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MASTER’S OF EDUCATION DEGREE (M.ED.) IN EDUCATIONAL DIAGNOSTICIAN (36 credits) AND GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN EDUCATIONAL DIAGNOSTICIAN (15 credits)

This program is intended for graduate students who possess a Texas Provisional Teaching Certificate and are interested in working with the Special Education system in the public schools. 

The applicant must have two (2) years of teaching experience in an accredited public, private, or parochial school approved by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) prior to  to this program. Students who participate in internships with school districts requiring background checks must successfully pass the background check to complete this requirement. Additionally, a background check is required to be certified as an educational diagnostician in the state of Texas.

Applicants are screened based on the quality of their application and the candidate’s potential for success in the program via the assessment of the educational diagnostician program admissions committee. 

The applicant should confer with the Graduate Advisor (Dr. Beverley Argus-Calvo, bcalvo@utep.edu) to determine additional requirements for State Board of Educator Certification as a Professional Educational Diagnostician (TExES examination and 160 internship hours).

*Applicants for the Graduate Certificate in Educational Diagnostician must already posses a master's degree in a related field.

Applicants seeking admission for the Educational Diagnostician program must submit the following directly to the Graduate School:

Admission Requirements

1. UTEP Graduate Application
2. Curriculum Vitae/Resume
3. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, both undergraduate and graduate, that reflect an overall GPA or last 60-SCH GPA of at least 3.00. Additional courses may be required after transcripts are evaluated.
4. Two Letters of Professional reference. One must be from your current principal or recent (last 3 years).  The second one can be from another school/district administrator, related service (e.g., OT, PT, school counselor), or professional colleague.
5. Statement of Purpose (see guidelines)
6. Interview with EPSS program faculty (may be in person or virtual)
7. Copy of applicant's valid Teaching Certificate (can be from any state)
8. Teacher Service Record with at least 2 years of creditable service as a teacher of record at the time of admission.
   • (Public Schools)
   • (Private Schools) 
9. Upon acceptance to the Educational Diagnostician Preparation program, pay the $35  (paid to the TEA as required by TAC 229.9.7)

Application –Decision Timelines

M.Ed. in Educational Diagnostician

Graduate Certificate in Educational Diagnostician

Allowable Transfer of Graduate Credits

In compliance with SACS and in accordance with the policies of UT El Paso Graduate School, transfer of graduate credit from a regionally accredited institution is limited to 9 hours for the master’s degree. All transfer credit must have been completed with a grade of “B” or better, completed within the last six years, and approved by the degree-granting institution. Transfer credits should be evaluated and approved during the first semester. The course being transferred into a degree program should be a direct equivalent to the course within the certification/degree program. Students should work with their advisor to have courses evaluated for transfer.

Prior Military Experience (/student-affairs/mssc/)

Prior Work Experience/Training

Previous work experience and related professional development is not accepted for the Educational Diagnostician program.

Financial Aid (/student-affairs/financialaid/)

Tuition and Fees (/extendeduniversity/utepconnect/tuition-and-fees/index.html)

Probation, Suspension or Dismissal

The Graduate School Catalog specifies the circumstances under which candidates may be placed on probation, suspension, or dismissal. Additionally, the Educational Diagnostician Program Faculty may recommend to probate, suspend or dismiss from the program candidates who do not meet the program’s academic requirements, do not make satisfactory progress over time toward completion of the educational diagnostician degree or who display inappropriate behaviors.

Program Completion Requirements

Final Requirements: Students must pass the UTEP qualifying exam for educational diagnostician prior to enrolling in EDPC 5375-Internship. Students will present an oral presentation of their student portfolio to the faculty, and achieve a passing score on the TExES for certification of Educational Diagnostician prior to graduation.

Certification: TExES exam Educational Diagnostician- Standards

M.Ed. Courses

EDPC 5310: Applied Research Design for Educators

Course focuses on the use of qualitative research methods in educational setting which serve diverse and/or special populations. Research design will include descriptive statistics, single-subject and qualitative research methods.

SPED 5320: Special Education-Historical and Legal Basis

Emphasis on litigation, legislation, and laws pertaining definitions of exceptional children including learning and behavior disorders, physical, mental, and sensory handicaps and the exceptionally gifted and talented student.

EDPC 5334: Classroom Based Appraisal

Theory and use of norm and criterion referenced instruments in the classroom, including curriculum based, performance, and informal assessments. Emphasis will be placed on response to intervention and working with culturally and linguistically diverse students.

SPED 5330: Early Interventions for Young Children and Families

Focuses on recommended intervention strategies for children from birth to eight years of age who have disabilities or who are at risk of having developmental delays; emphasizes typical and atypical development, family involvement, assessment, and natural setting interventions.

EDPC 5336: Advanced Educational Appraisal

This course will provide students with experience in analysis, evaluation, administration, and interpretation of standardized achievement, diagnostic, and adaptive behavior measures. Interpretation and evaluation of results through written educational reports is required. (Only offered in the fall semester)

SPED 5337: Assessment: Disability

Course content will focus on language acquisition, assessment of cultural variance in educational settings, selection of appropriate norm referenced assessment tools, administration and analysis of selected tests as it applies to students with, or suspected to have, a disability.

EDPC 5344: Use and Interpretation of Cognitive Measures

Students will be instructed in techniques and procedures associated with standardized administration of several verbal and non-verbal cognitive assessments. A special emphasis is placed on the interpretations of results and connecting these to school-level programming decisions. (Only offered in the spring semester and requires successful completion of EDPC 5336 with a B or better)

SPED 5345: Interventions for Students with High Incidence Disabilities

Focuses on the role of the special educator in providing services to students with high incidence disabilities. Incorporates strategies in team building, collaborative planning, and implementation as well as instruction in curricular and instructional modifications.

SPED 5347: Working with Parents of Learners with Special Needs

Relevant approaches and techniques for professionals to work with parents of learners with special needs; includes strategies for developing knowledge and skills associated with facilitating child growth by cooperative home-school planning.

EDPC 5348: Application of Assessment for the Delivery of Instruction for “At-Risk Students.”

This is a pre-internship course that includes the supervised practice of testing procedures, full-written evaluations, and side-by-side comparisons of federal and state regulations for identifying and serving at-risk students in special education. (Only offered in the summer semester and requires successful completion of EDPC 5344 with a B or better)

SPED 5371: Teaching Students with Low Incidence Disabilities

Characteristics of students with severe disabilities, including assessment, program development, teaching methodology, and design of learning environments; focuses on inclusionary/mainstreaming educational and community settings.

EDPC 5375: Internship in Educational Diagnostician

This course includes supervised experience working in public schools alongside certified diagnosticians. Students will gain experience in completing comprehensive assessments, preparing written reports of assessments and other required paperwork, attending ARD meetings, and presenting tests data to educators and families. Periodic meetings with Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é faculty are required to establish goals and monitor progress. (Only offered in the fall semester and requires successful completion of EDPC 5348 with a B or better)

Graduate Certificate and M.Ed. Courses

EDPC 5336: Advanced Educational Appraisal

This course will provide students with experience in analysis, evaluation, administration, and interpretation of standardized achievement, diagnostic, and adaptive behavior measures. Interpretation and evaluation of results through written educational reports is required. (Only offered in the fall semester)

SPED 5337: Assessment: Disability

Course content will focus on language acquisition, assessment of cultural variance in educational settings, selection of appropriate norm referenced assessment tools, administration and analysis of selected tests as it applies to students with, or suspected to have, a disability.

EDPC 5344: Use and Interpretation of Cognitive Measures

Students will be instructed in techniques and procedures associated with standardized administration of several verbal and non-verbal cognitive assessments. A special emphasis is placed on the interpretations of results and connecting these to school-level programming decisions. (Only offered in the spring semester and requires successful completion of EDPC 5336 with a B or better)

EDPC 5348: Application of Assessment for the Delivery of Instruction for “At-Risk Students.”

This is a pre-internship course that includes the supervised practice of testing procedures, full-written evaluations, and side-by-side comparisons of federal and state regulations for identifying and serving at-risk students in special education. (Only offered in the summer semester and requires successful completion of EDPC 5344 with a B or better)

EDPC 5375: Internship in Educational Diagnostician

This course includes supervised experience working in public schools alongside certified diagnosticians. Students will gain experience in completing comprehensive assessments, preparing written reports of assessments and other required paperwork, attending ARD meetings, and presenting tests data to educators and families. Periodic meetings with Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é faculty are required to establish goals and monitor progress. (Only offered in the fall semester and requires successful completion of EDPC 5348 with a B or better)