Fifth Year Options
Bachelor of Arts or Science/Master of Education
Standard Texas Certificate
The Fifth Year Option B.A. or B.S./M.Ed. program provides students with an undergraduate degree in education and with a Master in Education degree with a concentration in Reading and Writing Education or Second Language Education and Culture. By meeting requirements for the two degrees simultaneously, students are able to earn the B.A. or B.S./M.Ed. in a shorter length of time than if each of these degrees were pursued separately. The combined B.A. or B.S./M.Ed. degree program gives students who plan to become Texas certified teachers the capability to complete the certification program hours of study required by the Texas State Board of Education. The two degrees may be completed in approximately five years. Enrollment must be continual and in consecutive semesters. Applicants are initially admitted into the Teacher Education Program and must follow the program requirements of the program. Students must apply for the M.Ed. program after completing 90 hours. Applicants to the Fifth Year Option degree program must meet the admission requirements of both the undergraduate and the graduate programs and follow the application procedures for the respective programs.
A Fifth Year Option education student will be transitioned from undergraduate status to graduate status by the Office of Student Records at the time of her/his graduation from the undergraduate program. The student will be allowed to enroll in up to 9 hours of graduate classes during her/his final undergraduate semesters. These classes will not count towards the undergraduate hours but will count towards the graduate hours; these classes will be moved to the appropriate transcript by the Office of Student Records. Eligible students will continue to receive undergraduate financial aid through the final semester of undergraduate course work (generally when student teaching takes place). The student’s first semester as a graduate student will be immediately following degree posting and consist of only graduate classes. At that time, her/his account will be reflected as a graduate student and managed accordingly by the Financial Aid office. Any questions regarding aid awards as a graduate student should be directed to the Office of Financial Aid.
For additional information on admission criteria, the admission process, and graduation for the Education program, refer to the School of Education program requirements.