Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Education Building Room 3044
Telephone: 512-245-2157 Fax: 512-245-7911
http://www.txst.edu/ci

The Department of Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) offers a variety of degrees and programs, both master's and doctoral, that are intended to enhance the professional development and career goals of teachers and other educators. C&I also offers post-baccalaureate initial teaching certificates (available only to those not already certified) that may be obtained at the graduate level with or without the master’s degree. Before proceeding into any field of education at Texas State, the degree applicant should inquire as to certification requirements associated with or prerequisites to the degree. Those seeking initial teacher certification must keep in mind that certification requirements and graduate degree requirements may not be related and that the satisfactory completion of degree requirements may not always lead to certification. You will find more information on specific programs as well as contact information on the College of Education and C&I websites. For additional information regarding requirements for admittance to teacher certification, please visit the Office of Educator Preparation website.

Background Requirements

Students seeking either a master’s degree or certification combined with a master’s degree can typically begin their studies without completing background or leveling classes. An exception to this would be approximately 6-9 hours of college level math, speech communication, computer literacy, and 6 hours of English composition necessary for students seeking initial teacher certification. Additionally, students seeking initial secondary teacher certification may be required to take additional undergraduate or graduate course work in their desired teaching fields. Note: Criminal background checks are required by Texas law for all teachers, and no one convicted of a felony may be certified to teach in Texas.

Post-Baccalaureate Programs

  • Post-Baccalaureate Initial Teaching Certification serves individuals who have earned bachelor's degrees in fields other than education and have not previously participated in a teacher preparation program. Students may earn teacher certification for elementary, middle school, secondary, bilingual, or special education by taking graduate level courses that may count toward a graduate degree.
  • Professional Certification is also available for the reading specialist.

Admittance to the Educator Preparation Program

All degrees that lead to teaching certification require formal admittance into the Educator Preparation Program by the Office of Educator Preparation Program. This acceptance includes payment to the university of a state mandated Texas Education Agency technology fee. Please see https://www.education.txstate.edu/oep/ for current admittance requirements and procedures. Note that the Texas Education Agency (TEA) requires multiple background checks for progression through the Educator Preparation Programs. If you are concerned about your criminal history, you may obtain a Preliminary Criminal History Evaluation from TEA. For more information, click here.

Initial Certification Options

An individual may seek initial teacher certification as a post-baccalaureate student in several of the certification areas offered by the State of Texas. Satisfactory performance on a State Board for Educator Certification test is required for provisional or professional certificates in education. For updated information please go to the website for The Office of Educator Preparation at: http://www.education.txstate.edu/oep/. Note: Criminal background checks are required by Texas law for all teachers, and no one convicted of a felony may be certified to teach in Texas.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Master of Education (M.Ed.)

Minors

Certificates

Baker, Candace K, Lecturer, Curriculum & Instruction, Ph.D., Southern Illinois Univ Carbondale

Chamberlain, Katharine Lynette, Lecturer, Curriculum & Instruction, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin

Floyd, Erinn Camille Fears, Lecturer, Curriculum & Instruction, Ph.D., University of Georgia

Furjanic, David James, Lecturer, Curriculum & Instruction, Ph.D., University of Oregon

Horony, Staci E, Lecturer, Curriculum & Instruction, Ed.D., Concordia University

Mendoza, Martin, Lecturer, Curriculum & Instruction, Ph.D., Texas A&M University

O'Neal, Sharon F, Associate Professor Emeritus, Curriculum & Instruction, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin

Ruiz Winner, Veronica Diane, Lecturer, Curriculum & Instruction, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin

Thompson, Courtney T, Lecturer, Curriculum & Instruction, Ph.D., Univ of Texas at San Antonio

Williams, Deirdre Aurora, Asst Professor of Practice, Curriculum & Instruction, Ed.D., Argosy University, Washington DC