MARC, MARC-2, and WSRTP students are expected to take the next steps in their educational path either immediately or within a year or so of graduation. Generally, those who fully participate in the programs for two or more years have sufficient training/background that they can enter doctoral programs directly.
Below is a list of Partner and "Friend" PhD programs with which the UTSA program has worked closely in the past, as well as several combined government/institutional and private/institutional PhD programs and individual university PhD programs. Additionally, there is the option of internships. Guides to various ratings of these programs are also provided, although nothing is better than your research mentor's input and visits to the campuses.
Those who are unable to immediately pursue doctoral education have several pathways. The most well known is to pursue a master's, but you will usually need to take out loans or work many hours being a teaching assistant. Below are listed several "Bridge" Masters-to-PhD programs that provide funding, student training, pre-PhD training, and academic support.
Students who merely need some additional years of research experience should consider training in a postbacc program which also provides financial and training support, but this is generally limited to one year and does not result in a master's degree. Included is a list of postbacc and bridge MS programs that former program students have attended and commented about.