University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

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Staff
Updated August 6, 2020

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley appears in our ranking of the 10 Most Affordable Doctorate in Educational Technology Online 2018.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a system of campuses in the Rio Grande Valley that each offer opportunities for students at all levels and those of all ages. This is actually one of the newest schools in Texas. The state closed two campuses in the region and merged those colleges to create a new public university in 2012. This new university opened the following year. Though the university is newer, it still offers a number of degree programs and options for incoming students. They can earn almost any type of degree from the school.

Also called UTRGV, the university now has six campuses in the Rio Grande Valley, including those in Edinburg and Brownsville. It announced plans to construct new buildings on two of its campuses to bring in more resources for its students. Despite its age, both Forbes and U.S. News & World Report rank the university as one of the top schools in the nation. It also ranks within the top 10 of most affordable colleges in the state because its students graduate with a lower amount of debt. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has an enrollment of more than 28,000 students across all six of its campuses.

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Accreditation Details

UTRGV has regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). This organization requires that the university renew its accreditation every decade. It has granted accreditation to the university since 1956. Its nursing and some of its other programs have accreditation as well. Regional accreditation is typically the most important type because it allows those who have a graduate degree to transfer credits to one of the university's doctoral programs. They can also apply for financial aid and use federal loans to cover some or all of their educational costs.

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Application Requirements

The university has an admissions website that allows students to apply for a spot in any of its programs. They will first select a degree level and then select the type of students they are. This page also asks them to select the term in which they want to start their studies. Once they make all those decisions, the page will take them to the appropriate application for them.

This application includes a contact information section that requires students enter their phone numbers and both home and email addresses. They can then fill out a background section and list the names and addresses of the colleges they attended. UTRGV also asks for the dates that the student graduated or will graduate from each program. Those enrolling in a Ph.D. or an Ed.D program must have a master's degree and a bachelor's degree at the time they start.

Most programs ask for other documents and information too like letters of recommendation. Students will submit two or three letters that come from supervisors they worked with in the field or their former professors. Those letters must explain the student's strengths and the reasons why that individual would benefit from a doctoral degree. Students may need to submit a resume or some type of writing sample too. The university will accept published work and academic papers as writing samples. Those entering the educational technology program must have some experience in this field too.

Tuition and Financial Aid

UTRGV has a guaranteed tuition policy that freezes tuition rates when students enroll. This keeps students from facing any unexpected tuition increases later. The university will freeze tuition rates for up to four years. Texas residents pay around $3,360 per semester. This includes all the fees that the school charges and allows students to take up to nine credits. Tuition with fees included starts at around $601 per credit hour, but this rate will fluctuate as they add more classes to their schedules. The cost for students coming from outside of Texas is higher. They pay around $1,016 per credit hour to start. Full-time students can take nine credits for around $7,100 a semester.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley encourages students to file the FAFSA if they want to use student loans. Federal loans allow students to borrow up to $20,500 a year, though there is a maximum limit as to how much students can borrow over the course of their education. The FAFSA will also determine if students qualify for any grants.

Graduate and doctoral students can also apply for scholarships. They must create an account and complete a student profile. The university will then determine the right scholarships for them and give them information on how to apply for each one. Though scholarships are available for all programs, the university will only award full-time students. Students can receive up to $3,200 per year, but they will need to apply again for the scholarship for the following year.

Ed.D. in Educational Technology

Educational technology is one of the fastest growing fields within the education industry. Teachers today must know how to use new forms of technology both in their classes and when preparing for their classes. UTRGV offers an Ed.D. program with a specialization in educational technology. This doctoral program prepares teachers for working in a number of different positions and at different levels. They might work for a specific school or for a larger school district.

The degree plan attached to this program features five different areas. Students must take 15 credits of e-learning and educational technology classes, including Evaluation and Assessment in Instructional Technology and Trends in Educational Technology, K-6. They also take six credits of electives. The university offers electives such as Theory and Practice of E-Learning, Instructional Design and Educational Leadership. There is also a core that is worth 21 credits. This core includes classes like Advanced Models of Teaching, Literacy Across the Curriculum and Adult Learning Strategies.

UTRGV also requires that students take 12 credits of research classes. Field Methods is a course that looks at the ways in which teachers use educational technology, while Program Evaluation teaches them how to evaluate the programs used in schools today. Students also earn 12 credits for their dissertations. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley allows students to work on their dissertations at the same time that they take electives and required classes in this program.

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