Admissions Requirements and Procedures
Graduate program candidates at the College of Education and P-16 Integration (CEP) must follow the admissions requirements set by the Graduate College of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). Unconditional admission requires a 3.0 GPA on a 4-point scale. If your GPA is lower, you might still be admitted conditionally. Additionally, each program may have its own criteria, please check the program descriptions for details.
To apply, visit the UTRGV Graduate Programs web page for guidelines and deadlines. After choosing a program, submit an online application. If applying to a Teacher Education Program, you will need to pass a criminal background check, which is mandatory for fieldwork in public schools. If you have military service or related training, it might count toward some program requirements, but not for certification exams or internships.
The Graduate College will forward your application to the relevant academic department for review. You might be asked to attend an interview during this process. If you need accommodations, contact UTRGV's Student Accessibility Services. For more assistance, you can reach out to the Graduate College by phone, email, or in person.
- Review the program descriptions and requirements for graduate programs offered by the College of Education and P-16 Integration, which can be found on the Graduate Programs web page.
- Interested applicants are encouraged to meet with a UTRGV Graduate Recruiter who will answer any questions about graduate programs and the admissions process.
- Determine the semester admissions deadline for your selected graduate program. If you have any questions about the admissions deadlines, please visit the Graduate Programs web page or contact the academic department offering the degree program.
- Department of Organization School Leadership offers:
- Department of Bilingual and Literacy Studies offers:
- Department of Counseling offers:
- To be accepted into a graduate program, students must first be admitted to the Graduate College of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Complete an online application to begin the admission process.
If you have questions about how to apply to a graduate program, please contact the Graduate College in person, via phone, or by email (gradcollege@utrgv.edu). You can schedule an appointment to meet with a graduate recruiter to assist with any concerns. - Once your application has been submitted and processed by the Graduate College, it will be sent to the appropriate academic program for review.
- Depending on your chosen graduate program requirements, you may receive an email (sent to your ApplyTexas profile email) with instructions to schedule an appointment for an admissions interview.
- You may check your application status after submission through the self-service portal. For assistance, please contact the Graduate College at gradrecruitment@utrgv.edu, 1-833-887-4842 or via text 956-996-8095.
- Upon admission to the graduate program, you will receive a graduate orientation packet via your ApplyTexas profile email.
Teacher Education Program(s) require field work in public school systems. This requires that a student be able to clear a criminal background check conducted by The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley during formal admission and during the program by school districts. It is the responsibility of the student to determine if their criminal history background will present a problem before applying for admission to the teacher education program.
Students with a problematic criminal history will encounter difficulty in completing any fieldwork requirements and therefore, may not be able to complete the program. Questions about criminal history background checks can be referred to the Office of Educator Preparation and Accountability.
The applicant must submit a Criminal Background Check (CBC). Pursuant to the Texas Education Code (TEC), §22.083, candidates must undergo criminal history background check prior to employment as an educator. Pursuant to the TEC, §22.0835, candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to clinical teaching.
Read all items carefully and submit the required information. Print the payment confirmation page and submit it with the application. Admission to Teacher Education Program may be denied or rescinded based on a review of the background check.
NOTE: There will be a processing fee for a criminal background check.
Criminal History Acknowledgement
As required by Texas HB1508, applicants need to be aware of the following.
- To receive certification in Texas, you must pass a criminal history background check.
- If you have been convicted of an offense that is considered not appropriate for an educator, you could be ineligible to earn this certification from the state of Texas.
- You have a right to request a preliminary criminal history evaluation letter from the Texas Education Agency prior to admission into this program. The Texas Education Agency currently charges a $50 fee for this criminal history evaluation.
Please read the Preliminary Criminal History Evaluation FAQs before making a request or submitting payment for a Preliminary Criminal History Evaluation.
In accordance with 19 TAC 228.35 (a)(5), UTRGV’s College of Education and P-16 Integration may accept military service, training, or education toward the fulfillment of program requirements. Military service, training, or education must be directly related to the certificate being sought and may not take the place of certification examinations. Service, training, or education may not count as part of an internship, clinical teaching, or practicum requirements and must be provided by an approved Educator Preparation Program or accredited institution of higher education within the past five years. The Program Director will determine whether or not military service, training, or education is relevant and could be used as a substitute.
Request for Accommodations
Applicants who require accommodations/assistance to complete the graduate application can register with Student Accessibility Services. Applicants can contact Accessibility Services in person, via phone, or by email ability@utrgv.edu .
Student Accessibility Services Contact Information
Campus |
Phone (956) |
Room |
---|---|---|
Brownsville |
882-7374 |
BMSLC 1.107 |
Edinburg |
665-7005 |
University Center 108 |