The program for a Master’s Degree in Technical Education aims to prepare professionals in Technical Education and Vocational Training who use research to solve problems, allowing them to appreciate the importance of learning based on their professional and cultural training.
The program is aimed at professionals from different disciplines whose organizational responsibilities require them to be able to plan, design, manage, monitor and evaluate situations in various technical areas that require the incorporation of educational management, technical education and professional training and research.
Format: Quarterly.
Fifteen courses must be taken, one at a time, with each course lasting for 12 weeks. One-third of the courses are taught virtually.
Schedule
- Fridays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. (virtual, using the platform).
- Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (classroom sessions).
Among other tasks, students in the Master's degree program will carry out research work that promotes their development as researchers and promotes the updating of their knowledge.
Deadline for receiving admission applications: November 30.
Perfil profesional
Graduates from the Master’s Degree in Technical Education can opt for the positions determined by the Civil Service (MEP), such as:
- Education Advisor 1 or 2.
- Assistant Director of Educational Control 1 or 2.
- Director of a Technical and Professional College 1, 2 or 3.
- Director of a Technical and Professional Institute.
- Deputy Director of Education.
- Assistant Director of a high school.
In the National Institute of Learning (INA) graduates are qualified for the positions of Director of Training and Development, heads of Core Technological areas, and trainers of workers.
Similarly, graduates’ professionals can work in the private sector in positions including directors of programs for training, education and development of human resources, education or training for work, consultants, researchers, trainers and promoters.
Invesment
Cost per credit: ¢40,000 per course credit for each course. Most courses in the Master's Degree Program are 4 credits, therefore the cost of each 4-credit course was approximately ¢160,000 during 2018.
For 2018, the following are the costs:
- Student enrollment: ¢46,600 per year.
- Student welfare: ¢3,330 per year
- Student ID card: ¢6.105
- Health insurance: ¢4,900
Students must pay 100% of the cost of each course at the time of enrollment. To do this, they must deposit the cost of the course in the bank account specified below and submit the receipt for that deposit to the corresponding site. If during the first three weeks of the course you have not paid the required fees, there will be a 25% penalty payment; and if at the end of the course you have not paid the penalty, it will increase to 50% of the value of the course.
Students can make their transfers to the following bank account:
- Banco Nacional of Costa Rica: 100-01-075-3959-4
Differentiator elements
The program for a Master's Degree in Technical Education offered by the TEC is unique in the country and in the Central American and the Caribbean region, since it is aimed at the training and technical training centers for workers, which seek to train leaders who make a difference in these educational centers, beginning with high-quality organizational management, supported by new trends in technology and curricular design.
It offers tools for the management of high-quality educational centers, and innovative approaches to educating adult students presented in the Adult Education course.
The faculty members of the master's degree program work directly in technical education in the country, are familiar with the daily needs of the sector, and know the requirements for creating high-quality technical education centers.
Benefits for the country
The program benefits technical education in the country, providing ideal human resources for the creation and management of high-quality educational centers which in turn provide better education for Costa Rican youth.
Criterios de selección
The master's degree program reserves the right to evaluate those applicants who come from other education centers, whether national or foreign, to ensure that those selected have an adequate level of prior academic training.
Important selection criteria include the following:
- Academic transcript of studies for bachelor's or licentiate’s degrees.
- Years of professional experience.
- Position held in the institution.
- Knowledge of the English language. This is important because educators may use books or technical notes in that language.