Texas A&M University – Commerce

Texas A&M University - Commerce was created in 1889 by William L. Mayo as the East Texas Normal College to instruct teachers privately. Ideally connected to the Texas Midland Railroad, the school was purchased by the Texas State Legislature in 1917 for public education. By 1996, the financially struggling campus was admitted into the Texas A&M system with a branch in Texarkana for stability. Texas A&M Commerce now carries a $20 million endowment to serve 7,724 undergrad and 4,661 post-grad Lions either online or on-site. TAMUC's campus spans 2,203 rural acres of North Texas in Hunt County and borders the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

Texas A&M University - Commerce boasts successful alumni like Sam Rayburn, Colleen Hoover, and Mary Lou Bruner. According to the U.S. News, TAMUC is America's 141st top high school counselor pick. Forbes ranked Texas A&M Commerce the 252nd best public university and 253rd top research institution. On Niche, TAMUC stands as America's 191st most conservative college with the 143rd best college food. Washington Monthly lauded TAMUC as the 190th best national university for social mobility and service. The publication also placed Texas A&M University - Commerce as the 22nd best Southern value. College Factual featured TAMUC in the United States' top 15 percent for ethnic diversity too.

Texas A&M University - Commerce Accreditation Details

Reaffirmed under President Dr. Ray Keck in 2014, Texas A&M University - Commerce has 10-year regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) at Level VI. The institutional accreditation without sanctions ensures Title IV eligibility for all programs, including the Online M.S. in Educational Technology-Library Science, from the U.S. Department of Education. The College of Education and Human Services has discipline-specific approval from the Council on Accreditation for Educator Preparation (CAEP) and Texas State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC). Library science courses aren't currently recognized by the American Library Association (ALA) however.

Texas A&M University - Commerce Application Requirements

The "selective" acceptance rate of 47 percent at Texas A&M University - Commerce only increases in ferocity at the post-baccalaureate level. The College of Education and Human Services will expect prospective online students to hold a bachelor's degree from colleges with CHEA-recognized regional accreditation. International students with F-1 or J-1 visas aren't presently considered. Finishing an education major to fulfill prerequisites like teaching methods is suggested. Individuals must have passed the Praxis exams for Texas Educator Certification or out-of-state equivalent. Unconditional admission requires an undergrad GPA above 2.75 or master's GPA over 3.0. Graduate applicants typically present GRE scores of at least 150 (verbal), 145 (quantitative), and 4.0 (analytical writing).

Beginning the M.S./M.Ed. in Educational Technology-Library Science from Texas A&M University - Commerce will require applying before the established deadlines of June 1st for Fall, October 15th for Spring, and March 15th for Summer admission. The ApplyTexas application is primarily submitted online via myLeo, but some paper attachments can be mailed to 2600 South Neal Street for P.O. Box 3011 in Commerce, TX 75429. Future librarians should include the following:

• Payment for the $50 non-refundable fee
• All undergrad and post-grad transcripts
• Official GRE scores with university code 6188
• At least one letter of recommendation
• Verification of valid Texas teaching certification
• Typed, two-page personal statement or writing sample

Tuition and Financial Aid

According to NCES statistics, full-time master's students from Texas are billed average yearly tuition at $3,630 with $2,146 for fees. Non-residents completing TAMUC graduate programs full-time will pay $10,974 for tuition and $2,146 for fees on average. Aspiring school librarians in the M.S./M.Ed. in Educational Technology-Library Science program will follow a different pay structure with a $50 distance learning fee per credit. Online graduates are charged $402 (in-state) and $753 (out-of-state) each credit. Finishing the 36-credit library science curriculum costs anywhere from $16,272 to $28,908 total.

In 2016, 90 percent of beginning, full-time TAMUC Lions received an average financial aid package worth $9,617 for $7.39 million total school-wide. Online graduate students still qualify for institutional funds like the Senior Rollover Scholarship, Keith & Nancy McFarland Scholarship, Nancy Ruth Lenoir Memorial Endowment, GPride Scholarship, and Jerry & Marilyn Morris Scholarship. The Graduate Tuition Set-Aside Grant helps Texas residents with $1,000 per semester. Graduate assistant teaching (GAT) roles offer tuition waivers for students living near campus. Librarians in the high-need reading specialist field could obtain the $4,000 Federal TEACH Grant. The Veterans Affairs Office helps coordinate Montgomery GI Bill and Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Master's students could also cautiously borrow Direct Unsubsidized, Grad PLUS, and private/alternative loans.

Online Degree(s) Available

Texas A&M University - Commerce utilizes the myLeo Portal to launch non-traditional learners into six bachelor's, 21 master's, and two doctoral programs available 100% online. Commerce has NC-SARA authorization for its SREB Electronic Campus to deliver flexible, asynchronous learning in 50 states. With the 19:1 student-professor ratio, post-grads receive regular feedback from the same PhD-level faculty during weekly class sessions. TAMUC students also benefit from online access to Gee Library, discounted eBooks from the Campus Bookstore, the 24/7 Help Desk, and advising through Pearson Learning Studio. Teachers looking to share their love for literature could pursue the following degree online:

M.S./M.Ed. in Educational Technology-Library Science

Fully CAEP-accredited through 2023, the M.S./M.Ed. in Educational Technology-Library Science lets Commerce post-grads with teaching certification choose a Master of Science or Master of Education to progress toward school media leadership jobs. Structured with standard 16-week semesters, the online program fits advanced courses into teachers' busy schedules to finish the Texas Student Services Certificate for School Librarianship. Educators master the latest technological trends for accessing digital media to develop effective literacy programs in PreK-12 school buildings.

The 36-credit curriculum is directed by Dr. Mary Jo Dondlinger to deliver online courses like children's literature, Web technologies, cataloging, mediographic services, library research methods, and educational computing. Coursework can be rearranged to suit students with or without a master's degree, but 2+ years of classroom experience is preferred. Online M.S./M.Ed. candidates venture outside the virtual learning environment with at least one library media practicum in their communities' districts. During the final semester, a comprehensive exam replaces the master's thesis for ease.

Related Resource: 25 Most Affordable Online Master's in Counseling Degrees

Similar 100% online degrees to consider at Texas A&M University - Commerce include the M.Ed. in Reading Specialist, M.S. in Higher Education, M.Ed. in Educational Administration, M.S. in Educational Technology Leadership, and M.Ed. in Organization, Learning, and Technology.