Department of Educational Psychology, Research and Social Foundations
Lynne Hudson, Chairperson
Public Affairs and Community Services (PACS)
The Public Affairs and Community Services (PACS) Program, which leads to the Bachelor of Education degree, is built on a unique kind of curriculum to meet the needs of persons working in health and human services organizations. This population includes individuals working in health care and government occupations, police and fire protection employees, and vocational trainers. The program offers both four-year and 2-plus-2 options. The total number of semester hours required for the degree is 128. For students with previous college work resulting in an Associate Degree, the College of Education and Allied Professions will accept 64 semester hours.
The PACS Program provides the opportunity for individuals to build upon existing skills, often developed in an Associate's degree or R.N. programs, or other professional training programs. The PACS program is designed to be uniquely "educational," since the students enrolled are usually working in settings in which many of their activities are learning-oriented, such as informally teaching others on an individual or group basis, conducting classes and workshops, developing curriculum materials, and organizing orientation and in-service programs, supervising individuals and teams, and doing "case work" or "guidance" activities.
PACS for Registered Nurses, Other Allied Health Care Professionals, and Vocational Trainers (2-plus-2 program)
Many students who enter this major may gain credit for prior work in programs such as those leading to a nursing diploma or two-year Associate Degree. A student may earn a Bachelor of Education degree by choosing from a number of options, including: (1) School Nurse, (2) Legal Assisting and Paralegal Administration, (3) Administrative Office Technology and Human Resources Administration, (4) Licensed Practical Nurse Instructor, (5) Home Training Consultant, (6) Gerontology, and (7) Individualized Program.
For those with college credit completed after their diploma, credits will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis. The College of Education and Allied Professions will accept up to 64 semester hours of credit for the work completed for the nursing diploma. The R.N. student is granted 12 semester hours of credit upon entering the program and receives up to 52 additional semester hours after completion of the 64 semester hours required for the PACS degree.
Students must complete the following requirements: University Core Curriculum: 27-30 hours Select from the list in the General Section of this catalog. Orientation Course: 2 hours EAP 1000 Orientation to Education 2 Public Affairs Core: 15 hours PACS Core Courses should be taken in the following sequence: TSOC 3010, 3100, 4100. TSOC 3010 Educating the Reflective Practitioner 3 TSOC 3100 Inquiry and Creative Action 3 EDP or RESM Elective 3 ENGL 2950 Scientific & Technical Report Writing 3 TSOC 4100 Group Processes in Education 3 Major Area of Emphasis: 33 hours The area of emphasis is either quite structured, as in the school nurse and gerontology options, or open to be developed by the student and the faculty adviser. Any area of emphasis should be an organized, well-thought out set of courses, all related to a theme matching the student's own interests and academic needs. Areas might include School Nurse, Legal Assisting and Paralegal Administration, Gerontology, Administrative Office Technology and Human Resource Management in Public Affairs and Community Services, In-service Education and Orientation or Client Education. Students can create their own thematic foci as well. Electives: 37 hours Culminating Course and Service Learning coursework: 11-13 hours TSOC 4150 Education and Community Relations 3 TSOC 4940 Field Experience 8-10 The field experience is required in all PACS programs and is designed to be a culminating experience to be taken near the end of the student's program. It is planned jointly with the faculty adviser and field experience supervisor prior to registering for TSOC 4940.
Legal Assisting and Paralegal Administration for PACS (2-plus-2 program)
The Community and Technical College and the PACS Program in the College of Education and Allied Professions offer a combined program in Legal Assisting Technology and Paralegal Education. The program provides both specific job-related training as legal assistants and the broader educational background to assist them in a career as a paralegal administrator. The PACS component develops the skills in formal and informal education in such areas as organizing, orienting and leading in-service programs, conducting workshops, providing staff supervision, developing learning materials, developing group leadership, evaluation processes and skills and designing organizations that function effectively.
Entering the PACS component of this 2-plus-2 program with an Associate's degree from the Community and Technical College program, the student will complete the following types of courses:
University Core Curriculum: 27-30 hours
Select from the list in the General Section of this catalog.
Orientation Course: 2 hours
EAP 1000 Orientation to Education 2
Public Affairs Core: 15 hours
Area of Emphasis: 42 hours
This includes courses from Business Administration, Communication, Counselor Education, Educational Media and Technology, Educational Psychology and Economics. Students should consult their faculty adviser before taking courses in their area of emphasis.
Electives: 29 hours
Culminating Course and Service Learning coursework: 7 hours
(to be taken near the end of student's program)
TSOC 4150 Education and Community Relations 3
TSOC 4940 Field Experience 4
Administrative Office Technology and Human Resource Management for PACS (2-plus-2 program)
The Community and Technical College and the Public Affairs and Community Services Program of the College of Education and Allied Professions offer a combined program in Administrative Office Technology. The program provides both specific job-related training in Administrative Office Technology and the broader educational background to assist the student in a career as a supervisor. The PACS component develops the skills needed to work in small and large organizations in a coordinating position. Public and private organizations all call for persons who can coordinate the efforts of other office personnel. PACS course work develops the skills to be used in formal and informal educational settings. Such skills as organizing, orienting and leading in-service programs, conducting workshops, providing staff supervision, developing learning materials, developing group leadership, evaluation processes and skills, and designing organizations that function effectively are included in the curriculum.
Entering the PACS component of this two-plus-two program with an Associate's degree from the Community and Technical College program, the student will complete the following types of courses: University Core Curriculum: 27-30 hours Select from the list in the General Section of this catalog. Orientation Course: 2 hours EAP 1000 Orientation to Education 2 Public Affairs Core: 21 hours (15 hours plus the following) Additional requirements: PHIL 2400 and ECON 3050 or ECON 3500 Area of Emphasis: 36 hours This includes courses from Business Administration, Educational Media and Technology, Educational Psychology, Economics, Communication, Counselor Education and Human Services Education. Students should consult their faculty adviser before taking courses in their area of emphasis. Electives: 37 hours Culminating Course and Service Learning coursework: 7 hours (to be taken near the end of student's program) TSOC 4150 Education and Community Relations 3 TSOC 4940 Field Experience 4
School Nurse
A Bachelor of Education degree with an emphasis on school nursing is awarded to the R.N.s who complete this program. The State Board of Education issues licenses to school nurses who have completed a school nurse education sequence. Upon licensure, school nurses are in a position to assume permanent staff responsibilities. Those who already have a Bachelor's Degree are strongly encouraged to complete the state's requirements at the graduate level. The courses needed for licensure include: University Core Curriculum: 27-30 hours Select from the list in the General Section of this catalog. Area of Emphasis: 26 hours EDP 3110 Learning & Individual Differences 3 EDP 3120 Psych of Coping and Adaptation 3 EDP 4210 Child Behavior and Development or EDP 4220 Adolescent Behavior & Develop 3 TSOC 4990* Sociological Foundations of Education or TSOC 4990* Intergroup & Intercultural Education 3 HEAL 3300 Drug Awareness 3 HEAL 4600 School Health Programs 3 CHSE 4080 Essentials of Helping Relations 3 CHSE 3070 Family Counseling 3 TSOC 4130 Children and the Law 2 Health Education Electives: 6 hours (e.g., Nutrition, Sexuality, Stress and Health) Culminating Course and Service Learning coursework: 7 hours (to be taken near the end of student's program) TSOC 4150 Education and Community Relations 3 TSOC 4940 Field Experience 4 * Student must have a seminar sheet signed by instructor prior to registration
Gerontology
This emphasis focuses on understanding the elderly and how to work effectively with older persons. It is designed to develop skills needed for working in nursing homes, social service agencies, educational institutions and volunteer positions. Students selecting this option will complete:
University Core Curriculum: 27-30 hours Select from the list in the General Section of this catalog. Orientation Course: 2 hours EAP 1000 Orientation to Education 2 Public Affairs Core: 15 hours Area of Emphasis: 36 hours This could include courses in Health, Therapeutic Recreation, Educational Psychology, Counselor and Human Services Education, Sociology and Psychology. Students should see an adviser before taking any courses. Electives: 29 hours Culminating Course and Service Learning coursework: 11-13 hours (to be taken near the end of the student's program) TSOC 4150 Education and Community Relations 3 TSOC 4940 Field Experience 8-10 hours
PACS (Four-Year Program)
Students who enter the PACS program with little or no academic work beyond high school complete a course of study that is similar to the traditional four-year program of 128 semester hours.
This program has four foci: (1) the University Core Curriculum, (2) the PACS core courses, (3) the PACS major area of emphasis and (4) on-the-job field experience and synthesis. Approximately 30 semester hours of university core requirements must be completed. The content of the PACS major emphasis, which is to be related to the educational aspects of the student's on-the-job responsibilities, will depend upon the student's particular interests and type of employment. The on-the-job field experience is planned by the candidate and the faculty adviser.
Students entering the program must meet University admission requirements. It is preferred that an applicant to the program be employed as a police officer, firefighter or as a staff member of a social service, religious, governmental, health or related community organization. As with all University programs, academic credit previously earned may be applied to the requirements of this program, which can include credits earned at a university, community college, or through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). University Core Curriculum: 27-30 hours Additional Requirements: 7 hours EAP 1000 Orientation to Education 2 ENGL 1110 College Composition I 3 PED 1080 Exercise and Health 2 Public Affairs Core: 15 hours PACS Core Courses should be taken in the following sequence: TSOC 3010, 3100, 4100 TSOC 3010 Educating the Reflective Practitioner 3 TSOC 3100 Inquiry and Creative Action 3 EDP or RESM Elective 3 ENGL 2950 Scientific & Technical Report Writing 3 TSOC 4100 Group Processes in Education 3 Major Area of Emphasis: 42 hours The area of emphasis is developed by the student and the adviser. It should be an organized set of courses all related to a theme or major matching the student's own needs and interests. Such areas might include in-service education and orientation, client education or leadership in educational settings. Up to 12 semester hours can be taken at the 2000 level, the remaining 30 hours need to be at the 3000-4000 level. Electives: 23 hours The selection of electives for the program must be done with an adviser and relate to the student's professional interests and goals. Transfer credit can be used as electives where appropriate. Culminating Course and Service Learning coursework: 11-13 hours (to be taken near the end of a student's program) TSOC 4150 Education and Community Relations 3 TSOC 4940 Field Experience 8-10
For information, call or contact the Department of Educational Psychology, Research and Social Foundations at (419) 530-2475, 530-2565 or 530-4375.