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"An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest" -- Ben Franklin

Guest Feature by Jamie Krause, M. Ed., LPC, Student Development Specialist
Texas State University-RRHEC

The Round Rock Higher Education Center (RRHEC) is a multi-institution teaching center comprised of Texas State University and Austin Community College. The partnership between these schools offers students a seamless transition from lower division coursework completed at Austin Community College and upper division coursework taken through Texas State University. Selected degree programs are housed at the RRHEC, including 9 bachelor’s degrees and 11 master’s degrees. The Round Rock Higher Education Center is growing rapidly and includes the opening of our Nursing program in Fall 2010.

All bachelor’s and master’s degree programs are also geared towards working adults. Typically, classes are offered once or twice per week, in the afternoon and evening. Students can maintain full-time jobs while achieving their higher education objectives. One program, in particular, appeals to individuals with rich work and life experience. The Occupational Education program offers an individualized, interdisciplinary approach to the Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science degree. Students may earn up to 24 hours of college credit for their work/life experience, as well as 30 credit hours for non-collegiate-sponsored training. In the Occupational Education program, students can build a portfolio based on their past experience and utilize that information to chart a direction for their future. Throughout the duration of the program, students will select courses from a variety of departments, focusing their studies to meet their individualized goals.

We also offer two master’s degrees in the Occupational Education program: a Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies (MSIS) and a Management of Technical Education (MEd). According to the MSIS webpage, “The Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies is a multi-disciplinary program. The MSIS program is designed to provide skill development in the engineering and enhancement of human performance in business, industry, and governmental organizations. More specifically, human performance technology develops skills in the following areas surrounding Human Performance Technology: Training Skills, Communication Skills, Leadership Skills, Quantitative Skills, Re-engineering Skills, Performance Management and Teamwork Skills. The program is designed for mature students interested in managing an environment of moving targets and discovering new roles of leadership. It is performance-based and individually tailored to meet the educational needs of graduate students.” To learn more, please visit: http://www.oced.txstate.edu/degrees-programs/graduate/MSIS.html.

The Management of Technical Education (MEd) program is described as “a professional degree which is designed to prepare an individual to supervise in an education and training setting, either in junior college, business, military, civil service, or other education and training sites. It provides broad skills necessary for an educator to assist him or her in becoming a better instructor and manager. Instructional and managerial competencies are developed through various courses in curriculum design and delivery, instructional improvement, human performance technology, class organization, and management, teaching/learning styles, diversity, and program evaluation. Application of all principles is stressed throughout the program. To learn more about this program, please visit: http://www.oced.txstate.edu/degrees-programs/graduate/MEd-.html.

For general information about the Round Rock Higher Education Center, please visit our webpage at: http://www.rrhec.txstate.edu/. You may also visit the One Stop Center to meet with student service specialists to discuss your higher education goals. We are located at 1555 University Blvd. in Round Rock, exit 256 off of IH-35. You may also call us for more information at: (512) 716-4000.