The OWLS program at Texas State University prepares nontraditional students for careers through high-quality academic, professional and technical programs. The programs grant credit for experiential learning such as work/life experience; credit for non-collegiate instruction; and credit by exam.
Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences
Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies (MSIS)
Master of Education with a Major in Management of Technical Education(MEd).
Degree Program Offered: Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS), major in Applied Arts and Sciences
The BAAS is a nontraditional program designed to allow adult students to earn a degree with a major in an individualized academic area. In addition, it allows adults to assist in the choice of courses that would complement their career goals. The following are unique characteristics of the BAAS:
Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies, MSIS
The Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies (MSIS) is a degree plan tailored to your own skills and goals. It is a customized degree plan for mature students who have established their career objectives in business, industry, nonprofit agencies or government.
This unique hybrid program lets you take courses from four or more academic disciplines, giving you a variety of intellectual viewpoints. You can choose from courses in health administration, communication studies, psychology, technology, sociology, business or other academic disciplines along with occupational education and career and technology education.
Course schedules are flexible to accommodate the needs of working professionals, and many courses are offered in Round Rock or San Antonio, as well as online. The online option allows you to complete courses from home and study whenever and wherever it is convenient for you. Many classes are hybrid and students complete the work online and meet with the instructor three times. This format provides opportunity for personal and professional interaction.
Statement of Goals (STGL) Guide
Statement of Goals (STGL) is part of the application process. The STGL is one to two double spaced pages in a point paper or a detailed essay. Candidates should specifically include what they would expect to achieve by earning a Master’s degree through the Department of Occupational, Workforce, and Leadership Studies program. Candidates describe their intended use of the Master’s Degree as it pertains to current and future professional goals. The STGL is a personal introspective statement that is written in terms of learning outcomes. Some students may research courses in the Graduate Catalog and describe which colleges and departments would meet their educational goals.
The Statement of Goals will aid Advisors in guiding students to select courses that will help them to achieve their learning objectives.
Online Submission of Required Documents can be found here.
Degree Plan
You will work with the graduate advisor and program chair to create a highly specialized and individualized plan directed toward your goals. The degree plan includes three modules totaling 39 credit hours:
Entry module (nine hours) emphasizes communication and interpersonal relation skills.
Academic module (21 hours) emphasizes courses relating to your overall career direction and personal growth.
Exit module (nine hours) emphasizes professional research, which is tailored to your interests.
You must take courses from at least three different academic colleges and four departments at Texas State. You may select up to 15 hours from one department and must have at least six hours from three other departments. In addition, the degree requires at least one course from four departments.
You must pass both written and oral examinations to receive your degree. Examinations include questions from selected professors that students must answer in writing during a set time period. Oral examinations are held following the grading of the written examination.
Areas of Concentration
You may select a number of areas of study. Below are some of the potential areas.
application of human performance technology skills
assessment of organizational needs, the development of remediation strategies, and programs that enhance human performance
high-performance leadership, motivation and styles of management
correct use of human resources through identifying occupational aptitude, job placement and follow-up
interpretation and application of manpower trends, occupational surveys and the dynamics of career choice.
skills and attitudes related to the supervision of personnel
Management of Technical Education, MEd
The Master of Education with a major in management of technical education (MEd) prepares you to manage instructional personnel in an education or training environment. You will learn skills needed to supervise educators or trainers in junior colleges, businesses, the military, civil service or other education and training sites.
In this program, you will develop instructional and managerial competencies through various courses in curriculum design and delivery, instructional improvement, human performance technology, class organization, management, teaching/learning styles, diversity and program evaluation. You will also have the opportunity to apply the principles you learn.
Course schedules are flexible to accommodate the needs of working professionals, and some courses are offered online. This option allows you to complete courses from home and study whenever and wherever it is convenient for you. Some hybrid courses meet three times in a semester and the remainder of the work is online.
Statement of Purpose (STPR)
Statement of Purpose (STPR) is part of the application process. The STPR is one to two double spaced pages in a point paper or a detailed essay. Candidates should specifically include what they would expect to achieve by earning a Master’s degree through the Department of Occupational, Workforce, and Leadership Studies. Candidates describe their intended use of the Master’s Degree as it pertains to current and future professional goals. The STPR is a personal introspective statement that is written in terms of learning outcomes. Some students may research courses in the Graduate Catalog and describe which colleges and departments would meet their educational goals.
The Statement of Purpose will aid Advisors in guiding students to select courses that will help them to achieve their learning objectives.
MEd (Management of Technical Education)
The Department of O.W.L.S. offers the Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree for those who desire to learn skills that would enhance his or her performance in managing technical education in either an education or industrial setting. There are two tracks available for students in this program beginning summer 2012. Track 1 combines 21 hours of Career and Technical Education with 15 hours from EDCL (Educational Leadership) or ADED (Adult Education).