Degree Requirements
Master's Degrees
Prerequisites for admission to each master’s degree program are a baccalaureate degree and prior coursework in education, science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
Master of Arts. The program consists of thirty-six hours for a Master of Arts with thesis, or thirty-three hours for a Master of Arts with no thesis. The major field is composed of eighteen hours in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, including twelve hours in the STEM education core course and advance topic sequence, and six hours of research methods classes in STEM education. The minor field consists of nine hours of content courses in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Additional hours (six hours for the no thesis option and three hours for the thesis option) may be drawn from coursework chosen by the student in conjunction with the graduate adviser. Students pursuing the thesis option take six additional hours of coursework for thesis preparation.
Master of Education. The program is the same as the program for the Master of Arts described above, with one exception: in addition to the requirements for a Master of Arts, students must be certified to teach at the elementary or secondary level.
Summer option for master’s degrees. Some students may be able to pursue either master’s degree by enrolling in the summer option. Under this option, the majority of the coursework is completed in three consecutive summer terms at the University of Texas at Austin, with some additional coursework completed online during the fall and spring semesters.
Doctor of Philosophy
Students seeking the degree of Doctor of Philosophy must show evidence of related professional and academic experience.
Program Requirements
Core courses. Students must complete the fifteen-semester-hour core course sequence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. A description of the sequence is available from the graduate program.
Research methodology. Students must complete at least twelve hours of coursework in research methodology.
Content courses. Students must complete fifteen semester hours of coursework in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. This requirement is waived for students who enter the program with a master’s degree in mathematics, one of the sciences, or engineering.
Related courses. Students are expected to broaden and deepen their Program of Work by taking a variety of related courses consonant with their scholarly interests. This coursework must be chosen in consultation with the graduate adviser or faculty mentor.