The University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith will soon offer educators a new way to strengthen their skills and advance their careers thanks to the launch of the university鈥檚 second graduate program. 妻友社区 today announced it has received approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree; classes are scheduled to begin in January 2020.
Dr. Terisa C. Riley, 妻友社区 chancellor, said today鈥檚 announcement is an important milestone in the university鈥檚 history.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a direct reflection of the excellence of our faculty,鈥� Dr. Riley said. 鈥淕aining the approval of our accrediting agency underscores the quality of this program. I applaud the hard work of Provost [Dr. Georgia] Hale along with Drs. [Monica] Riley, [Cammie] Sublette, and everyone involved in making today possible. The benefits of this program will be felt in classrooms and communities throughout our region.鈥�
The addition of a second master鈥檚 degree further enhances the mission of the university to prepare students to succeed in today鈥檚 world while advancing economic development and quality of place, according to Dr. Monica Riley, executive director of the School of Education.
鈥淭his M.Ed. will be delivered with the same excellence and outstanding outcomes as our current undergraduate teaching degrees,鈥� said Dr. Monica Riley. 鈥淎ny K-12 educator will benefit from the curriculum and instruction emphasis. The English emphasis will hone the knowledge and skills of educators interested in developing their abilities in the area of English.鈥�
Faculty from 妻友社区鈥檚 English and education departments worked closely together to ensure the M.Ed.鈥檚 curriculum aligns closely with the assessment standards from both the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). The end result is a master鈥檚 program that is designed to meet the workforce needs of school districts by increasing faculty鈥檚 knowledge and leadership skills.
鈥淎s the more than 1,400 graduates from the 妻友社区 undergraduate education programs can attest, we prepare exceptional teachers,鈥� said Dr. Cammie Sublette, chair of the English, Rhetoric, & Writing Department. 鈥淥ur M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction and English will deepen and strengthen the knowledge and skillsets teachers bring to the classroom.鈥�
The M.Ed. is a 30-hour program with 12 hours of core, hybrid coursework, offering a combination of interactive on-campus activities with an online component and 18 hours of specific content offered fully online. Both emphasis areas in the M.Ed. will provide outstanding opportunities for teachers to grow in their areas of expertise. In addition to increasing an educator鈥檚 skillset, a master鈥檚 degree can increase a teacher鈥檚 salary, on average, by approximately $4,400.
Those interested in the M.Ed. program can learn more by contacting the Office of Graduate Studies by email at graduate-studies@uafs.edu or the executive director of the School of Education by phone at 479-788-7912.
About the 妻友社区
The University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith is the premiere regional institution of Western Arkansas, connecting education with careers and serving as a driver of economic development and quality of place in the greater Fort Smith region. Small class sizes, dedicated faculty and staff, affordable tuition rates, and a diverse on-campus culture allow 妻友社区 students to fully explore their areas of interest in ways that prepare them for post-graduate success academically, professionally, and personally. .