Texas State University San Marcos

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Updated August 6, 2020

Texas State University San Marcos appears in our ranking of the 10 Most Affordable Doctorate in Adult Education & Learning Online.

A public research university in San Marcos, Texas State University has offered classes since 1903 to local students. Established in 1899, there were 303 students in attendance when the school opened its doors as the Southwest Texas State Normal School. The school has since become the largest university within the Texas State University system and the fifth-biggest college in the entire state. There are more than 38,000 students enrolled at the school, which is comprised of 50 schools and departments within 10 colleges. The large campus covers 492 acres and is comprised of 245 buildings.

There is also a satellite campus available to students living in and near Round Rock, which is just north of Austin. The school's Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State is larger than any other research facility for forensics in the entire world. The school's sports teams participate in NCAA Division I games in the Sun Belt Conference, and the players are nicknamed the Bobcats. The university has continued to see a record number of students enrolled in classes over the past several years. The acceptance rate for the school hovers right around 57 percent for freshman applicants.

Texas State University San Marcos Accreditation Details

Texas State University in San Marcos was first accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1925, and the last time the school underwent re-accreditation was in 2010. Other accreditations are held by various colleges, departments, and schools within the university. For example, the Department of Engineering Technology is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE), and the National Steering Committee - Concrete Industry Management Program (SACS). The College of Education is accredited by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC).

Texas State University San Marcos Application Requirements

The application deadline for the doctoral program is February 1st and requires that students submit their materials through the Graduate Admissions Document Upload system. The minimum requirements for admission to the doctoral program include a completed application to the Texas State Graduate College and official transcripts from a four-year college or university. The program also requires that students provide evidence of a master's degree from an accredited institution. The application fee for the program is $40, and students must also submit an essay of approximately 500 words. The application process also requires a current resume and the name and contact info for at least three references.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Graduate tuition at Texas State University is approximately $716 for the first credit for students who are Texas residents and is approximately $1,131 for the first credit for non-resident students. The university expects those numbers to increase for future school years. The per-credit charge isn't equalized; however, so in-state students taking six credits of graduate classes will pay $2,684, and non-resident students will pay $5,174. Fees included in the tuition include a computer service fee, environmental service fee, ID card fee, library fee, and medical service fee, as well as several other general fees.

Many types of financial aid and scholarships are available at Texas State University, and the school reveals that there was $360 million in aid awarded to students attending the 2017 to 2018 school year. Out of the 38,000 students, more than 27,000 were awarded financial aid. Students may apply for federal student loans by filling out a FAFSA form, as well as apply for merit-based and need-based assistance from private parties. Some students may also consider private school loans to cover some of the cost of tuition. In addition to traditional student loans, work-study, and grants, students at Texas State University may also be eligible for scholarships and other types of aid through the school.

Students in a doctoral program at Texas State may be eligible for a Doctoral Research Assistantship, which is an opportunity for students to work with a faculty member on a research-related project. The assistantship requires that students complete the official application form before the deadline and that they are available for at least 20 hours per week to work on the research project. Students are advised that they cannot maintain full-time employment while also participating in an assistantship; however, doctoral research assistants are eligible for health care plans administered by the school.

Online Degrees Available at Texas State University San Marcos

The Adult, Professional, and Community Education Doctoral Program at Texas State University is designed for practitioners and scholars who work within adult education. Some of the areas where educators work include government agencies, schools, higher education, libraries, museums, parks, and community organizations. Essentially, graduates may work in any setting where adults participate in classes or learning. In addition to non-profit entities, students may also work in the business sector, in the military, with religious organizations, in vocational education, and within the industries of modern media and technology.

Students in the Ph.D. program must complete at least 63 doctoral-level credit hours to graduate. At least 51 of those credit hours will be in coursework and 12 of those hours will feature the dissertation. Once a student completes all the required courses, he or she must pass a comprehensive exam and defend the dissertation proposal. After the student has advanced to candidacy, he or she will complete the 12 hours of study for the doctoral dissertation and then eventually complete and defend the dissertation.

Courses in the program include History and Philosophy of Adult Education, Adult Development, and Community Development. Other classes include Models of Inquiry: Understanding Epistemologies, Advanced Studies in Adult Learning, and Problems and Strategies in Program Planning. Additional classes include Human Resource and Professional Development, Beginning Quantitative Research Design and Analysis, and Literature Review for Research Writing. Students must complete these courses and advance to candidacy within five years of entering the program. Overall, students have 10 years to complete the program, including defending their dissertation.

While enrolled, students may choose to participate in APCE, the graduate student organization on campus. Students may also find value in the campus's Writing Center for assistance in completing the dissertation with appropriate grammar. The mission of the graduate program at Texas State University in San Marcos is to educate the future scholars and leaders in the field of Adult, Professional, and Community Education & School Improvement. When they graduate, students will act as agents of change in education, help create life-long learning communities, and build on the diversity present within student populations. Students considering the Ph.D. program at Texas State University San Marcos may begin their journey by contacting the school for more information.

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