FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1) How do I apply to Teacher Education Graduate Programs?
Please click here
2) What happens after I apply?
The Graduate School will contact you with an admissions decision. Once you are admitted, you will receive information on initial advising and you will set up an initial appointment with the appropriate graduate advising coordinator for your area.
3) Who should I contact if I have an advising hold on my record? Do I need to see the advisor in person?
Your record may have an advising hold because you have not met with us to discuss your degree plan. If you already have a signed degree plan, you may contact us at 915-747-5475 or tedgrad@utep.edu to get the hold released. Email is preferred.
4) May I update my degree plan myself? How?
Yes, you may. Use your Miners user ID and password to log on to https://my.utep.edu/. Click on the Goldmine link on the left side of your screen and then click on the “Students Services and Financial > Student Records > Academic Transcript. At the Transcript level, select “Graduate” and click on “submit.” You will see your transcript and click here to get the unofficial degree plan and fill in seeing your transcript.
5) What is a Comprehensive Exam?
It is a mandatory exam one has to take in order to graduate. For more info please click here.
6) When do I take the Comprehensive Exam?
You are eligible to take the comps when you are 2 courses away from graduation or during your final semester.
7) Who will have to take the Comprehensive Exam?
Graduate students who want a Master of Education (M.Ed.) - Curriculum and Instruction or Master of Reading Education (non-practicum route) must take the Comprehensive Exam. Master of Arts in Education students do not need to take the Comprehensive Exam as it is a thesis program (see #17 below).
8) How do I apply for the Comprehensive Exam?
You must contact the department at tedgrad@utep.edu for graduation clearance and for information about the dates for the comps.
9) Do I need to enroll in a class to take the Comprehensive Exam?
One of the pre-requisites to be eligible to take the comps is to be enrolled in at least one graduate course. If you did not pass the Comprehensive Exam on the first attempt, you will need to enroll in a one-credit course to re-take the exam.
10) What are different graduate programs offered in Teacher Education?
Please click here for the program overview and click here for various degree plans (
11) Can I get my Master's degree online?
Yes. The College of Education has offered an online Master of Education – Curriculum and Instruction in Bilingual Education or Early Childhood Education since fall 2008. Both of these programs are delivered 100% online. Some courses within other M.Ed. programs also are available in an online format.
12) How do I change major or degree plan?
You can change your major under M.Ed. - Curriculum and Instruction by requesting the change in our office and by meeting with an advisor to complete a new degree plan.
13) What should I do if I get a prereq error while registering for the classes?
If you get this error for TED 5300, it may mean that you have not taken TED 5304. You will have to complete TED 5304 before enrolling for TED 5300. If you get this error for any other course, please contact us at tedgrad@utep.edu along with your student ID and course details you want to take.
14) Where can I get information on Pre-commencement?
Please call the Dean's office at 915-747-5572.
15) What should I take under Resource and Elective sections on my degree plan?
You will work with a specialization adviser who will recommend and approve appropriate courses for the Resource Area and the Electives Area of your degree plan.
16) How many hours from another university can be transferred to UTEP?
A maximum of six hours of graduate coursework can be transferred to UTEP from another university. In special situations, additional coursework can be accepted. See Graduate Adviser for more information.
17) What is Thesis route with no Comprehensive Exam?
We encourage students to consider this alternative. As part of the M.A., you will not have to take the Comprehensive Exam, and you will work closely with faculty members to design your plan of study and your research paper. This is particularly important if you are considering a doctoral program.
