Educational Technology: Student Handbook
Welcome to student handbook for the Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Technology at Texas State University. This guide is for new and current students in the program.
Graduate Catalog
Graduate Catalog: This is where you go to get answers to almost all of the questions you have about graduate programs, requirements, rules, etc. Bookmark this link and use it for reference. You are responsible for knowing what is in the catalog.
What Classes Do I Need to Take?
EDTC Course List: A complete list of required EDTC courses (24 hours) and additional courses allowed for the cognate (12 hours).
Because we are small program, EDTC courses are generally offered every other year (except for EDTC 5310, which is offered every semester). The course rotation is designed that you can finish the program in 2 years, but the year you enter the program will determine the order in which you take EDTC courses.
There are two additional time restrictions on taking classes:
- You must take CI 5390 (Research Seminar) in the first 12 hours of your graduate classes (if not registration may be put on hold and you could be dropped from the program),
- EDTC 5345 (the optional internship) can only be taken near the end of your program.
| Fall 2023 (Fall A) | Spring 2024 (Spring A) | Fall 2024 (Fall B) | Spring 2025 (Spring B) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EDTC 5310 | X | X | X | X |
| EDTC 5315 | X | |||
| EDTC 5320 | X | |||
| EDTC 5325 | X | |||
| EDTC 5330 | X | |||
| EDTC 5334 | X | |||
| EDTC 5335 | X | X | ||
| EDTC 5340 | X | |||
| EDTC 5345 (Internship) | X | X | X | X |
What is the Cognate?
The EdTech Cognate is 12 hours of elective credits. The best way to think of the cognate is to think of of it as related courses in a subject area from program or departments other than EdTech. It is similar to a minor in an undergraduate program. However, whereas a minor is an established set of classes from a single department, the cognate will let you choose courses from multiple disciplines that are related in some way to your interests in education and educational technology.
Important: If you are receiving financial aid, courses must be on the degree plan before you register for classes. If a course is not on one of the approved lists below, contact the program coordinator to determine if that course to your cognate.
| If you would like to concentrate on: | Courses | Notes about the courses |
|---|---|---|
If you would like to concentrate on: Education in general | Courses Choose 12 hours from CI 5306, CI 5312, CI 5314, CI 5333, CI 5363, ADED 5321, DE 5324, ADED 5344, DE 5375, DE 5382, EDCL 5339, EDCL 5340, EDCL 5345, EDCL 5348, RDG 5324, RDG 5340 | Notes about the courses You can basically mix and match any of the courses listed depending on your interests. (most of the CI classes listed are offered both on-campus and online) Many classes are also offered at the Round Rock Higher Ed Center |
If you would like to concentrate on: Adult Education | Courses Choose 12 hours from ADED 5321, ADED 5344, ADED 5382, DE 5324, DE 5375 | Notes about the courses Many of students who plan on teaching on the community college level or work with adults in general enjoy these classes. |
If you would like to concentrate on: Educational Administration | Courses Choose 12 hours from EDCL 5339, EDCL 5340, EDCL 5345, EDCL 5348 | Notes about the courses EDCL can be fairly picky about the order in which you take these classes and often enforce their prerequisites |
If you would like to concentrate on: More Edtech | Courses Choose 12 hours from EDTC 5334, EDTC 5341, plus two additional courses | Notes about the courses Our two newest courses can be counted in the cognate and then you will choose two additional courses from above. |
Does This Program Offer Teacher Certification?
No, this is a master’s program only, primarily designed for teachers who are already certified, or for students who have career plans other than to be a K-12 teacher.
When are Courses Offered & In What Format?
As noted above, EDTC courses are offered on a two-year course rotation. See the table in the section above for the course rotation for the next two academic years.
The EdTech program is entirely online, and all EDTC courses are offered online. However as a Texas State University student, you are allowed to take online, partially online (hybrid or blende), or on-campus courses outside the program (for your cognate).
- Online Courses (For all EDTC courses and some non-EDTC courses)
- Do not meet on campus. Generally, all readings, assignments, and discussions are facilitated and follow a schedule that is similar to a regular weekly on campus class. (For example, a normal online week may be Wednesday morning through Tuesday midnight of the following week.)
- Online courses can be either synchronous (where the class meets live online at some point during the week) or asynchronous (where the class does not).
- On Campus (For some non-EDTC courses)
- These courses meet generally once each week on the assigned day
- Graduate classes generally meet in the evenings, from 6:30pm to 9:15, on the San Marcos campus.
- Hybrid (For some non-EDTC courses)
- A course where there are some on-campus meetings and some weeks where the course is online.
How Long Will it Take to Complete the Program?
Because of the 2-year course rotation, the minimum time you will need to complete the program is 2 years. The maximum amount of time allowed by the university to complete a master’s degree is 6 years. How quickly it will take you to finish depends on how many courses you decide to take each semester. We have some students who take only one or two classes a semester (including summers) and finish in around 2-3 years.
Our recommendation is to take only 6-9 hours each semester. These are not like undergraduate classes and are most of our EdTech courses are project intensive so you will be busy! Graduate classes take a considerable amount of outside study and project work to complete successfully. For example, in one week of EDTC 5325, you may have an hour or two of reading, an hour or more of online discussion, plus a project to complete that week on the assigned topic. Now multiply this by the other classes you are taking.
Remember, you must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0 (B) to remain in the Graduate College, anything less than that will result in academic probation and/or suspension. It is better to do well in a few classes than mediocre in many.
What Classes Should I Take in My First Semester?
Below is list of recommendations for classes to take the first semester you are admitted.
If you are beginning in Summer 2021:
- 1 class: EDTC 5310
- 2 classes: EDTC 5310 and CI 5390
- 3 classes: EDTC 5310, CI 5390, and a class in your cognate
- Note that in the summer, EdTech class offerings are limited (EDTC 5310 only), so summer is a good time to take classes in your cognate. Also, taking 3 classes in the summer session is probably too many, and I wouldn't recommend it.
If you are beginning in Fall 2021:
- 1 class: EDTC 5310
- 2 classes: EDTC 5310 and EDTC 5335
- 3 classes: EDTC 5310, EDTC 5335, and EDTC 5320
If you are beginning in Spring 2022:
- 1 class: EDTC 5310
- 2 classes: EDTC 5310 and EDTC 5330
- 3 classes: EDTC 5310, EDTC 5330, and EDTC 5334
Assistantships and Scholarships
Many students ask about assistantships and scholarships that are available through the university and program. Below is general information about each.
Assistantships
The EdTech program does not have any dedicated assistantships but you can apply for a Curriculum & Instruction department assistantships. (Educational Technology is a program in the C&I Department.) Assistantships for the C&I Department are offered once per year and are usually due around June 15 for the following year.
See the Grad College’s Graduate Assistantship page for more information on assistantships.
Scholarships
There are many opportunities for scholarships from both the university and the College of Education.
Financial Aid
For a full list of all financial aid opportunities, see the university Financial Aid & Scholarships page.
How Can My Advisor Help Me?
You may find graduate-program advising a bit different than undergraduate advising. Obviously, administrative and academic advisors still play a part in navigating degree programs and their requirements, but don't expect your advisor (or your program's coordinator) to be too much of a hand-holder. There's a general expectation that grad students will be mature self-starters who can navigate the ins and outs of the program, from administrative tasks to academic pursuits. Depending on your program, this may mean making a lot more decisions about course choices and how to structure your studies than you ever did at the undergraduate level.
It's not that advisors won't help you; they certainly will (and many campus services, from financial aid to crisis counseling, are still available to grad students). But as a grad student you will have more autonomy and less guidance. You will be primarily responsible for ensuring that you finish assignments and meet deadlines, plan your thesis/dissertation or final project, and maintain enrollment status, while also handling all the non-school issues, from relocation adjustments to keeping the rest of your life in order. In fact, many grad students view their graduate studies as a full-time job. (Originally from http://www.idealist.org/info/GradEducation/Resources/Preparing/WhatChanges, but seems to be gone now.)
What Your Advisor Can Help You With
- Answer common questions not covered in this document or in the Graduate Catalog.
- Direct you to resources or someone who knows the answer to your question.
- Petition the Graduate College to change a degree plan (cognate courses only).
- Help you choose a course from a list you are considering in your cognate.
- Set up your e-portfolio exit presentation.
Because we are both an EdTech and an online program, most of your advising will be handled via email, chat client, or web conferencing. However, if you are in the Austin metro area (which includes San Marcos), it is sometimes possible to make a face-to-face appointment.
How Can I Keep Track of My Degree Plan?
Check Your Degree Audit
To see your degree plan, which includes courses you have taken and courses you still need to take:
- Go to CatsWeb for Students.
- Under the heading Academic Records, click Degree Audit.
- After you enter your login info, follow the links to your degree audit.
Worksheet for Course Planning
We’ve provided a worksheet (in Microsoft Word format) that you can use to keep track of your courses.
What is the E-portfolio Requirement?
The e-portfolio is a cumulative project that displays your work, artifacts, and reflections over the span of the program. It is the exit exam (or comprehensive exam) for the Educational Technology master’s program. The portfolio will be presented during the semester that you plan to graduate to the Educational Technology program faculty.
See the EdTech Portfolio Guide for more information.