This department was formerly named Early Childhood and Special Education.

Chair and Associate Professor: K. Atkins (EdD), 450-5441
Professor: M. Cooper (PhD)
Associate Professors: R. Crow (EdD), S. Feng (EdD), J. Filer (PhD), P. Kohler-Evans (PhD)
Assistant Professors: C. Barnes (EdD), M. Pearson (PhD)
Senior Clinical Instructor: D. Barnes (MSE)
Clinical Instructor II: D. Barrington (MSE), L. Herrington (MSE)
Clinical Instructor I: D. Cain (MSE), J. Dallas (MSE), A. Greenland (MSE),  L. Howard (MEd)
Child Study Center Instructors: J. Patterson (MAE), B. Payne (MSE), R. Rowell (BS), D. Storment (BS)

[1] Departmental Purposes

The primary purposes of the department are to (a) prepare novice teachers with entry-level skills that will allow them to develop into competent professionals, (b) prepare experienced professionals with the knowledge and skills that will allow them to assume leadership roles in schools and other agencies and organizations whose principal functions relate to P-12 schooling, (c) provide service to agencies and organizations that interface with P-12 schools and the preparation of teachers and other educators, and (d) advance the knowledge and practice of teaching and schooling through scholarly and creative activities.

All programs are accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.

[2] The Honors Program

To earn an honors degree, the following conditions must be met:

• Consent of the chair of the department
• 3.00 grade point average on all work attempted
• Successful completion of ECSE 2303

[3] Baccalaureate Degree: Bachelor of Science in Education

The department offers the Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) degree with a major in Elementary Education K-6 and the Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) degree with a major in Special Education K-12. A general description and course requirements of the Elementary Education K-6 major are outlined in section 3.1 while section 3.2 provides the same information on the Special Education K-12 major.

[3.1] Major in Elementary Education K-6 (123 hours + Educational Technology Prerequisite)

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.

Follow this link for Admission to Teacher Education/Retention/Licensure information.

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.

 

Professional education (65 semester hours):

ECSE 3300 Foundations for Elementary and Special Educators
ECSE 3301 Development and Learning Theories
ECSE 3305 Integrated Approaches to Child and Young Adult Literature
ECSE 3309 Development and Characteristics of Diverse Learners [ UCA Core: D ]
ECSE 3320 Foundations of Inclusive Education
ECSE 4304 Methods for Teaching Elementary Social Studies
ECSE 4305 Literacy Assessment and Intervention
ECSE 4307 Instructional Programming for Young Diverse Learners [ UCA Core: R ]
ECSE 4309 Positive Classroom Environment [ UCA Core: C ]
ECSE 4311 Foundations of Reading
ECSE 4315 Workshop Approach to Teaching Writing in the K-12 Classroom
ECSE 4316 Instructional Strategies for Math and Science
ECSE 4318 Internship I
ECSE 4319 Guidance and Management of Children
ECSE 4320 Elementary Reading Methods
ECSE 4330 Integrated Curriculum and Assessment Planning
ECSE 4331 Data Driven Instructional Planning [ UCA Core: I ]
ECSE 4603 Internship II [ UCA Core: Z ]
ECSE 4604 Internship II [ UCA Core: Z ]

EDUC 4210 Integration of Technology into Teaching and Learning

Educational Technology prerequisite: EDUC 1240, CSCI 1300, MIS 2343
OR
Educational Technology Competency Test

Educational Technology prerequisite and ECSE 3300 must be completed prior to admission to the teacher education program.

Academic Core Requirements (20 semester hours):

HIST 3310 Social Science Concepts in Arkansas History
MATH 3351 Number Systems: Integers
MATH 4310 Topics in Mathematics for Early Childhood Teachers
MATH 3352 Number Systems: Real Math
SCI 4410 Concepts in Science
SCI 3410 Earth Science

In addition MATH 1390 and PHYS 1400 must be taken if not completed as part of the general education requirement

Delivery of courses

With the exception of the general education courses, ECSE 3300, ECSE 3301, ECSE 3305, ECSE 3320, MATH 3351, MATH 3352, MATH 4310, SCI 3410, HIST 3310, and educational technology prerequisite, all requirements must be completed after admission to the teacher education program. Several courses are scheduled to form blocks, and these courses must be taken simultaneously. All other courses must be taken prior to entry into Junior Block.

Junior Block: ECSE 4307, 4309, 4311, 4315, and 4330 must be taken during the same semester, with field experiences on Tuesday, 8:00-2:00.  All Junior Block courses and requirements must be successfully completed before entering Internship I.

Internship I: ECSE 4305, 4316, 4318, 4319, 4320, and 4331 must be taken during the same semester, with field experiences on Tuesdays from 8:00-4:00 and Thursdays from 8:00-12:00. All program courses (i.e. General Education, Professional Education, Academic Content, Internship I courses and requirements, and related courses) and the Praxis II Content Exam must be successfully completed before entering Internship II.

Internship II: ECSE 4603, 4604, with daily field experiences, 8:00-4:00.

[3.2] Major in Special Education K–12 (122 hours + Educational Technology Prerequisite)

The degree in Special Education will be available in Spring 2015.

The department offers the Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) degree with a major in Special Education K-12. The performance based undergraduate program in special education is designed to prepare candidates for positions as special education teachers in grades K-12. The program recognizes the changing and complex role of the special educator and as such prepares the candidates to (1) provide support and instruction to students with cognitive, physical, behavior, multiple, and/or health disabilities from kindergarten through 12^th grade; (2) work in different educational settings such as self-contained, resource, and regular classrooms; (3) access the general education curriculum demonstrating a strong knowledge and skill set in academic content areas for instructing students with disabilities; (4) effectively collaborate and work closely with general education teachers, related service personnel, administrators, and families to ensure all students are given every opportunity to reach their full potential; (5) understand language acquisition, cultural influences on learning, emotional and social development, exceptionalities, diverse student populations, inclusion and equity in classrooms and schools; (6) understand and apply knowledge related to the social, historical, and philosophical foundations of special education; (7) integrate technology into instruction and learning; (8) use research and developmentally appropriate practices in their teaching; and (9) know the roles and responsibilities of the profession of teaching.

Follow this link for Admission to Teacher Education/Retention/Licensure information.

The degree requires the successful completion of 122 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.

Professional Education (68 semester hours):

ECSE 3300 Foundations for Elementary and Special Educators
ECSE 3301 Development and Learning Theories
ECSE 3305 Integrated Approaches to Child and Young Adult Literature
ECSE 3309 Development and Characteristics of Diverse Learners [ UCA Core: D ]
ECSE 3320 Foundations of Inclusive Education
ECSE 4301 Math and Science for Diverse Learners
ECSE 4302 Behavior Guidance for the Diverse Classroom
ECSE 4303 Current Issues and Trends in Special Education
ECSE 4305 Literacy Assessment and Intervention
ECSE 4306 Educational Programming for Middle and Secondary Learners with Mild Disabilities
ECSE 4307 Instructional Programming for Young Diverse Learners [ UCA Core: R ]
ECSE 4308 Educational Programming for Students with Significant Disabilities
ECSE 4309 Positive Classroom Environment [ UCA Core: C ]
ECSE 4311 Foundations of Reading
ECSE 4315 Workshop Approach to Teaching Writing in the K-12 Classroom
ECSE 4324 Special Education Practicum – Elementary
ECSE 4325 Special Education Practicum – Secondary
ECSE 4331 Data-Driven Instructional Planning [ UCA Core: I ]
ECSE 4603 Internship II [ UCA Core: Z ]
ECSE 4604 Internship II [ UCA Core: Z ]

EDUC 4210 Integration of Technology into Teaching and Learning
Educational Technology prerequisite: EDUC 1240, CSCI 1300, MIS 2343
OR
Educational Technology Competency Test

Educational Technology prerequisite and ECSE 3300 must be completed prior to admission to the teacher education program.

Academic Core Requirements (16 semester hours):

MATH 3351 Number Systems
MATH 3364 Concepts of Geometry and Measurement
MATH 4335 Concepts of Advanced Mathematics
MSIT 4325 Strategies for Content Literacy Development and Curriculum Integration
SCI 4410 Concepts of Science

In addition MATH 1390 and PHYS 1400 must be taken if not completed as part of the general education requirement.

Delivery of courses

With the exception of the general education courses, ECSE 3300, ECSE 3301, ECSE 3305, ECSE 3320, MATH 3351, MATH 3364, and educational technology prerequisite, all requirements must be completed after admission to the teacher education program (no later than second semester sophomore year). Several courses are scheduled to form blocks, and these courses must be taken simultaneously. All other courses must be taken prior to entry into Junior Block I.

Junior Block I: ECSE 4307, 4309, 4311, 4315, and MATH 3364 (15 hrs.) must be taken during the same semester, with field experiences. All Junior Block I courses and requirements must be successfully completed before entering Junior Block II.

Junior Block II: ECSE 4303, 4306, 4325, Math 4335, and MSIT 4325 (15 hrs.) must be taken during the same semester. All Junior Block II courses and requirements must be successfully completed before entering Internship I.

Internship I: ECSE 4301, 4302, 4305, 4308, 4324, and 4331 must be taken during the same semester. All program courses (i.e. General Education, Professional Education, Academic Content, Internship I courses and requirements, and related courses) and the Praxis II Content Exam must be successfully completed before entering Internship II.

Internship II: ECSE 4603, 4604, with daily field experiences, 8:00-4:00.

[3.2.1] Minor in Special Education

The minor in Special Education will be available in Spring 2015.

This minor in Special Education is designed to build a basic knowledge and understanding of disabilities by introducing students to (1) types of disabilities/conditions, (2) current laws and trends guiding community and educational services to individuals with disabilities, and (3) educational and behavioral strategies for working effectively with individuals with disabilities. The minor program is designed for non-education majors and does not lead to Arkansas teacher licensure special education. The minor in Special Education includes the following 18 hrs of upper division special education courses. Course substitutions are not allowable.

Program Requirements (18 hours):

ECSE 3309 Development and Characteristics of Diverse Learners
ECSE 3320 Foundations of Inclusive Education
ECSE 4302 Behavior Guidance for the Diverse Classroom
ECSE 4303 Current Issues and Trends in Special Education
ECSE 4306 Educational Programming for Middle and Secondary Learners with Mild Disabilities
ECSE 4308 Educational Programming for Students with Significant Disabilities

[4] Course Links

[4.1] Courses in Education (EDUC)

Follow this link to descriptions for EDUC courses: course link.

[4.2] Courses in Early Childhood Education (ECSE)

Follow this link for ECSE course descriptions: course link.