Instructional Technology

[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

1. provide professional expertise in the area of instructional technology,
2. administer vocationally-related technology programs,
3. integrate principles of various technologies for achieving organizational goals,
4. incorporate technology design principles to meet diverse organizational/population needs,
5. 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:

1. Meet the general admission requirements of the university;
2. Provide the department with copies of transcripts of all previous academic work;
3. 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)

Choose one of the following leadership courses:

Choose one of the following (to be completed the last semester):

[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:

[4.2.2] Media Design and Development (12 Hours)

Choose four of the following:

[4.2.3] Technical Support in Instructional Technologies (12 Hours)

Choose four of the following:

[4.3] Electives (6 Hours)

Choose two of the following:

[4.4] Retention Requirements

To be recommended for a degree, candidates must meet the following requirements:

1. Complete all required course work with at least a 3.00 GPA with a maximum of six hours of “C” grades;
2. Complete satisfactorily all student assessments required as part of the state and AECT accreditation process;
3. 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)

Courses may be substituted with consent of the program coordinator.

[5.1.2] Distance Education (12 hours)

Choose four of the following:

[5.2] Instructional Technology – Media Design and Development

[5.2.1] Core Curriculum (3 Hours)

Courses may be substituted with consent of the program coordinator.

[5.2.2] Media Design and Development (12 Hours)

Choose four of the following:

[5.3] Instructional Technology – Technical Support

[5.3.1] Core Curriculum (3 Hours)

Courses may be substituted with consent of the program coordinator.

[5.3.2] Technical Support (12 Hours)

Choose four of the following:

[6] Graduate Course Links

[6.1] Courses in Instructional Technology (ITEC)

Follow this link for ITEC course descriptions: course link.

[6.2] Courses in Other Areas (ASTL, CSPA, LEAD, LIBM, SLMA)

Follow this link for ASTL course descriptions: course link.

Follow this link for CSPA course descriptions: course link.

Follow this link for LEAD course descriptions: course link.

Follow this link for LIBM course descriptions: course link.

Follow this link for SLMA course descriptions: course link.