Degrees in Education at Southern Arkansas University
Southern Arkansas University appears in our ranking of the Top 20 Best MATs in Elementary Education Online.
Southern Arkansas University offers eight areas of study within education for its undergraduate students, and 16 options for its graduate students. Most degree programs feature multiple concentrations or tracks that students may pursue, and the university also offers non-degree programs for teacher licensing. Degrees are offered by the College of Education, and some degrees are available online while others are offered on the Magnolia, Arkansas campus.
For undergraduate students, degree options include agricultural education, elementary education, foreign language education, and middle school education for grades four through eight. Additional education degrees at SAU are offered in music education, health & physical education, secondary English, and secondary math.
Within the College of Education, degree-seekers will enroll in classes offered by the Departments of Teacher Education, Counseling & Professional Studies, and Health, Kinesiology, & Recreation. While pursuing STEM education degrees, students may also participate in training and classes offered by the Southern Arkansas University STEM Center for K-12 Education. The STEM Center covers more than 6,000 square feet and features classrooms and teaching laboratories.
For graduate students in education, Southern Arkansas University offers degrees that include a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, a Master of Arts in Teaching, a Master of Education in Library Media and Information Specialist, and a Master of Education in School Counseling. Other available degrees include a Master of Education in Special Education, a Master of Science in Kinesiology – Coaching, and a Master of Science in Clinical and Mental Health Counseling.
Several graduate-level programs are also available that don’t lead to degrees but instead offer licensure opportunities. Options include superintendent licensure and principal licensure, as well as non-degree programs in teaching, school counseling, special education, and curriculum/program administration.
All of the university’s programs are offered online, and some are also offered in a hybrid format or on campus. For example, students can enroll in the school counseling non-degree program online, or they can enroll as hybrid students where some classes are taken online, and others are taken on campus.
About Southern Arkansas University
Southern Arkansas University is a public school in the community of Magnolia. The school was founded in 1909 after the Arkansas Legislature passed a bill to create an agricultural high school for the region. The university was once known as the Third District Agricultural School. The first students would attend classes in 1911, and classes were offered at the secondary school level.
In the next few decades, the school would become a two-year college and would see its name changed to the Agricultural and Mechanical College, Third District. The college would undergo further transformations into a four-year institution and would become a university in 1975. Today, around 1,484 students attend the university, which sits on a campus that covers 1,418 acres. The university is affiliated with the NCAA Division II and the Great American Conference.
Southern Arkansas University Accreditation Details
Southern Arkansas University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, which is more commonly known as the Higher Learning Commission. This accreditation covers the overall institution and is an essential component for maintaining the transferability of college credits. There are also other organizations tasked with approving individual programs that have accredited Southern Arkansas University programs.
The nursing programs at the associate and bachelor’s degree levels are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. The university’s degree-granting and non-degree-granting programs in music have earned specialized accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Music, Commission on Accreditation. The programs offering instruction on elementary and secondary school education have been approved by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Southern Arkansas University Application Requirements
First-time applicants to Southern Arkansas University will submit an application, standardized test score, high school transcript, and immunization record when they apply. Students who earned a GED may submit their GED passing score as a substitute for a high school transcript. The university may request additional documents or details from some applicants. Students may qualify for unconditional admission if they earn a 19 or higher on the ACT and have completed the SAU required high school core curriculum.
Applicants who want to live on campus in one of the university’s residence halls will also need to submit a separate application, as well as submit a deposit to secure a room. Non-traditional students who are at least 25-years-old may gain unconditional admission without ACT scores, but they must submit scores to determine whether any prerequisite courses are needed before the student is fully admitted to the program of their choice.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Full-time tuition for undergraduate students is $3,210 per term for Arkansas residents and is $5,460 per-term for non-residents. Those who enroll in more than 15 credit hours each term will pay $115 for each additional credit. Summer class tuition is based on the same per-credit rate. Students who enroll in part-time study will pay $214 per credit hour if they’re from Arkansas or $364 per credit hour if they’re from outside the state.
For graduate students, the rate is $280 per credit hour for Arkansas residents and $440 per credit hour for non-residents. Students will also pay an athletic fee of $19 per credit for classes taken in the spring and summer. Students pay the full-time tuition rate if they enroll in 12 or more hours. There are also some tuition waiver opportunities for out-of-state residents. For example, sons and daughters of previous SAU graduates may receive a tuition discount.
The Office of Financial Aid handles financial assistance at Southern Arkansas University and has federal, state, and institutional options available for aid. All students must submit a FAFSA form if they want to qualify for aid at the university. The form may be submitted online, or students may also submit it via traditional mail. Financial aid is available to qualified students whether they take classes on campus or enroll in fully online classes.
In addition to submitting a FAFSA, which may qualify the student for federal loans and grants, applicants may also want to examine the scholarships available from the university. The priority deadline is usually in March for most scholarships, but students should check with the university to confirm scholarship deadlines. Available awards from Southern Arkansas University include the Presidential Scholarship, Blue and Gold Scholarship, and the Valedictorian/Salutatorian Scholarship.
