Shopping for Texas Alt Certification Program. Help Wanted.

Hello all. Well, it looks like I'll be graduating from UTEP in May with my Bachelor's of Multidisciplinary Studies with concentrations in Science, Composite Science, and Humanities. I will enter an alternative teacher certification program in the summer of '11, gain employment with a district, and become the rockinest teacher of all time. That's the plan anyways. Meanwhile, I have to choose an alt cert program. Here's where y'all come in. If anyone has any experience with Texas certification programs, I would really appreciate your input.

Relevant info: My GPA will be somewhere in the low to mid 3's. I don't want to take the GRE unless I absolutely have to (studying for too many other tests as it is). My desired field is secondary composite science (both because of interest and marketability). As a backup, I will also sit for my generalist K-8 certifications (just in case the composite science test kicks my you know what). I live, and will pursue work, in central Texas (Callahan/Taylor/Jones/Eastland counties). The program must be 100% DL. I would prefer a state university, because I have been told that in some cases the state/district will assist with tuition if they are dealing with a state university (unless someone can debunk this myth).

My preference would be an alt cert program that also earns Master's credit and can be rolled into a Master's program with relative ease. Knowing that most post-grad programs don't accept transfer work, the strength of the university's post-grad education programs does come into the decision.
Cost is absolutely a factor.

As I will be graduating from UTEP, I am researching their program. It does seem that it would be advantageous to utilize their transition program. However, I have grown very tired of their administrative staff. Also, because they are in El Paso and I am in central TX, it seems that if I could find a university that is a little closer to home, this may give me a leg up on job placement assistance, university/school district integration and communication, etc... I know that ed is not as rock solid a career field as it once was, and so these things do occur to me.

Anyway, that's about it in a nutshell. If anyone has had any great/terrible experiences with any alt cert programs in TX, or has heard any praise/complaints, I would love to hear about them.

Thanks!