Associate Professor and Chair: T. Benson (EdD), 852-2963
Professors: N. Gallavan (PhD), P. Phelps (EdD)
Associate Professor: D. Wake (EdD), J. Whittingham (PhD)
Assistant Professors: G. Bunn (EdD), A. Cotabish (EdD), D. Dailey (EdD),S. Hancock (EdD), R. Miller (EdD), M. Mills (EdD)
Clinical Instructors I: A. Alumbaugh (MSE), C. Hogan (MSE), A. Thompson (MSE), C. Voegele (MSE)
Clinical Instructors II: M. Cawein (MSE), M. Friga (MLA), B. Linn (MSE), S. Ward (MSE)

[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 and reflective decision makers, (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.

[2] Curricula

Programs within the Department of Teaching and Learning include middle-level education and specific courses for secondary education licensure. The department offers the Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) degree in Middle Level Education (4-8).

Candidates interested in teaching at the 7-12 level should contact specific program coordinators whose telephone numbers are listed under Secondary Education on UCA’s home page. Teacher education degrees at the secondary level are offered in Art Education, English Education, Family and Consumer Science Education, Health/Kinesiology & Physical Education, French Education, Math Education, Music Education, Science Education, Spanish Education, and Social Studies Education.

[2.1] The Honors Program

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

1. Consent of the chair of the department
2. 3.00 grade point average on all work attempted
3. Successful completion of a special problems course

[2.2] Bachelor of Science in Education

[2.2.1] Middle-Level Education, Grades 4-8

The degree of Bachelor of Science in Education requires successful completion of 121 hours (122 hours if a math and science track), including (1) the 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 courses; (2) professional education courses; (3) courses from two of the four content tracks: Language Arts, Social Studies, Mathematics, and Sciences; and (4) meet licensure requirements established by the Arkansas Department of Education.

Delivery of courses: With the exception of EDUC 1300, 1240 or other approved computer literacy course, MSIT 3310, 3320, and 4325, all other professional education courses must be completed after level 1 admission to the teacher education program. Also, several of the content courses in the Language Arts, Social Studies, Mathematics, and Science tracks must be taken after admission to the teacher education program. Several professional education and content courses are scheduled to form blocks, and these courses must be taken together. Consult with the program coordinator for details. Note that, because of the nature of middle-level licensure in Arkansas, a grade of “C” or higher is required for all professional education courses, including content track courses.

For specific course information about Middle Level Education, see https://uca.edu/pcps/

[2.2.1.1] Required Professional Education Core Courses:

Professional Education Core courses are used to satisfy the upper-division UCA Core requirements in Diversity, Critical Inquiry, Responsible Living, and Effective Communication. Students will take MSIT 4613 and 4614 Internship II to satisfy the required UCA Core capstone.

EDUC 1300 Education as a Profession
EDUC 1240 related approved computer literacy course or Competency Test
EDUC 3322 Diverse Learners in Inclusive Settings
EDUC 4210 Integration of Technology in Teaching and Learning

MSIT 3310 Learning and Development [ UCA Core: D, R ]
MSIT 3320 Introduction to Middle Level Education
MSIT 4305 Classroom Management
MSIT 4320/4321 Classroom Assessment [ UCA Core: I ]
MSIT 4325 Disciplinary Literacy [ UCA Core: C ]
MSIT 4311 Internship I
MSIT 4312 Strategies for Reading and Writing Assessment and Instruction
MSIT 4328 Advanced Strategies for Teaching and Learning in Middle Level Content Specific Classrooms
MSIT 4612 Internship II [ UCA Core: Z ]
MSIT 4613 Internship II [UCA Core: Z ]

[2.2.1.2] Related Requirements:

HIST 4355 Arkansas History

[2.2.1.3] Content Specialty Courses (choose any 2 tracks with):

Track 1. Language Arts (18 hours):

ENGL 2312 American Literature I
ENGL 2313 American Literature II
ENGL 3335 Language and Grammar Studies
ENGL 3320 Literature for Middle Grades
ENGL 4361 Literature for Adolescents

WRTG 3340 Writing Acquisition

Track 2. Social Studies (18 hours):

GEOG 1305 Principles of Geography

ECON 1310 Modern Political Economy

HIST 1320 World History II
HIST 2301 American Nations I
HIST 2302 American Nations II
HIST 2320 Historical Research

Track 3. Mathematics (18 hours)

MATH 3352 Number Systems: Reals
MATH 3354 Concepts of Discrete Math
MATH 3364 Concepts of Geometry and Measurement
MATH 4320 Concepts of Calculus
MATH 4314 Applications of Middle Level Mathematics
MATH 4335 Concepts of Advanced Mathematics

Track 4. Science (18 hours)

CHEM 1450 College Chemistry I

PHYS 1401 Descriptive Astronomy OR SCI 3410 Earth Science

SCI 3320 Advanced Science Concepts I
SCI 4314 Applications of Middle Level Science
SCI 4420 Advanced Science Concepts II

[2.2.2] Secondary Education

See the education major in the appropriate college and department for full program descriptions. Departments have developed plans of study and have made them available online: program completion plans.

[2.2.3] Minor in Teaching and Learning

The 18-hour minor in Teaching and Learning provides the professional education courses needed by students seeking Secondary Education licensure in content areas. For more information, speak with your academic advisor.

Required Courses (18 hours) from the following or approved by department chair:

EDUC 1300 Education as a Profession
EDUC 3322 Diverse Learners in Inclusive Settings
MSIT 3310 Learning and Development
MSIT 4305 Classroom Management
EDUC 4210 Educational Technology
MSIT 4320/4321 Classroom Assessment [ UCA Core: I ]
MSIT 4325 Strategies for Content Literacy Development and Curriculum Integration [ UCA Core: C ]

[2.3] Graduate Programs

Two graduate programs are offered in the Department of Teaching and Learning. See the Graduate Bulletin and the UCA web pages for Advanced Studies in Teaching and Learning and the Master of Arts in Teaching.

[3] Course Links

[3.1] Courses in Education (EDUC)

Follow this link to EDUC course descriptions: course link.

[3.2] Courses in Middle/Secondary Education (MSIT)

Follow this link to MSIT course descriptions: course link.

AAT Alignment

For information about the alignment of the state’s AAT curriculum and Middle-Level Education curricula at UCA, contact the chair of the Department of Teaching and Learning.