Teacher Education
Welcome to the Teacher Education Department at Southern Arkansas University. We are excited about your prospective interest in the undergraduate teacher education programs. We hope our programs will be both professionally and personally rewarding to you. The decision to complete a baccalaureate degree is one of the most significant decisions you can make in your professional career and we want to support you in anyway possible to make this a meaningful experience. The Teacher Education Department faculty looks forward to working with you in attaining your educational objectives.
The College of Education is the approved unit for professional education and teacher licensure at Southern Arkansas University and is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and approved by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education as a part of the state-approved educator preparation programs at Arkansas colleges and universities.
Students earn a Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.E.) degree with available majors:
- Early Childhood Education with P-4 Focus or Inclusive Focus
- Middle School Education-Math/Science
- Middle School Education-Social Studies/Language Arts
- Middle School Education- Fifth-Year Track
- Physical Education, Wellness, and Leisure
Minors are also available for students wishing to teach in the following areas:
- Agricultural Education
- Business Administration
- English
- Foreign Language- French
- Foreign Language- Spanish
- Mathematics
- Music- Instrumental
- Music- Vocal/Keyboard
Undergraduate students can view more specific requirements in the degree plan for each major.
Through the Teacher Education Department and College of Education at Southern Arkansas University, students will meet the standards set up by the Pathwise Domains, as required by the Arkansas State Department of Education.
Undergraduate students who are interested in a teacher education program must make application for admission to the College of Education, generally during the second semester of the sophomore year. General admission requirements consist of the following:
- Completion of at least forty-two hours
- Grade point average of 2.5 or higher
- Passing the Pre-Professional Skills Test (Praxis I)
- Grade of C in all required field courses, English and math courses
Candidates must complete an application for admission to the undergraduate program in the College of Education. Applications are available through the College of Education, Admissions, Field Experience and Licensure Office, Cross Hall Room 204.
Transfer Students: Students who transfer to the University from two year community or junior colleges must meet the requirements listed above to pursue an undergraduate major in the College of Education.
Chair’s Contact Information
- Dr. Kathryn M. Benson, Ph.D.
- SAU Box 9408
- Magnolia, AR 71754-9408
- kmbenson@saumag.edu
- (870)-234-4147 (Office)
- (870)-235-5035 (Fax)
Dr. Kathryn Benson serves as director of the Master of Arts in Teaching program as well as the chair of the Teacher Education Department in the College of Education at Southern Arkansas University at Magnolia, Arkansas. She is an Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction. She received her Ph. D. in the foundations of education from Louisiana State University. Dr. Benson has more than 20 years of experience as a secondary classroom teacher. She is the author of Conversations of Curriculum Reform: Students’ and Teachers’ Voices Interpreted through Autobiographical and Phenomenological Texts (Peter Lang, 2006).
