Educational Studies (EDST)

The Department of Curriculum and Instruction offers both a bachelor's degree with two concentration options and a minor in Educational Studies.

The Bachelor of Science in Education in Educational Studies (B.S.E.) is a customizable degree for all students within the College of Education and Health Professions. It focuses on the general theory and practice of learning and teaching. This degree, in itself, does not include licensure. Students completing this program will have the cognitive ability to apply teaching strategies to a variety of employers such as private sector businesses, nonprofit organizations and community agencies. With additional training and licensure, students can also work in school settings.

Courses

EDST 20003. Introduction to Educational Studies. 3 Hours.

The course explores the field of education through the lens of educational studies, a unique interdisciplinary association of looking at education as a function of society, psychology, politics, religion, and economic interests. This course introduces non-education field students to the difference between the various fields of study within education, including, but not limited to: instruction, curriculum, comparative education, multicultural education, informal education, content education, pedagogy, education policy, support services, and community education. No field observation hours are required for this course. (Typically offered: Fall and Summer)

EDST 30003. Formative Readings for Cultural Education. 3 Hours.

This course examines some of the historically important readings stemming from identification of the America Reads project produced by the Library of Congress (2014-2016). Special attention will be devoted to the understanding of the relevance of these historical documents and texts to the American identity. The course will focus on the role education plays in the creation of the current society through cultural transmission. The role of education through public schooling in the formations of citizens has been historically documented and deemed necessary under American political thought. This course is constructed to establish linkages of educational trends in the promotion of literacy and the popularization of popular cultural literature of the 18th, 19th, and 20th century that has shaped the social, economic, environmental, and political landscape that a citizen may navigate over their lifetime. (Typically offered: Spring)

EDST 300H3. Honors Formative Readings for Cultural Education. 3 Hours.

This course examines some of the historically important readings stemming from identification of the America Reads project produced by the Library of Congress (2014-2016). Special attention will be devoted to the understanding of the relevance of these historical documents and texts to the American identity. The course will focus on the role education plays in the creation of the current society through cultural transmission. The role of education through public schooling in the formations of citizens has been historically documented and deemed necessary under American political thought. This course is constructed to establish linkages of educational trends in the promotion of literacy and the popularization of popular cultural literature of the 18th, 19th, and 20th century that has shaped the social, economic, environmental, and political landscape that a citizen may navigate over their lifetime. Prerequisite: Honors standing. (Typically offered: Spring)
This course is equivalent to EDST 30003.

EDST 31103. Legal Developments in Education. 3 Hours.

This lecture provides an overview of issues in the field of education coming out of legal developments in the United States over the last two centuries involving the legal basis for public schooling, Constitutional issues in public schools, and contract law governing private schooling. Special interest is paid to education legislation and case law on educational issues. (Typically offered: Fall)

EDST 32003. Multicultural Education Issues. 3 Hours.

The purpose of this course is to give pre-service educators an opportunity to explore various facets of multiculturalism and their implications for future practice. We will examine the impact of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and other aspects of social group identities on teaching and learning as they relate to contexts in multiple learning environments. While this course is broad in scope, the primary aim is to assist future educators in exploring what it means to be an educator in a society that is multicultural, within a vast educational system (public and private) which is stratified according to multiple factors. Students should not be in enrolled in EDST 32003 & CIED 44003 during the same semester. (Typically offered: Fall)

EDST 32203. American Educational History. 3 Hours.

This course is designed to offer a comprehensive study of the history of the American education system. Students completing this course will be able to document the diverse and often competing influences into what has become the public school structure, as well as, the second system of American schools, parochial schools, arising out of the schooling conflict of the 1880's. Starting with the development of literacy skills and the formation of township or colony schools, the linage of schooling will be investigated from the late 1600's to the present time. (Typically offered: Fall, Spring and Summer)

EDST 322H3. Honors American Educational History. 3 Hours.

This course is designed to offer a comprehensive study of the history of the American education system. Students completing this course will be able to document the diverse and often competing influences into what has become the public school structure, as well as, the second system of American schools, parochial schools, arising out of the schooling conflict of the 1880's. Starting with the development of literacy skills and the formation of township or colony schools, the linage of schooling will be investigated from the late 1600's to the present time. Prerequisite: Honors standing. (Typically offered: Fall, Spring and Summer)
This course is equivalent to EDST 32203.

EDST 33103. Trauma Based Educational Practices. 3 Hours.

Socio-emotional learning and trauma-based classroom instruction are needed pre-professional knowledge bases for classroom teachers that shape classroom management practices and student-engagement relationships. This course focuses on identifying and understanding daily classroom interactions with students having previously experienced out-of-school trauma that manifests itself in classroom environment. This course is intended for teacher-educators to modify student relationship engagement and not intended for diagnosis or clinical practices. (Typically offered: Fall)

EDST 33303. Children's & Young Adult Literature in Educational Settings. 3 Hours.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of children's, adolescent, and young adult literature across educational settings, both formal and informal. Picture books, novels, informational texts, and the novelization of movies and vice versa for children and adolescent audiences will be explored. (Typically offered: Fall)

EDST 39103. Formal Classroom Internship in Education. 3 Hours.

The internship is a prearranged onsite work experience serving in an educationally related field. The formal classroom internship is taken after the completion of CIED 10103 and either along with or after the completion of CIED 30303. Locations have been selected by the EDST program and Office of Teacher Education. Internships my be served at a variety of public or private based educational services or agencies. The internship experience must include a minimum number of practical work hours (120), reflective journaling, mid-semester evaluation, and final report. All arrangements for internships are coordinated through the COEHP Office of Field Placement by the Director of Field Placement. State of Arkansas background checks may be required for individuals completing internships at locations serving populations of minors. Prerequisite: CIED 10103. Pre- or Corequisite: CIED 30303, and EDST-MXED major. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)

EDST 39203. Informal Based or Outdoor Internship in Education. 3 Hours.

The internship is a prearranged onsite work experience serving in an educationally related field. The informal/outdoor internship is taken during or after taking EDST 41103. Locations have been selected by the EDST program and Office of Teacher Education; during the summer, students may petition for a camp based informal experience that is outside of the typical semester offering. Internships my be served at a variety of public or private based educational services or agencies. The internship experience must include a minimum number of practical work hours (120), reflective journaling, mid-semester evaluation, and final report. All arrangements for internships are coordinated through the COEHP Office of Field Placement by the Director of Field Placement. State of Arkansas background checks may be required for individuals completing internships at locations serving populations of minors. Prerequisite: EDST 41103. Pre- or Corequisite: CIED 30303, and student must be a EDST-MXED major. (Typically offered: Spring and Summer)

EDST 3990V. Special Topics in Educational Studies. 1-3 Hour.

Discussion and advanced studies on selected topics in educational studies. Special focus on recent and emerging topics in education. Junior (3000) level course offerings. Course may be repeated only for unique topic enrollments. (Typically offered: Irregular) May be repeated for up to 15 hours of degree credit.

EDST 399HV. Honors Special Topics in Educational Studies. 1-3 Hour.

Discussion and advanced studies on selected topics in educational studies. Special focus on recent and emerging topics in education. Junior (3000) level course offerings. Each offering of EDST 399HV must be unique. Student may not repeat the same topic for degree credit multiple times. (Typically offered: Irregular) May be repeated for up to 15 hours of degree credit.
This course is equivalent to EDST 3990V.

EDST 40003. Philosophy of Education. 3 Hours.

This course provides a review of philosophical ideas in education and an introduction to research, methodologies, foundation theories in education. Students explore historical ideas in philosophy pertaining to education and how those ideas contribute to current educational practices. Students in the course learn about the nature of research, both theoretical and applied, and the process of developing future research based agendas. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing. (Typically offered: Spring)

EDST 400H3. Honors Philosophy of Education. 3 Hours.

This course provides a review of philosophical ideas in education and an introduction to research, methodologies, foundation theories in education. Students explore historical ideas in philosophy pertaining to education and how those ideas contribute to current educational practices. Students in the course learn about the nature of research, both theoretical and applied, and the process of developing future research based agendas. Prerequisite: Honors standing and (junior or senior standing). (Typically offered: Spring)
This course is equivalent to EDST 40003.

EDST 40303. Understanding Professional Teaching Standards. 3 Hours.

This course provides preparation and review for the required initial post-graduation licensure testing requirements mandated by the State of Arkansas. Currently these testing requirements are Pearson Education's Foundation of Reading, Educational Testing Services' Praxis Series Assessments: Core Academic Skills for Educators, Principles of Learning & Teaching, and Specific Licensure Area Content Assessments. (Typically offered: Fall)

EDST 40403. Contemporary Research & Issues in Education. 3 Hours.

Following a brief introduction to research methods, this course will explore contemporary research being conducted or recently produced out of the field of education. Potential research areas include but are not limited to literacy, content area research, teacher preparation, education reform, and policy initiatives effecting various forms of schooling. Prerequisite: EDST-PARA majors (online sections). (Typically offered: Spring)

EDST 41103. Teaching and Funding Outdoor & Informal Education. 3 Hours.

In-depth exploration of natural/outdoors education and informal education and grant writing for education will be covered. Methods and techniques in the preparation and delivery of teaching in nontraditional instructional settings (informal education) will be developed. Course participants will be required to teach an outdoor and/or informal education class and participate in a collaborative grant application process. (Typically offered: Spring)

EDST 42103. Religion, Education, & Religious Education. 3 Hours.

This course provides a comprehensive introduction on the influences of religion in education, particularly in relation to the dynamic of religion in public education in the United States. Students in the course learn about the nature of the study of religion, religious studies, and religious education, as well as the teaching of religion. Prerequisite: Junior or senior level standing. (Typically offered: Fall)

EDST 49303. Capstone Seminar and Final Internship in Education. 3 Hours.

The capstone course provides students with a culminating experience for Educational Studies. The course provides an opportunity for students to develop a portfolio of their learning and to evaluate their overall program performance in preparation for completion of their degrees. This course contains 90 hours of internship site experience and will serve as the final internship experience for EDSTBS majors. This course includes 30 hours of coursework (i.e., classroom time) along with the required internship experience. This course should only be enrolled in after the completion of EDST 39103 and EDST 39203 and during the students final year of coursework. All internship placements are arranged by the Office of Field Placement and the Director of Field Placement. Prerequisite: EDST 39103, EDST 39203, and senior standing. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)

EDST 49403. Capstone (Non-Internship & Seminar). 3 Hours.

The capstone course provides students with a culminating experience for Educational Studies for those that have not participated in the optional internship experiences. The course provides an opportunity for students to develop a portfolio of their learning and to evaluate their overall program performance in preparation for completion of their degrees. Additional, this course contains multiple semester seminar options of speakers on various post-graduation or graduate-based educational opportunities accessible to those earning a degree in educational studies. This course should only be enrolled in during a students final semester and/or upon completion of 102 credit hours. Prerequisite: Senior level standing and 102 hours of credits. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)

EDST 49903. Para-Professional Internship. 3 Hours.

Work related experiential reflection between paraprofessional employment (verified) and course work completed (75 credit hours minimum). This course is only available to students enrolled in the Educational Studies Paraprofessional Transition major. Prerequisite: Admission into the EDSTBS-PARA major & 75 completed credit hours. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring) May be repeated for up to 9 hours of degree credit.