Return to: CHASSE Departments

Dickinson Hall, Room 419 | (501) 916-3267 | (501) 569-3547 (fax) | ualr.edu/education

The School of Education offers three Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.E.) degrees, the B.S.E. in elementary education K-6 , the B.S.E. in special education K-12 , and the B.S.E. in middle childhood education grades 4-8 , which includes specialties in math, science, social studies, and language arts. A minor in education is offered through the School of Education as well. For details about education licensure content areas, see the licensure officer in the School of Education.

The department strives to provide balanced teacher education programs that embody institutional and college goals, the Arkansas Department of Education Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) teacher licensure requirements, guidelines of learned societies and professional associations, and contemporary educational philosophies and practices.

General Information

The school also offers Master of Education degrees (M.Ed.) in curriculum and instruction, gifted and talented education, learning systems technology education, reading, and education (with initial licensure areas in education, middle childhood education, and special education). The school offers a graduate certificate and an educational specialist degree (Ed.S.) in reading, and a Ph.D. in reading. The School of Education also offers non-degree licensure programs at the graduate level for students already holding initial licensure but want to add additional licensure areas in education content areas, and special education. More information about the graduate-level programs may be obtained from the UA Little Rock Graduate Catalog.

Exit Requirements

(See each program’s requirements for specific exit requirements) In order to graduate with a degree from a program in teacher education and to be licensed, students must meet all general graduation requirements and earn a grade of C or greater in all professional education courses. Documentation of successful completion of all required Praxis and other state-required standardized examinations must be provided as a condition for graduation from the undergraduate elementary program, middle childhood program, special education program, and the education minor. Students must submit complete required standardized exam scores to the College of Education and Health Professions as documentation of their successful completion of these exams.

Arkansas’ definition of program completers for Title II reporting purposes has been changed. It requires completion of a degree program and successful performance on all required sections of required exams.

Testing and Admissions Requirements

For entry into the undergraduate initial licensure programs, the School of Education accepts required ACT scores at or above a minimum:

• Math score of 19
• Reading score of 19
• Writing score of 6

If an individual has taken the ACT multiple times, the highest score in each category will be considered. Corresponding comparable SAT scores are accepted as well. If an applicant has ACT scores below the minimum composite score or has not taken the writing section of the ACT, the applicant may take the Accuplacer Next Generation exam or exams at the UA Little Rock Testing Center and must make at least a score that corresponds to the comparative ACT minimum score:

• Next Gen Reading: minimum score = 253
• Next Gen Math: Minimum Score = 250
• Accuplacer Write Placer: minimum score = 5

Or, the applicant may also choose to retake the ACT (not offered at the Testing Center) to attempt to reach the minimum score required for entrance into the programs.

If an applicant has taken the Praxis Core or Praxis I/PPST, we will also accept the following minimum scores:

• Reading 156
• Math 150
• Writing 162
• PPST minimum scores of Reading 172, Math 171, and Writing 173

The above passing scores will be accepted in any combination for reading, math, and writing. There is an appeals process for students who do not meet the minimum scores and wish to pursue admission. Ask your advisor about this process.

Application for Admission to the BSE in Elementary Education K-6

The following are minimum criteria for consideration for admission to the program. For admission to Fall and Spring Block I, all applicants must

1. be formally admitted to UA Little Rock.
2. have completed RHET 1311  and RHET 1312  English Composition, ACOM 1300 , MATH 1321  or MATH 1302  with a grade of C or greater in each of these courses;
3. have completed all core requirements with an overall degree plan cumulative GPA of at least 2.7; or have completed an Associate’s degree from an accredited college that meets university core requirements; Contact the Student Transfer Services office (501-682-1286) for more information; and
4. submit passing scores on the ACT or other accepted basic skills exams (see Testing and Admissions Requirements)
5. Contact the Undergraduate Advisor for Teacher Education, DKSN 300 (501) 569-3124, to complete the admission application.

Retention

Retention decisions are the responsibility of the faculty. Once admitted, students are required to maintain a 2.75 grade-point average, with at least a C in all courses specific to the elementary program. In addition, students’ professional behaviors, content knowledge, and classroom performance will be evaluated throughout the program. Successful completion of the licensure program is not based solely on the number of course credits but requires a demonstration of specified professional knowledge, skills, and behaviors. While a student may require additional time to meet some performance expectations, the faculty may limit that time and reserves the right to remove a student from the program should appropriate progress not be demonstrated.

Application for Admission to the BSE in Middle Childhood Education

The following are minimum criteria for consideration for admission to the program:

For admission to Fall and Spring Block I, all applicants must

1. be formally admitted to UA Little Rock.
2. have completed RHET 1311  and RHET 1312  English Composition, ACOM 1300 , MATH 1321  or MATH 1302  (see advisor) with a grade of C or greater in each of these courses; and
3. have completed all core requirements with an overall degree plan cumulative GPA of 2.70 or greater or 3.0 in the last 50 hours. Students seeking admission to the college with associate’s degrees designed for transfer (Associate of Arts, Associate of Arts in Teaching, and some Associate of Science degrees) should refer to the “Community College Transfers” information appearing later in this section.
4. submit passing scores on the ACT or other accepted basic skills exams (see Testing and Admissions Requirements.)
5. contact the Undergraduate Advisor in Teacher Education, DKSN 300 (501) 569-3124, to complete the admission application.

For admission to Fall and Spring Block II, all applicants must

1. satisfactorily complete all Block I requirements with an overall GPA of 2.70 or greater,
2. achieve passing scores on the required Praxis content exam(s), and
3. contact the Undergraduate Advisor in Teacher Education, DKSN 300 (501) 569-3124, to complete the admission application.

Retention

Retention decisions are the responsibility of the faculty. Once admitted, students are required to maintain a 2.75 grade-point average, with at least a C in all courses specific to the middle childhood program. In addition, students’ professional behaviors, content knowledge, and classroom performance will be evaluated throughout the program. Successful completion of the licensure program is not based solely on the number of course credits but requires a demonstration of specified professional knowledge, skills, and behaviors. While a student may require additional time to meet some performance expectations, the faculty may limit that time and reserves the right to remove a student from the program should appropriate progress not be demonstrated.

Application for Admission to the BSE in Special Education

For admission to Teacher Education and Professional Prep I courses, all applicants must:

• be formally admitted to UA Little Rock.
• have completed RHET 1311  and RHET 1312  English Composition, ACOM 1300 , MATH 1302  (see advisor) with a grade of C or greater in each of these courses; and
• have completed all core requirements with an overall degree plan cumulative GPA of 2.70 or greater or 3.0 in the last 50 hours. Students seeking admission to the college with associate’s degrees designed for transfer (Associate of Arts, Associate of Arts in Teaching, and some associate of science degrees) may be fully admitted with audit for equivalent Core Courses and passing scores on the ACT or other accepted basic skills exams (see Testing and Admissions Requirements). Passing Praxis scores upon full admission to UA Little Rock. Please refer to the “Community College Transfers” information appearing later in this section. 
• submit passing scores on the ACT or other accepted basic skills exams (see Testing and Admissions Requirements.)

For admission to Professional Prep II courses, all applicants must:

• satisfactorily complete all Professional Prep I requirements with an overall GPA of 2.75 or greater.

For admission to Professional Prep III Internship I, all applicants must:

• satisfactorily complete all Professional Prep II requirements with an overall GPA of 2.75 or greater

For admission to Professional Prep IV Internship II, all applicants must:

• satisfactorily complete all Professional Prep III requirements with an overall GPA of 2.75 or greater
• achieve passing scores on the Praxis II special education content exam.
• satisfactorily complete Internship I.

Retention

Retention decisions are the responsibility of the faculty. Once admitted, students are required to maintain a 2.70 grade-point average, with at least a C in all courses specific to the middle childhood program. In addition, students’ professional behaviors, content knowledge, and classroom performance will be evaluated throughout the program. Successful completion of the licensure program is not based solely on the number of course credits but requires a demonstration of specified professional knowledge, skills, and behaviors. While a student may require additional time to meet some performance expectations, the faculty may limit that time and reserves the right to remove a student from the program should appropriate progress not be demonstrated.

Legal Reqs: Elementary, Middle Childhood, and Special Education

Students who have been formally admitted to the program must complete a criminal records check, state civil records check, and FBI records check before being placed in the field. The student is responsible for the fees associated with these checks (See Licensure Officer for correct paperwork).

Graduation Reqs: Elementary, Middle Childhood, and Special Education

• Completion of all courses in the degree plan with grades as required and passing scores on all required Praxis II and other exams (see Licensure Officer for correct exams to take).
• Entry of all required artifacts into Chalk and Wire and submission of these artifacts for assessment in Chalk and Wire.
• Submission of Graduation Application in BOSS by the announced deadline.

Licensure

Applicants must provide the following items to the ADE Licensure office (see the School of Education Licensure Officer for details on this process):

• A completed license application form.
• An official UA Little Rock transcript showing the date the degree was granted. Official transcripts from all other institutions attended.
• Appropriate Praxis II scores and other required exam scores.
• ADE required professional development certificates
• Complete background checks for State Police, FBI, and Child Maltreatment Central Registry.

For more information concerning licensure, contact the School of Education Licensure Officer, Dickinson Hall, Room 419.

Second Language Requirements for B.S.E. Students

There is no second language requirement for either the programs, although the special education program requires ASL I.

Community College Transfers

Students transferring to UA Little Rock from two-year colleges are subject to these provisions (See “Transfer Student  ” section for requirements for admission of transfer students). Students must first consult with Academic Advising to articulate transfer coursework prior to being admitted to the College of Education and Health Professions. Students must schedule an appointment with the Undergraduate Advisor in Teacher Education, DKSN 300 (501) 569-3124, to pursue admission to elementary and middle childhood programs. Students must meet the admission requirements listed above per program sought. If a student has completed the Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) at a two-year institution, core requirements at UA Little Rock will be met.

Students Who Transfer from Four-Year Institutions

These provisions listed for community college transfers may also apply to transfer work from four-year institutions that are either accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) formerly known as the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) or approved as teacher education institutions by the state in which they are located.

Center for Applied Studies in Education

The Center for Applied Studies in Education (CASE) is an independent research and evaluation unit within the College of Education and Health Professions. The Center specializes in research involving education and human service issues. It provides research design; data collection, processing and analysis; statistical support; grant and report writing; program evaluation; and measurement procedures and instrument design services to local, state, and national agencies.

The center’s staff collaborates in research and training with UA Little Rock and UAMS faculty and students, and the Arkansas Department of Education’s Special Education Division, as well as with other state and national education and human service organizations. Current grants and contracts provide research and evaluation support to national government agencies and the state educational community. The CASE faculty participates in teaching undergraduate and graduate courses through the Department of Teacher Education.

Center for Literacy

The mission of the Center for Literacy is to use literacy as a tool for meeting the following goals:

• Prepare students to assume leadership roles for influencing literacy at local, state and national levels.
• Offer a framework for implementing learning communities within schools and regions where students can collaborate on literacy projects.
• Advocate for reading specialists, Reading Recovery teachers, and Literacy Coaches in all schools by making graduate coursework more accessible to students across the state.
• Promote research initiatives between faculty and schools.
• Provide services to the community, schools, and state to address literacy-related issues, including annual conferences, literacy academies, and summer institutes.
• Provide intellectual resources for supporting literacy efforts within schools.
• Continue to build partnerships at the national and professional levels in order to advocate for effective literacy practices, early intervention services for struggling readers, and reading specialists in all schools.
• Increase opportunities for faculty to collaborate on literacy-related projects and research.
• Publish scholarly materials, including a peer-refereed online journal that focuses on school-based research, technical reports on literacy, and other documents that illustrate university and school partnerships.

The UA Little Rock Center for Literacy provides a structure for integrating five interrelated elements: teaching professional development, research and scholarly activity, technology, and partnerships. For additional information call (501) 683-7343.

Jodie Mahony Center for Gifted Education

The Jodie Mahony Center for Gifted Education, located in SUA 101, provides the following programs or services:

• AP Summer Institutes
• Arkansas Advanced Placement Professional Development Center
• Arkansas Evaluative Initiative
• e Initiative
• Center for Gifted Education
• Duke Talent Identification Ceremony
• Summer Laureate for Youth (SLUFY)

For additional information, call (501) 569-3410.

Federal Title II Survey

Six components are identified in Arkansas Title II Regulations for a “well-performing institution,” UA Little Rock meets all six criteria:

1. A summary pass rate of at least 80%.
2. A content major for secondary education for those who complete the program.
3. Student/Faculty supervision ratio does not exceed 18 to 1.
4. The number of weeks of student teaching is not less than 12 weeks.
5. The institution conducts an annual comprehensive unit assessment of teacher preparation.
6. The institution is not placed on probation by NCATE.

The following institutional report is made available in compliance with section 207F of Title II regarding the performance of the teacher preparation program at UA Little Rock for the 2006-2007 cohort of students.

For further information and subject-specific pass rates, visit the College of Education and Health Professions website.

Institutional and State Pass Rates

• Aggregate Basic Skills: 100% / 100%
• Aggregate Professional Knowledge: 100% / 100%
• Aggregate Academic Content: 100% / 100%
• Summary Totals and Pass Rate: 100% / 100%

Minor In Education

(501) 569-8944 | ualr.edu/education/education-minor

Students interested in teaching in education in Arkansas must be licensed by the state in a state-approved subject area. UA Little Rock programs in teacher education are designed to prepare students for licensure. Candidates for licensure must pass examinations mandated by the state, and pass a criminal background check.

Teacher Licensure Areas

• Art Education (Grades K-12)
• English and Language Arts Education(Grades 7-12)
• World Language Education (French or Spanish) (Grades K-12)
• Music Education (Vocal/Instrumental) (Grades K-12)
• Social Studies Education (Grades 7-12)
• Physical Education, Wellness, Leisure (Grades K-12)
• Mathematics Education (Grades 7-12)
• Physical Science / Earth Science Education (Grades K-12)
• Biology and Life Science (Grades 7-12)
• Chemistry (Grades 7-12)
• Physics (Grades 7-12)

For admission requirements and more, go to ualr.edu/education/education-minor.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the program will only be considered if the student has completely met the following requirements:

1. Formal admission to UA Little Rock
2. Completion of RHET 1311  and RHET 1312 , ACOM 1300 , MATH 1302  or MATH 1321  with a grade of “C” or better
3. Completion of all core requirements with a cumulative average of 2.75, or a 3.0 on the last 60 hours
4. Submission of passing scores on the ACT or other accepted basic skills exams to an advisor (see Testing Admissions Requirements)
5. Submission of Advising Form to program advisor
6. Completion of all background checks (FBI, State Police and Child Maltreatment)

University Core Requirements and Retention

University Core Requirements

A student seeking a baccalaureate degree must complete a total of 35 hours in core courses. Options within the core may be restricted by the content majors, associated blocks of courses, or special minors in some licensure areas. A student should consult the requirements of his or her licensure area before selecting core courses.

Retention

Once admitted, students are required to maintain a 2.75 grade-point average, with at least a “C” in all professional courses (this includes all courses associated with the licensure/degree plan). In addition, students’ professional behaviors, content knowledge, and classroom performance will be evaluated throughout the program.

Successful completion of the licensure program is not based solely on the number of course credits but requires a demonstration of specified professional knowledge, skills, and behaviors.

Once the student has begun the program, periodic evaluations will assess progress. Failure to progress satisfactorily might result in a student being removed from the program. While a student may require additional time to meet some performance expectations, the faculty may limit that time and reserves the right to drop a student from the licensure program should appropriate progress not be demonstrated.

Programs

• Elementary Education K-6, B.S.E.
• Middle Childhood Education, B.S.E.
• Special Education, B.S.E.

• Education Minor and Teacher Licensure

Return to: CHASSE Departments