Overview
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction is one of five Departments in the College of Education and Human Development. The Department offers the bachelor's degrees in Elementary Education and Child Care and Family Education; master's degrees in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education and Reading; Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education and a doctoral degree in Early. Childhood Education. The programs mentioned in the latter all comprise to form the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. These programs are nationally recognized, with the exception of Child Care and Family Education, all are accredited. Additionally, candidates admitted to other programs throughout the College of Education and Human Development, who desire to teach in elementary or secondary schools, both public and private, are enrolled in courses offered by this department. These programs illustrate advanced knowledge about appropriate skills in learning theory, educational goals and objectives, cultural influences on learning, and curriculum. These outcomes are derived from the National Association of State Director's of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) standards and professional accreditation recommendations of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the Association of Childhood Education (ACEI), the Southern Association for Colleges and Schools (SACS), and the International Reading Association (IRA).
Mission
The mission of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction (EDCI) in the College of Education and Human Resources is lead the research, teaching and service efforts of Jackson State University that support and improve educational opportunities for learners in Mississippi and the nation as a whole. This mission is accomplished, in collaboration with other stakeholders, through a coherent set of activities: (a) conducting and publishing research that contributes significantly to teaching and learning theory, curricular designs, teacher education, school improvement, and student achievement; (b) creating and evaluating teacher education and teacher enhancement programs that are based on the latest research; (c) preparing reflective researchers and practitioners for a multicultural society; and (d) engaging in professional service activities that influence policy and practice at the state and national levels.
Accomplishments
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction has been consistently
recognized for excellence in teaching, research and service. Many of the department's
accomplishments by recent graduates include appointments as principals, college
professors, state departments and other leading roles throughout the discipline.
Candidates also recognized by the National Board of Certified Teachers and
the Milken Family Foundation for Research and Service. All full-time faculty
for this department hold terminal degrees and continue to contribute a substantial
amount of research while serving on of the largest population of majors in
the College of
Education and Human Development. In terms of diversity, fifty percent of the
full-time faculty employed are considered minority. The department prides
itself on the research and services offered to all its majors to ensure quality
outcomes. Candidates matriculation though the various programs are supplemented
by the Test Preparation Center and Curriculum Center. Our majors also collaborate
with numerous schools throughout the district through service learning projects
and field placement.
Structure
The Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education is dedicated to both graduate and undergraduate education. All faculty are involved in graduate and undergraduate research which limits the amount of research and service by these same faculty members. The department is comprised of eight faculty members (this includes other assignments, example: one faculty can only teach two classes per semester or paid overtime for any additional classes). From 2000-2003, nine additional adjunct professors and one graduate assistant support the department's programs and the classes continue to overload. All Elementary and Childcare and Family (bachelor) complete the EDCI l00 and participate in service learning projects in collaboration with the schools, YMCA, and local community service agencies. All graduate majors are evaluated on in selected areas of competencies to determine their performance.
Summary of Unit's Strategic Goals
1. Vigorously recruit a more ethnically diverse student population
to better them for a more diverse p-12 classroom.
2. Increase the department's visibility by increasing faculty
research productivity.
3. Enhance the department's graduate programs by increasing
graduate enrollment, selectivity and diversity by developing a new state-of-the-art
program that reflects the current research.
4. Involve both graduate and undergraduate candidates in conducting research
collaboratively with the faculty.
5. Work collaboratively with stakeholders, including the
State Department of Education, and representatives from the Barksdale Reading
Institute to stay current with state and federal mandates as well as those
from governing learning societies and special program associations to ensure
that we empower our candidates with the knowledge and skills necessary to
meet educational standards and maintain a quality of excellence in the field.
6. Develop a mentoring partnership between graduate and undergraduate
candidates to better prepare pre-service teachers in the endeavor to become
exemplary educators.
7. Ensure each candidate has at least three advisement sessions
per semester in order to address their developmental needs as they matriculate
through programs of study.
8. Increase the number of tenured faculty with doctoral degrees.
9. Increase tenured faculty salaries.
10. Develop a subdivision of the department in Reading.
11. Increase the number of staff and salaries.
Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education
Dr. Ruth Searcy, Chair
Faculty:
Dr. Betty Langley
Dr. Ruth Searcy :: Vita
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