Department of Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education

[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 K-12 schooling, (c) provide service to agencies and organizations that interface with K-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 NCATE/CAEP.

[2] Honors in Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education

[Jump to Recognition of Academic Achievement for general information about Honors in the Majors.]

To graduate with honors, 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 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)

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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 Elementary 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):

Academic Core Requirements (20 semester hours):

Delivery of courses

With the exception of the lower-division UCA Core, ELSE 2300, ELSE 3301, ELSE 3305, ELSE 3308, MATH 3351, MATH 3352, MATH 4310, ELSE 4330, SCI 3410, SCI 4410, 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: ELSE 4307, 4309, 4310, 4311, and 4315 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: ELSE 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: ELSE 4603, 4604, with daily field experiences, 8:00-4:00.

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

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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 Elementary 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):

Educational Technology prerequisite and ELSE 2300 must be completed prior to admission to the teacher education program.

Academic Core Requirements (16 semester hours):

Delivery of courses

With the exception of the lower-division UCA Core, ELSE 2300, ELSE 3301, ELSE 3305, ELSE 3308, ELSE 4330, MATH 3351, MATH 3352, MATH 4310, SCI 3410, SCI 4410, HIST 3310, 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.

Junior Block: ELSE 4307, 4309, 4310, 4311, and 4315 must be taken during the same semester, with field experiences. All Junior Block courses and requirements must be successfully completed before entering Internship IA or Internship IB.

Internship IA: ELSE 4303, 4306, 4320, 4325, and MSIT 4325 (15 hrs.) must be taken during the same semester. Internship IA may be completed before or after Internship IB.

Internship IB: ELSE 4301, 4302, 4305, 4308, 4324, and 4331 must be taken during the same semester. Internship IB may be completed before or after Internship IA.

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

[3.2.1] Minor in Special Education

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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 in special education. The minor in Special Education includes the following 18 hours of upper division special education courses. Course substitutions are not allowable.

[4] Course Links (EDUC, ELSE)

Follow this link for EDUC courses descriptions: course link.

Follow this link for ELSE course descriptions: course link.