student must also submit two letters of recommendation, one from the student’s faculty advisor and one from another faculty member. Interruption of progress toward the degree may result in the requirement to reapply to the program and include meeting the GRE requirement. (Note: Only Counseling Psychology requires the GRE.)

    Students seeking the BA/MA degree in Communication, English, History and Political Thought concentrating in History, History and Political Science, or Political Science or Sociology take up to nine SCH of graduate coursework during the senior year. Students may count a portion or all of these graduate hours toward their undergraduate degree requirements or save a portion or all of them to count toward the graduate degree requirements. Graduate courses used toward the undergraduate degree requirements may not be counted towards the graduate degree requirements. Students electing to complete the BA/MA in Communication, English or Sociology are eligible for either the thesis or non-thesis option; in the non-thesis option, unlike the traditional non-thesis MA in Communication, English or Sociology, there is no minor curriculum requirement.

    Undergraduate students with a major in Criminal Justice or Psychology may pursue a combined BS/MS or a BA/MS program. Students seeking the BS/MS degree in Criminal Justice or the BA/MS in Psychology may take up to nine SCH of graduate coursework during the senior year. Students may count a portion or all of these graduate hours toward their undergraduate degree requirements or save a portion or all of them to count toward the graduate degree requirements. Graduate courses used toward the undergraduate degree requirements may not be counted towards the graduate degree requirements. Students electing to complete the BS/MS in Criminal Justice are eligible for either the thesis or non-thesis option.

    Undergraduate students enrolled in the BA or BS in Mathematics (not the BA in Mathematics with 7-12 Certification) may pursue a combined BA/BS/MS program. Students seeking the BA/BS/MS degree in mathematics may take up to nine SCH of graduate coursework during the senior year. Students may count a portion or all of these graduate hours toward their undergraduate degree requirements or save a portion or all of them to count toward the graduate degree requirements. Graduate courses used toward the undergraduate degree requirements may not be counted towards the graduate degree requirements.  Students electing to complete the BA/BS/MS in Mathematics are eligible for either the thesis or non-thesis option.

  14. Minor in Information Systems. This minor is available in COAS degree programs which include 9 semester credit hours in a minor. Students pursuing the graduate minor in IS must satisfactorily complete the prerequisite MIS 5300-Information Systems Concepts, or the equivalent undergraduate course, MIS 3310-Management Information Systems. The minor will consist of three courses courses, completed with a grade of "B" or better, from the following: MIS 5330, MIS 5340, MIS 5350, MIS 5360, MIS 5370, MIS 5380, MIS 5390, and MIS 5399.

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