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Overview

An en-route master's degree is a master’s degree earned by doctoral (Ph.D.) students during their doctoral program. All EDP doctoral students who enter without a master’s degree in the field are required to complete an en-route master’s.

EDP students may pursue an en-route master’s in their current program area or a different specialization. For en-route master's in the same specialization as the doctoral degree, most course requirements will already be met through the Ph.D. coursework. If the en-route degree is in a different specialization, additional coursework or requirements may be needed.

Getting Started

A formal application is not required for current EDP doctoral students to begin an en-route master’s in their own specialization. However, if you plan to pursue one in a different specialization, an application and approval from the Area Chair may be required.

Once you and your adviser have decided on an en-route degree, notify the EDP Graduate Coordinator, an official Degree Plan and paperwork will need to be started.

Available En-Route Master's Degrees

The following en-route master’s options are available to current doctoral students in the EDP Department:

This en-route master's is only available for EDP Counseling Psychology doctoral students, and requires approval from the Counseling Psychology Area Chair. This en-route degree is not a license-eligible master's, and is not available as a terminal master's degree. See the Degree Plans page for degree requirements.

The en-route master’s in HDCLS is intended for doctoral students in the EDP Department, and requires approval from the HDCLS Area Chair. The Degree Plan for the en-route HDCLS degree is the same as the terminal HDCLS Master's degree,

The en-route master's in Quantitative Methods is available for current doctoral students at UT Austin. An application is required for all students interested in this degree, with the exception of current EDP-Quantitative Methods doctoral students. More information and application >

Th en-route degree in School Psychology is only available to EDP School/Clinical Child Psychology (SCCP) doctoral students, and requires approval from the SCCP Area Chair. This en-route MA can, with appropriate practica, lead to licensure as a Psychological Associate in the State of Texas.

Required Courses	Hours
Core Courses: 3 in Methods core area 3 in Dev/Learning core area (including Psychology of Learning, which is required by all licensing boards)	18
3 Program Area Courses: Individual Testing Academic Assessment & Intervention Law, Ethics, & History of School Psychology	10
1 Special Populations Course: Child Psychopathology	3
Direct Interventions (1 of the following): Neurological Assessment & Intervention OR Cognitive Behavioral Assessment & Intervention	3
Indirect Interventions (1 of the following): Family Systems Interventions: Children & Adolescents Consultation, Collaboration, & Supervision	3
2 semesters of Practicum: Level 1 and Level 2	6
1 out-of-department course and 1 out-of-area course (or 2 out-of-department courses)	6
EDP 398R Master’s Report	3
Total	52

S.S.P. Specialization: School Psychology

This en-route master’s is only available to EDP School/Clinical Child Psychology doctoral students, and requires approval from the SCCP Area Chair. If paired with a school-based internship, it is designed to prepare students for licensure as a Specialist in School Psychology in the state of Texas. Note that students who earn a PhD in School Psychology at UT are also eligible for LSSP licensure. This en-route MA overlaps with, but is different from, the MA in School Psychology option listed above.

Master's Report / Thesis / Portfolio

Some en-route master’s degrees require a Master’s Report, Thesis, or Portfolio. For these, students may have already completed the majority of the Master's Report/Thesis/Portfolio requirements as part of their required preparation for the Qualifying Process. Some advisers will permit students to reformat their Qualifying Process document so that it meets the requirements of the Master's Report/Thesis/Portfolio. Other advisers may require the addition of a section that includes the application of the topic to the master’s degree.

Completing the Degree

Before or at the start of the semester in which you will be finishing the master’s:

Notify the Graduate Coordinator: email EDP@austin.utexas.edu so paperwork can begin. They will send you a Change of Major form for signature.
- Change of Major Form: you will be temporarily switched from your Ph.D. major code into the relevant Master’s major code. This allows the Graduate School to officially award the degree. After the degree is awarded, you will be switched back to your Ph.D. major code.
Apply to Graduate: After the Change of Major is processed, apply to graduate via the Graduate School website. We recommend doing this at the start of the semester in which you plan to finish the degree.
Diploma Mailing Info: Before the semester ends, confirm your diploma mailing address via Diploma Services.
Commencement : Once your degree is approved, you’ll be invited to participate in the College of Education’s May master’s commencement ceremony (invitations are usually sent in March/April).

En-Route Master’s Checklist

Meet with your adviser and decide upon an en-route degree

Notify the EDP Graduate Coordinator to begin your Degree Plan paperwork and any approvals needed

Confirm your master’s graduation semester and notify the EDP Graduate Coordinator

At the start of your master’s graduation semester, apply online to graduate

Confirm diploma mailing info

Educational Psychology