[1] Objectives
The Master of Science in Instructional Technology (ITEC) is designed to provide candidates with the knowledge and skills needed to become technology leaders and practitioners within their professional arenas (e.g., education, business, government, non-profit organizations). By its design, the program offers a broad view of the field of instructional technology (e.g., history, theory, technology, management) yet is flexible enough to allow candidates to select an area of concentration reflective of their vocational interests. These areas of concentration, which provide specialized training in three technologically distinctive fields, are (a) distance education, (b) media design and development, and (c) technical support of instructional technologies. Developing skills for leadership in and administration of these technological fields is the overarching goal of the ITEC program.
The ITEC program is designed around an overarching goal of assisting individuals in acquiring the skills for leadership in and administration of instructional technology. More specifically, graduates will possess skills and knowledge needed to effectively
- provide professional expertise in the area of instructional technology,
- administer vocationally-related technology programs,
- integrate principles of various technologies for achieving organizational goals,
- incorporate technology design principles to meet diverse organizational/population needs,
- collaborate in problem-solving endeavors.
[2] Admission Requirements
Admission to the University of Central Arkansas’ Graduate School will be a prerequisite for enrolling in courses. For full admission, candidates must have an undergraduate degree with a 2.7 GPA, and test scores (GRE or Praxis I) OR verification of a valid standard educator license. Conditional admission may be granted for one semester. Conditionally admitted students do not qualify for financial aid.
To be accepted into the degree program in instructional technology, an individual must:
- Meet the general admission requirements of the university;
- Provide the department with copies of transcripts of all previous academic work;
- Provide Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test scores to the Graduate School or Praxis I or verification of a valid standard educator license to the department.
Enrollment in regular courses, workshops, or special programs does not imply automatic admission to the degree program. No action will be taken relative to admission until all materials/information are received. Admission materials/information should be received by the department prior to registration for the second term of course work.
Submission of an application and its approval constitutes an agreement by the individual to accept any field/practicum assignments in locations where the objectives of practicum experiences can be met. Failure to accept practicum assignments relieves the department and the university of responsibility relating to an individual’s practicum experience or program of study.
A maximum of six semester hours of graduate degree credit with grades of “B” or above may be transferred from another UCA graduate program or another regionally accredited institution. Candidates must specifically request consideration of transfer work completed prior to admission to the program. After admission to the program, approval to transfer work from another institution must be approved prior to enrolling in the courses. No internship hours may be transferred.
[3] Research and Culminating Experience Policies
As a culminating experience in the graduate preparatory program, candidates must satisfactorily complete a program professional paper/project and successfully defend the paper/project (formal presentation). The program professional paper/project must demonstrate the candidate’s ability to meet competencies as outlined by the program goals, the Association of Educational Communication and Technology (AECT). The program professional paper/project must reflect the candidate’s ability to assimilate competencies demonstrating growth and the ability to collect, evaluate, and analyze data and information.
[4] Program Requirements
The Instructional Technology degree is comprised of 36 semester hours of graduate credit. The program consists of an 18 hour core (six 3-hour courses), 12 hours (four 3-hour courses) of advanced study in a selected area of concentration (i.e., distance education, media design and development, or technical support of instructional technologies), and 6 hours (two 3-hour courses) of electives allowing for further individualization of the candidate’s program. ITEC candidates will complete either the Apprenticeship in Instructional Technologies course or the Seminar: Trends/Issues in Instructional Technologies course as the capstone practicum experience. In order to exit the program, the candidate will be required to successfully complete all coursework and create a professional product (e.g., a research study, a professional portfolio, an organizational specific technology plan) illustrating his or her technology skills in leadership and administration and reflecting the candidate’s philosophy.
[4.1] Core Curriculum (18 Hours)
ITEC 6350 Instructional Design
ITEC 6360 Intellectual Property and Copyright
ITEC 6368 Technology Planning and Leadership
LEAD 6321 Research Methods
Choose one of the following leadership courses:
CSPA 6311 Leadership and Decision-Making
SLMA 6310 Foundations of School Leadership
SLMA 6312 School-Based Organization Leadership
Choose one of the following (to be completed the last semester):
ITEC 6391 Apprenticeship in Instructional Technologies
ITEC 6392 Seminar: Trends/Issues in Instructional Technologies
[4.2] Areas of Concentration
The candidate selects one of the following areas.
[4.2.1] Distance Education (12 Hours)
Choose four of the following:
ITEC 6305 Foundations of Distance Education
ITEC 6315 Dist Ed Course Design, Delivery, Implementation, and Evaluation
ITEC 6325 Distance Education Technology
ITEC 6370 Leadership in Distance Education
ITEC 6330 Web-based Teaching and Learning
[4.2.2] Media Design and Development (12 Hours)
Choose four of the following:
ITEC 6340 Design and Production of Media I
ITEC 6341 Design and Production of Media II
ITEC 6354 Multimedia
ITEC 6337 Computer Graphics and Animation
ITEC 6351 Instructional Product Development
[4.2.3] Technical Support in Instructional Technologies (12 Hours)
Choose four of the following:
ITEC 6357 Diagnostic Tech for Computer Maintenance and Repair
ITEC 6318 Microcomputer Networking
ITEC 6365 Networking Technologies
ITEC 6310 Special Projects
ITEC 6355 Instructional Software Design and Programming
[4.3] Electives (6 Hours)
Choose two of the following:
CSPA 6311 Leadership and Decision-Making
SLMA 6310 Foundations of School Leadership
SLMA 6312 School-Based Organization Leadership
ITEC 5345 Fundamentals of Web Design
LIBM 6335 Computer Application Software
LIBM 6375 Global Information Resources
ASTL 6303 Teacher Leadership (Spring Only)
ASTL 6310 Integrating Media and Technology into Teaching and Learning
[4.4] Retention Requirements
To be recommended for a degree, candidates must meet the following requirements:
- Complete all required course work with at least a 3.00 GPA with with a maximum of six hours of “C” grades:
- Complete satisfactorily all student assessments required as part of the state and AECT accreditation process;
- Complete satisfactorily the program required professional paper/project.
[4.5] Continuous Enrollment Requirement
College of Education graduate students are expected to maintain continuous enrollment throughout their program of study until achieving program completion. Specifically, College of Education graduate students are expected to be enrolled in at least two of the three semesters in a given calendar year (Spring, Summer I or II, and Fall). If a student must take a time-out, the student is expected to notify his/her home department. If a student fails to register for more than one semester out of three in a given calendar year, he/she may be ineligible for readmission unless granted by the home department.
[5] Graduate Certificates
[5.1] Instructional Technology – Distance Education
[5.1.1] Core Curriculum (3 hours)
ITEC 6375 Global Information Resources
Note: Courses may be substituted with consent of program coordinators.
[5.1.2] Distance Education (12 hours)
Choose four of the following:
ITEC 6305 Foundations of Distance Education
ITEC 6315 Distance Education Course Design, Delivery, Implementation, and Evaluation
ITEC 6325 Distance Education Technology
ITEC 6370 Leadership in Distance Education
ITEC 6330 Web-based Teaching and Learning
[5.2] Instructional Technology – Media Design and Development
[5.2.1] Core Curriculum (3 Hours)
ITEC 6335 Computer Application Software
Note: Courses may be substituted with consent of program coordinators.
[5.2.2] Media Design and Development (12 Hours)
Choose four of the following:
ITEC/LIBM 6340 Design and Production of Media I
ITEC/LIBM 6341 Design and Production of Media II
ITEC 6354 Multimedia
ITEC 6337 Computer Graphics and Animation
ITEC 5345 Fundamentals of Web Design
[5.3] Instructional Technology – Technical Support
[5.3.1] Core Curriculum (3 Hours)
ITEC 6375 Global Information Resources
Note: Courses may be substituted with consent of program coordinators.
[5.3.2] Technical Support (12 Hours)
Choose four of the following:
ITEC 6357 Diagnostic Techniques for Computer Maintenance and Repair
ITEC 6318 Microcomputer Networking
ITEC 6365 Networking Technologies
ITEC 6310 Special Projects
ITEC/LIBM 6355 Instructional Software Design and Programming
[6] Graduate Course Links
[6.1] Courses in Instructional Technology (ITEC)
Follow this link for ITEC course descriptions: course link.
[6.2] Courses in Library Media and Information Technologies (LIBM)
Follow this link for courses descriptions in LIBM: course link.
[6.3] Courses in College Student Personnel Services and Administration (CSPA)
Follow this link for courses descriptions in CSPA: course link.