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.