Department of Education

Education programs are designed to prepare the professional educator to: 1) understand and meet the educational needs of a diverse student population, 2) function in a global society which requires all students to be life-long learners, and 3) provide opportunities for participants to gain the skills and vision to be leaders in schools faced with the challenges of the 21st century.

The state standards for educator preparation are embedded in the coursework in the degree programs offered by the Education Department. Please note: The University confirms course completion and readiness for certification exams, but does not grant state certification. Certification is granted by the Texas Education Agency. Students not from Texas should check their specific state’s requirements for certification requirements. Completion of coursework and recommendation for certifications in no way guarantees employment after graduation.

State Board for Educator Certification

Texas initial teacher certification may be earned as follows: EC-6 Core with Bilingual or Special Education or 7-12 Mathematics and Science according to the MAT concentration. Teachers who are already certified in Texas may be eligible for Professional Certificates in: Principal, Reading Specialist and School Counselor.

Applicants for professional certificates are required to pass the appropriate certification test (TExES) and document two years of classroom teaching experience on teacher service record. All applicants for Texas Certificates are also screened for a record of felony or misdemeanor conviction through the Texas Department of Public Safety, as prescribed by state law.

Master’s Degree Programs in Education

The department offers three master’s degrees (MEd, MA and MAT) in the following areas:

Master of Education:
Curriculum and Instruction
Principal
School Counseling

Master of Arts in Teaching:
Bilingual Education

Master of Arts:
Special Education

Master of Education

Admission Application Requirements

Regular Admission

In addition to the requirements for graduate into Our Lady of the Lake University, applicants will provide:

Personal statement
List of two academic or professional sources and their contact information
If cumulative GPA is below 3.0, a satisfactory score on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) taken within the last five years
An interview arranged by the department
Any out-of-country applicants must also submit a passing score of 26 or higher on the speaking section of the TOEFL-IBT, per state guidelines for demonstration of oral communication skills prior to admission to teacher education
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Consent to Release Educational Records and Information form-Written consent release of test records to certification officer and program faculty.

Additional information required for MAT:

Verification of cleared state Criminal History check
PACT testing for appropriate TExES content examination showing passing score:
1. EC-6 Generalist for Special Education Concentration;
2. EC-6 Generalist and BTLTP for Bilingual Concentration;
3. Mathematics 7-12 for Mathematics Concentration; and
4. Science 7-12 for Science Concentration.

(Degree individuals who have never been admitted to an SBEC-approved (State Board for Educator Certification) Educator Preparation Program (EPP) may take Pre-Admission Content Tests (PACT) to demonstrate content proficiency for possible admission into an EPP in Texas. Taking PACT does not ensure admittance into the program. Applicants do not need approval from the certification officer to register and take a content examination. For further information and resources contact the Texas Education Agency at 512-936-8400.

International Students

An international student seeking admission into the graduate program for a Master of Education should refer to the international admission section of this catalog for additional information on credentials needed for admission.

Conditional Admission

Conditional admission is granted on the merits of each case. In some circumstances, applicants who do not meet all of the requirements for regular admission may be admitted conditionally, providing they fulfill the conditions listed in their letters of conditional admission within the period of specified time. If conditional admission is given because of missing official credentials, the period of time to provide those documents will not extend beyond the first term of attendance.

Special Admission

Students who wish to earn master’s degree credit for supplemental certification only, for special interest, or for professional certification may be admitted as special students. Before registering, an applicant for special admission must:

Submit an official transcript(s) showing degree awarded, to include master’s degree, if applicable. (Transient students need only submit a letter of good standing from their home institution verifying master’s degree status)
GPA of 2.75, or permission from the dean
Submit personal statement for special interest

Academic Requirements:

Students will be expected to complete the Comprehensive Examination or the Texas Examination of Educator Standards (TExES).

Print this Page