Graduate Student Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Please review current program areas and indicate your interest in both your statement of purpose and your application.

We review every application on a holistic basis and consider all materials before making an admission decision.

One to three pages is sufficient. Keep in mind that your essay should show familiarity with the literature and the specific issues you might want to explore. The admissions committees also look for professional accomplishments such as presentations, publications and other indications of leadership.

Your application will be reviewed by the admission committee in the program area that you indicated as your specific area of interest. A notification will appear on your My Status page once the committee makes its decision.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all required materials be received by our department by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Please refer to the Deadlines section of the How to Apply page to find the deadline for the program that interests you.

Applicants may expect to receive admission offers (or denials) by early March.

No.

No. The application deadlines are the same for everyone.

You will receive an e-mail from the Office of Graduate Admissions after you submit your application that will provide you with a link to check your application’s status online. This status check page will also allow you to upload your resume/vita as a PDF for the department to review.

NOTE: Your application fee must be paid before you can upload materials using this link.

All Letters of Recommendation must be submitted online. When completing the “References” section of the online application, you will be asked to list the names of your recommenders and their e-mail addresses. Be sure the e-mail addresses are current and accurate. You also will be asked whether you will be waiving your right to view your letters after they are submitted.

An e-mail will be sent directly to your references from GIAC with a link that will allow them to complete their recommendation letter online. You may need to follow up with anyone who overlooks submitting a letter for you, as each reference will receive only one request. You will be able to view whether letters have been received or change/add a reference via the MyStatus page.

Teaching experience is not a prerequisite for admission, but applicants should be aware that employment within the department often requires K-12 teaching experience in the United States. Check with the individual program areas for information about prior experience.

The GRE is no longer required.

International students still need to take the TOEFL exam.

Most program areas offer a Master of Arts (M.A.) and a Master of Education (M.Ed.) with options to complete the degree with coursework only, a thesis or a report. M.Ed. degrees usually require prior teaching or other work experiences. M.A. degrees require an independent thesis or report that investigates a topic of interest. Talk to specific program coordinators or program graduate advisors about the requirements.

Not necessarily. Most C&I graduate degree programs do not fulfill the requirements for certification, but there are several master’s degrees that provide initial Texas teacher certification.

Visit the College of Education Educator Preparation page to find out which option best fits your needs.

Yes, there are two options for master’s degree with Texas certification in the following program areas:

• Secondary English Certification offered by Language & Literacy Studies
• Secondary Social Studies Certification offered by Social Studies Education

Note: these Master of Education degrees do NOT require prior teaching experience.

A GPA of 3.0 is required.

The GRE is required only for those applying to Cooperative Superintendency Program and Texas Principal Leadership Academy. There is no minimum score requirement; the scores are used as one part in the broad review of application materials.

No. Those applications completed shortly after the deadline will still be considered. If there is space remaining in the program or area of interest, the application will be reviewed. If not, the application may be marked “No Action”.

No. You must earn a master’s degree before you begin a doctoral program.

If you wish to take graduate-level coursework without becoming a candidate for a graduate degree, you may apply for admission to an Educational Leadership and Policy program as a non-degree graduate student. You must hold a bachelor’s degree to be eligible for the non-degree (graduate) program. Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores are not required.

The Program in Higher Education Leadership works with offices across campus to place students in graduate assistant positions during the placement exchange that occurs during the program’s admitted students weekend each spring. Often there are more positions than students, so the chances of obtaining a position are high.

No. Those applications completed shortly after the deadline will still be considered. If there is space remaining in the program or area of interest, the application will be reviewed. If not, the application may be marked “No Action”.

Although the Graduate School has received all of the required documents, they have not finished reviewing and certifying them. At peak admissions periods it can take up to two weeks before this review is completed. Once they do, they will refer the application to the department for a decision. At that time, and if all other required materials are in, the department will be able to mark your application as complete.

The answer is most likely not within our department as our continuing students already fill most of the Educational Psychology TA or RA positions for the coming academic year. However, you may be able to secure an appointment in another department.

Fellowship nomination deadlines vary, and it is difficult to specify a notification date. The Fellowship Committee begins deliberations early in January and will continue until all available fellowships have been awarded. Most of the deadlines occur in March or April but others extend into the summer months. Recipients will be notified by official e-mail from either GIAC or the Department of Educational Psychology.

The answer is most likely not. Our continuing students already fill most of the Kinesiology and Health Education TA or RA positions for the coming academic year.

Fellowship nomination deadlines vary, and it is difficult to specify a notification date. The Fellowship Committee begins deliberations early in January and will continue until all available fellowships have been awarded. Most of the deadlines occur in March or April but others extend into the summer months. Recipients will be notified by official mail from either the Office of Graduate Admissions (OGA) or from the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education.

Terry Falcomata

Our Master’s degree (M.Ed) specializations in Autism and Developmental Disabilities and Early Childhood Special Education are offered both fully online or in-person.