Foster creativity, learning, talent, and transformation through teaching, mentoring, and leadership.
Elementary Education
Program Overview
The 30-credit master of arts (M.A.) in elementary education with a concentration in Creativity, Talent, and Transformation equips students with skills, knowledge, and research for fostering creativity, learning, talent, and transformation through teaching, mentoring, and leadership in schools or communities. The program is ideal for those seeking to develop new teaching skills, realize unanticipated possibilities, and make an impact. The flexible format is well suited for working professionals.
Career options associated with this versatile degree program include: mentoring program leader; instructional coordinator; talent development coach; classroom teacher with skills for nurturing all students' creativity and talents; professional learning specialist; arts education coordinator, and community-based education specialist. The program also provides a foundation for doctoral studies.
Course Work
The M.A. degree in elementary education- creativity, talent, and transformation is a 30 credit-hour program that includes a thesis. Students take courses in talent development, creativity, mentoring, research, and more. Students engage in original research and complete a thesis. Through the program's coursework and thesis research experiences, students develop skills and knowledge that are useful across a variety of career opportunities in schools and communities.
| Degree | Concentration | Hours | Thesis Option | Minor Option | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Degree M.A. | Concentration Creativity, Talent, and Transformation | Hours 30 | Thesis Option Thesis | Minor Option No minor | Location San Marcos |
Program Details
The degree programs do not require teacher licensure or prior courses in specific areas for admission.
Program Mission
The mission of the program is to share and co-create knowledge related to creativity, talent, and transformation. Goals of the program include preparing graduate students to:
- foster creativity, talent, and learning through teaching, mentoring, and leadership
- contribute to knowledge and professional practice through original research
- Analyze and communicate complex information for various needs and groups of people
- effect change at multiple levels
Through teaching, research, and service, program faculty work toward collective flourishing.
Career Options
Graduates are well prepared for fostering learning, talent, and creativity through teaching, mentoring, and leadership. Related career options include mentoring program coordinator, instructional coordinator, creativity support specialist, classroom teacher with skills for nurturing all students' creativity and talents, instructional coach, community-based education specialist, undergraduate-level instructor, and more. The program also provides a foundation for doctoral studies.
Program Faculty
The faculty's range of experiences, perspectives, and expertise areas contribute to a curriculum that equips students with skills for fostering creativity, talent, learning, and transformation through teaching, mentoring, and leadership. Faculty research interests include transformative education, creativity, imagination, access and opportunity, philosophical issues in education, and more.
Contact us for general questions about your application, funding opportunities, and more. If you have specific questions after reviewing the program details, contact the program's graduate advisor.
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Application Deadlines
| DEADLINES | U.S. CITIZEN | INTERNATIONAL |
|---|---|---|
DEADLINES Fall - Priority | U.S. CITIZEN February 1 | INTERNATIONAL February 1 |
DEADLINES Fall - Standard | U.S. CITIZEN August 1 | INTERNATIONAL June 1 |
DEADLINES Spring - Priority | U.S. CITIZEN September 1 | INTERNATIONAL September 1 |
DEADLINES Spring - Standard | U.S. CITIZEN November 1 | INTERNATIONAL October 1 |
DEADLINES Summer I - Priority | U.S. CITIZEN January 1 | INTERNATIONAL January 1 |
DEADLINES Summer I - Standard | U.S. CITIZEN May 1 | INTERNATIONAL March 15 |
DEADLINES Summer II - Priority | U.S. CITIZEN January 1 | INTERNATIONAL No Admission |
DEADLINES Summer II - Standard | U.S. CITIZEN June 1 | INTERNATIONAL No Admission |
Priority Deadline: Ensures full consideration for admission and eligibility for certain funding opportunities, including scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships, and guarantees that your application will be considered in the initial review.
Standard Deadline: Represents the last day a complete application can be submitted, but does not guarantee admission consideration. After the priority deadline, applications are reviewed on a rolling, space-available basis until the program is full, at which point, applications will close.
For important information regarding deadlines and decision timelines, review the Application Policy Information page.
Admission Requirements
The items required for admission consideration are listed below. Additional information for applicants with international credentials can be found on our international webpages.
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Application
- completed online application
Review important information about the online application.
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Application Fee
- $35 nonrefundable Texas Education Agency technology fee (if offered admission to the master's + certification program) and either
- $55 nonrefundable application fee, OR
- $90 nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials
Review important information about application fees.
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Transcripts & GPA
- Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university. (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree. In most cases, three-year degrees are not considered. Visit our International FAQs for more information.)
- A copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted.
- A 2.75 overall GPA or a 2.75 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses).
Review important information about transcripts. Official transcripts, sent directly from your institution, will be required if admission is granted.
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Test Scores
GRE
- GRE not required
Approved English Proficiency Exam Scores
Applicants are required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score that meets the minimum program requirements below unless they have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a country on our exempt countries list.
- official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall
- official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
- official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and minimum individual module scores of 6.0
- official Duolingo scores required with a 110 overall
- official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall
This program does not offer admission if the scores above are not met.
Review important information about official test scores.
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Documents
- resume/CV, including contact information for two references who are familiar with your scholarly work and/or relevant work experience
- statement of purpose (one to two double-spaced pages) that includes your rationale for pursuing graduate study in this particular program
Review important information about documents.