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Elementary Education K-6 Undergraduate Program

Program Coordinator: Stefanie Sorbet
Phone:  (501) 450-5476

Advisors:
Ms. DeeDee Cain
Dr. Shoudong Feng

Elementary Education Professional Preparation

Beginning fall 2014, the department offers the Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) degree with a major in Elementary Education K-6. The performance based undergraduate program in elementary education is designed to prepare candidates for positions as teachers in grades K-6. Upon completion of the program, candidates are expected to: (a) understand and apply knowledge related to the social, historical, and philosophical foundations of elementary education; (b) possess knowledge and skills to effectively teach all content areas including literacy/reading, mathematics, science, and social studies; (c) know the way children learn and develop; (d) use knowledge of how children learn and develop to design and implement age appropriate instruction; (e) understand language acquisition, cultural influences on learning, emotional and social development, exceptionalities, diverse student populations, inclusion and equity in classrooms and schools; (f) integrate technology into instruction and learning; (g) use research and developmentally appropriate practices in their teaching; and (h) know the roles and responsibilities of the profession of teaching.

The degree requires the successful completion of 123 hours including: (1) UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements (see the UCA Core requirements) and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using designated Early Childhood and Special Education courses.  HIST 2301 or 2302, MATH 1390, PHYS 1400 and PSCI 1330 should be selected within the lower-division core because these courses fulfill both UCA Core requirements and program requirements; (2) professional education courses; (3) academic content courses; (4) and related requirements. The elementary education major must also complete early field experiences, as well as field requirements in Junior Block and Internship I Block. Candidates who successfully complete this program, the state required licensure exams (PRAXIS II) and background checks will be eligible to seek an initial AR teacher’s license in K-6 Elementary Education.  For additional information on the K-6 program of study and program requirements refer to the K-6 Elementary Education Checklist link below.

Following admission into teacher education, candidates in the K-6 Elementary Education program are assigned academic advisors in the Department of Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education based UCA ID numbers. For information on advisor ID assignments see the link below.

While we welcome any out of state candidates, completion of any program, other than an initial licensure program, may not lead to licensure or endorsement in Arkansas or in the state in which you reside. It is your responsibility to check with your state’s department of education to determine if the license or endorsement requirements are met through the program of study. If you are a potential out of state candidate, please contact the program coordinator directly.

Beginning Spring 2015, Candidates in the K-6 Elementary Education Program are required to join ELSE Teachers of Tomorrow, a UCA professional student organization for undergraduate majors in Elementary or Special Education. For more information, please click here.

Act 1063 of 2017, the Right to Read Act, states: “Beginning no later than the 2022-2023 school year, each state-approved educator preparation program shall post on its website information describing its program to prepare teachers to teach reading using scientific reading instruction aligned with but not limited to the content measured by the stand-alone reading assessment adopted by the State Board of Education under § 6-17-402.”

Candidates enrolled in Elementary Education K-6 programs must complete coursework and pass the Foundations of Reading test to be considered proficient in scientific reading instruction to obtain a license. The Undergraduate Elementary K-6 program at the University of Central Arkansas is proud to be an approved awareness pathway in knowledge and practice of the Science of Reading.

In 2019, the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education approved UCA’s College of Education pathways to meet this requirement. The pathways are aligned to the appropriate Foundations of Reading Competencies – Proficiency Level  or Foundations of Reading Competencies – Awareness Level. DESE – Approved Course/Modules lists approved courses/modules for all approved licensure programs in Arkansas.

Candidates enrolled in all other licensure area programs must complete the coursework to be considered awareness level in scientific reading instruction to obtain a license.

Information for K-6 Elementary Education Students

Scholarship/Grants:

Federal TEACH Grant
 Up to $4,000 per year

State Teacher Education Program (STEP)
Loan repayment up to $3,000 per year

Teacher Opportunity Program (TOP)
Tuition reimbursement up to $3,000 per year