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COURSE DESCRIPTIONS (EDUC)

EDUC 1199 Foundation in Education
(3) Fall and Spring
An introduction to teaching and learning. This course addresses teacher behavior, teacher roles, teacher ethics and experiences, historical perspectives, philosophical foundations, approaches to curriculum development, the politics of education, school governance, school funding and legal issues, school environments, and living and learning in a diverse society. Prerequisite for admission to education program and education classes. This course includes an initial school visitation experience.

EDUC 3317 Science Methods
(3) Fall
This course addresses science content, process skills, attitudes, and real-world applications that are developmentally appropriate for science and instruction. Effective teaching strategies that incorporate integrated and interdisciplinary approaches, technology, literature, multicultural education, and the Georgia QCC objectives are combined with theories of learning. Field experience required.

EDUC 3319 Math Methods
(3) Spring
The math methods course focuses on a constructivist approach to teaching and learning with emphasis on problem-solving, NCTM standards, and QCC objectives. The course stresses mental mathematical exercises and activities with manipulatives that promote mathematical confidence in children. There is an extensive field experience that involves a semester relationship with exemplary math teachers. Coursework involves implementation of the tenets that underlie the conceptual framework of the Education Department.

EDUC 3342 Child Development Practicum
(3) Fall
A study of the principles of growth and development from conception through twelve years of age. Specific attention will be given to the influences of family on physical maturation, cognitive development, social skills, and personality development. Major contributions from the leading authorities in the field will be emphasized during the study of each area of development. A nursery and preschool field experience is required.

EDUC 3354 Theories of Reading Instruction
(3) Spring
Different theories of reading instruction will be the focus for this course. Special emphasis will be on children's literature and its role in successful reading programs. Other topics include: reading process, principles of reading instruction, and emergent literacy. IRA standards and Georgia QCC objectives will provide a basis for lesson plans and field experiences in local schools.

EDUC 3355 Fundamentals of Reading Instruction
(3) Fall
A study of word recognition strategies with emphasis on phonics. Teaching techniques for vocabulary and comprehension, reading in content areas, and interrelatedness of reading and writing will also be addressed. Standards from IRA and Georgia QCC objectives will be used in combination with various approaches to effective instruction in planning effective lessons for experiences in local schools.

EDUC 3356 Integrating Specialty Areas into Classroom Instruction
(3) Fall
This course teaches the early childhood certification candidate how to integrate the arts, health and physical education into instruction. Through collaboration with college faculty, elementary classroom teachers and specialty area teachers, candidates will understand, and use the content, functions, and achievements of dance, music, theater, and the several visual arts as primary media for communication, inquiry, and insight among elementary students; use the major concepts in the subject matter of health education to create opportunities for student development and practice of skills that contribute to good health; and know, understand, and use human movement and physical activity as central elements to foster active, healthy life styles and enhanced quality of life for elementary students.

EDUC 4356 Diagnosis and Remediation of Problems in Reading
(3) Fall
The focus of this course is the identification and correction of reading problems in elementary school students. Special attention is given to testing and teaching materials for corrective work including reading inventories, formal and informal assessment, and computer programs. A variety of assessment techniques, IRA standards, and technology will be incorporated throughout the course.

EDUC 4360 Curriculum and Accountability in Elementary Grades
(3) Fall
This course addresses the practical aspects of curriculum development along with the role of preparation and its contribution to successful classroom management. A variety of assessment techniques, use of Georgia QCC objectives, technology, and portfolio development are among other key areas that are studied. EDUC 4360 Curriculum and Accountability in the Elementary Grades is taken in conjunction with EDUC 4480 Senior Seminar.

EDUC 4449 Classroom Technology for Elementary Grades
(3) Fall
Classroom technology is a 3 semester-hour course offered to early childhood and middle grades education majors during the fall and spring semesters. This course will meet the expected performances found in the Georgia Technology Standards for Educators. It is designed to teach (a) Global Communication Skills (b) Application Skills and (c) Integrative Strategies. All students will be responsible for designing a professional web site and electronic portfolio that will contain evidence of their expertise in classroom technology. The evidence will be aligned with the Georgia Technology Standards.

EDUC 4456 Language Arts Methods
(3) Spring
This course provides a thematic approach to methods for teaching language arts in the elementary grades. Major topics include oral and written language, reading and writing workshop, spelling, and grammar. Georgia QCC objectives, NCTE and IRA standards will be used in developing instructional resources and units. Field experience is required.

EDUC 4457 Social Studies Methods
(3) Spring
The interdisciplinary nature of social studies will be the focus for the study of curriculum, methods, technology, and professional sources. An emphasis will be on planning for and developing resources for instruction, including the development of a unit with emphasis on the NCSS standards and Georgia QCC objectives for a chosen grade level. This course includes a field experience component.

EDUC 4459 Special Needs and Exceptional Children
(3) Spring
A study of identification and diagnostic techniques for teachers related to areas of exceptionality among students and of alternative styles of teaching to meet special needs. The introduction to the Student Support Team (SST) process, the writing of eligibility reports and Individual Education Plans (IEP) will be explored. The psychological and behavioral characteristics of exceptional children will be studied. The importance of transition and other forms found within the exceptional children's categories will be identified. Weekly field experience in the exceptional children's areas will be provided.

EDUC 4460 Diversity in the Elementary Classroom
(3) Interim
This course addresses a variety of issues in diversity including psychological, physiological, and social conditions of different students. Various issues of equality and equal opportunity are also examined as well as strategies for working with children at risk. This course includes a field experience in diverse school settings outside of Troup County.

EDUC 4480 Senior Seminar
(3) Fall
Senior seminar is taken in conjunction with the curriculum course for early childhood the semester prior to student teaching. Senior education majors work closely with a local school for eight hours each week supervised by college faculty.

EDUC 4490E Early Childhood Student Teaching
(12) Fall and Spring
This course provides a full-day teaching experience for a minimum of thirteen weeks. Pre-service teachers will be assigned to diverse public schools and will gradually assume responsibility for working with groups and individuals. They will participate in classroom teaching and observation, planning and evaluation conferences, and other school-related experiences with guidance provided by the cooperating teacher and college supervisor gradually assuming total responsibility for the class.

Graduate Courses

EDUC 5030  Research in Secondary Curriculum and Instruction
(3)
Course focuses upon historical, descriptive, and experimental inquiry. Emphasis on interpretation of research, particularly in middle and secondary
curriculum and instruction. Overview of the inquiry process, fundamental statistics, issues of reliability and validity, and landmark research impacting
educational practice.

EDUC 5040  Affirming Diversity in the Classroom
(3)
Students will read and discuss articles and critiques by scholars who are concerned with issues of equity, social justice, community and responsibility in
a democratic, multicultural society. Because teachers are advocates for curriculum, instruction, learning environments and opportunities that support
the diverse needs of and high expectations for all students, an emphasis will be given to the implementation of multicultural teaching in the classroom. Course will encourage teachers to think theoretically about their practice and learn from experience through contemplation of how the research in multicultural education relates to the classroom today.

EDUC 5060  Secondary Students with Special Needs
(3)
A study of identification and diagnostic techniques for secondary teachers as related to areas of exceptionality among students, alternative styles of teaching to meet special needs, and related legal issues.

EDUC 5700  Internship I
(4) and II (8)
Student Teaching is a full semester (13 week) internship in specific middle and high schools with pre-service teachers gradually assuming total esponsibility for the class. They are evaluated through a rigorous performance-based assessment process based on national standards. They will participate in classroom teaching and observation, planning and evaluation conferences, and other school-related experiences with guidance provided by the cooperating teachers and college supervisor. Several seminars will be held in conjunction with these experiences and will address a variety of topics. Portfolio
elements required.

EDUC 6010  Assessment and Accountability
(3)
This course is designed to acquaint students with the basic principles of assessing learning using different techniques and strategies. Among the areas addressed will be theory, methods, standardized tests, and fundamental statistical concepts. In addition the students will study testing, grading, ethical considerations, and current issues in educational assessment

EDUC 6020  Educational Technology
(3)
Educational Technology is offered to graduate middle and secondary MAT/MED majors during the summer semesters. This course will meet the expected performances found in the Georgia Technology Standards for Educators. It is designed to teach Global Communication Skills, Application Skills and
Integrative Strategies. All students will be responsible for designing a professional web site and electronic portfolio that will contain evidence of their
expertise in classroom technology. The evidence will be aligned with the Georgia Technology Standards.

EDUC 6030  Problems in Reading
(3)
A study of reading problems encountered in public education. This course addresses reading skill development in special populations including those with limited English abilities, problems in content reading assignments, and non-readers in the secondary school setting. Special attention is given to developing strategies for teaching reading and writing to readers at various skill levels. Students from the MAT and MED program will work together in developing resources for effective teaching based on the Georgia QCC objectives and standards from IRA and NCTE.

EDUC 6040  Foundations of Curriculum and Instruction
(3)
This course provides candidates with an overview of the theories and models that have shaped the way curricula have developed and the way processes, tools, and applications affect instructional practices. The course examines current educational issues that continue to shape curriculum and instruction in our schools.

EDUC 6045  Curriculum Studies
(3)
This course provides candidates with an overview of the theories and models that have shaped the way curricula have developed and the way processes, tools, and applications affect instructional practices. The course examines current educational issues that continue to shape curriculum and instruction in our schools through a historical lens to explain why educational practices are as they are today. The course includes primary research with historical material.

EDUC 6060  Literature Across the Curriculum
(3)
This course is designed to examine literature genres and current trends in children's and adolescents' literature with special focus on integrating the curriculum through books. Some emphasis will be placed on ways to select books wisely for instruction, pleasure, and enrichment. Other components include designing lessons and instructional resources using Georgia QCC objectives, award winning books, and standards from IRA and NCTE

EDUC 6070  School Law and Contemporary Issues in Curriculum and Instruction
(3)
This course focuses primarily on how the courts affect curriculum and explores issues in curriculum and instruction from an educational literature perspective. Students will investigate curriculum theory, development, implementation, and evaluation as well as local and national standards. Students will utilize texts and professional journals to become knowledgeable practitioners with regard to curriculum and instruction.

EDUC 6080  Differentiated Instruction and Student Diversity
(3)
This course examines how schools implement organizational and teaching practices that support the democratic values of liberty, individual freedom, justice, fairness and the issues of equality and equal opportunity in American schools. Teachers will be introduced to new methods of differentiating instruction and will examine current research in the areas of teaching and learning. They will maintain a reflective log recording their implementation of differentiated instructional strategies.

EDUC 6090  Research and Project Preparation
(3)
This course focuses upon theory, methods, and basics of educational research. Students explore the inquiry process, fundamental statistics, and consider issues of reliability and validity. Use of Galileo, references and resources, statement of a problem, expression of hypotheses, research design, organizing the review of literature, gathering data, basic statistical analysis of data, reporting and discussing findings, and drawing conclusions are components of the course. Candidates will consider research opportunities for their Graduate Project or thesis.

EDUC 6100  Theories of Constructivist Learning
(3)
This course is based on developmental, social and cultural theories for cognitive, emotional and moral growth. From a multicultural perspective, the course will focus on the ways in which individual development is shaped both by biological and environmental forces within specific social contexts.

EDUC 6200  Directed Research Seminar
(3)
Designed to meet individual needs of graduate students who are preparing their thesis or graduate field project. This course is generally taken during the Interim term.

EDUC 6300  Thesis or Graduate Field Project Seminar
(3)
Working under the guidance of the candidate's chair, this course is taken during the semester in which the candidate plans to defend her or his thesis or graduate project.