Program Overview

Elementary Education Bilingual/Bicultural (M.A./M.Ed.)

The Elementary Education Bilingual/Bicultural program is designed to provide students with the historical, political, linguistic, and pedagogical foundations necessary to deliver educational experiences to bilingual and emergent bilingual students.

Program Overview

Texas State University, a Hispanic-Serving Institution, offers this program in the heart of Texas, where bilingual communities are prevalent. The campus is situated near public schools with diverse bilingual education programs, providing students with hands-on experiences in bilingual classrooms.

Course Work

Certified teachers can earn either a Master of Education (M.Ed.) or a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Elementary Education - Bilingual/Bicultural. The 30-credit-hour M.A. degree program requires coursework in bilingual/bicultural elementary education, a minor, and a written thesis. The 36-credit-hour M.Ed. degree program requires coursework in elementary education and an approved minor, with a comprehensive exit exam.

• Degree: M.A.
• Hours: 30
• Thesis Option: Thesis
• Minor Option: Minor required
• Location: San Marcos
• Degree: M.Ed.
• Hours: 36
• Thesis Option: Non-Thesis
• Minor Option: Minor required
• Location: San Marcos

Program Mission

The mission of the bilingual/bicultural program is to prepare educators to advance students' bilingualism in Spanish and English through the affirmation of their existing cognitive, cultural, and linguistic resources in academically rigorous bilingual education programs.

Career Options

The master's program in Elementary Education - Bilingual/Bicultural is designed for bilingual and biliterate (Spanish and English) individuals who want to teach emergent bilingual children in prekindergarten through sixth grade. Graduates can also use their degree as a pathway to doctoral programs and administrative, counseling, and higher education positions.

Program Faculty

Faculty members are involved in research projects that center on teacher preparation through educational equity, race and language, biliteracy development, bilingual math education, teaching young bilinguals, and the recruitment and retention of bilingual and ESL teachers. Faculty have published in top-tier journals, including the International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, Journal of Latinos and Education, and Bilingual Research Journal.

Admission Requirements

The items required for admission consideration are:

• Completed online application
• $55 nonrefundable application fee (or $90 for applications with international credentials)
• Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university
• 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 the last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses)
• Official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall (or approved English proficiency exam scores)
• Interview with the bilingual coordinator to ensure proficiency in written and spoken Spanish
• Statement of purpose (one page) describing why you wish to teach
• Three letters of recommendation

Application Deadlines

The application deadlines are:

• Fall - Priority: February 1 (U.S. citizens), February 1 (international)
• Fall - Standard: August 1 (U.S. citizens), June 1 (international)
• Spring - Priority: September 1 (U.S. citizens), September 1 (international)
• Spring - Standard: November 1 (U.S. citizens), October 1 (international)
• Summer I - Priority: January 1 (U.S. citizens), January 1 (international)
• Summer I - Standard: May 1 (U.S. citizens), March 15 (international)
• Summer II - Priority: January 1 (U.S. citizens), No Admission (international)
• Summer II - Standard: June 1 (U.S. citizens), No Admission (international)