University of Texas Course Descriptions
ALD 320 Cognition, Human Learning, and Motivation:
Current and classical theories concerning conditioning paradigms, learning and
remembering, attention, knowledge representation and retrieval, comprehension
and production of language, problem solving, and the ways emotion influences
learning. Three lecture hours a week for one semester.
ALD 321 Play in Early Childhood Development:
Theoretical and empirical bases for observing children in play; cognitive, social, and
communicative stages related to developmental theory; children's adjustment
related to social and emotional theories; motivational value of play. Three lecture
hours a week for one semester, with fieldwork to be arranged.
ALD 322 Individual Differences:
Introduction to individual differences among people through the life span. Examines
areas of exceptionality within the context of typical development: current research
trends; theoretical and legal considerations; and practice-related issues, including
family involvement, cultural and linguistic diversity, and educational perspectives.
Orientation to assistive technology. Three lecture hours a week for one semester,
with fieldwork to be arranged.
ALD 327 Sociocultural Influences on Learning:
Human learning in multisocial, multilingual, and multicultural contexts; realities of
society and their impact on learning; social concerns such as prejudice, stereotyping,
cross-cultural attitudes, bilingual issues, parent and community involvement. Three
lecture hours and three laboratory hours a week for one semester.
ALD 328 Applied Human Learning:
Development, cognition, language, and sociocultural influences in learning contexts;
child assessment, identification of learning styles, and tests and measurements.
Fieldwork to provide a theoretical basis for professional assessment, referral, and
placement. Three lecture hours a week for one semester, with fieldwork to be
arranged.
ALD 329 Acquisition of Languages and Literacies:
Topics include initial language and literacy acquisition theory; second language
acquisition theory; relations among first and additional languages in literacy and
language acquisition; home, school, and learners’ perspectives; and current issues in
literacy and multilingual classrooms. Three lecture hours a week for one semester.
Additional fieldwork hours may be required.
ALD 330 Language in Education:
Theoretical and practical perspectives on the nature of language in education, with
a focus on implications for English language learners in classroom settings;
linguistic structures and functions; discourse, phonology, morphology, syntax, and
semantics across languages and throughout development; and language varieties.
Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Additional fieldwork hours may be
required.
ALD 339D Reading Assessment and Development:
Three lecture hours a week for one semester.
EDC 331E School Organization and Classroom Management in Elementary
Schools:
Administrative structure of elementary schools; concepts, principles, and strategies
for establishing an orderly classroom environment, preventing inappropriate
behavior, and promoting student involvement in academic work. Three lecture
hours a week for one semester, and sixteen to twenty hours of fieldwork a week in
an elementary school.
EDC 370E and 670E Elementary School Subjects:
Curriculum content and organization, teaching procedures, materials, and research
in elementary school subjects. Three class hours a week for one or two semesters,
including fieldwork in elementary schools.
 Topic 1: Reading. Additional prerequisite: Admission to the professional
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development sequence of courses.
Topic 2: Language Arts. Additional prerequisite: Admission to the
professional development sequence of courses.
Topic 3: Science. Additional prerequisite: Admission to the professional
development sequence of courses.
Topic 4: Social Studies. Additional prerequisite: Admission to the
professional development sequence of courses.
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Topic 5: Mathematics. Additional prerequisite: Mathematics 316L or
consent of the mathematics education faculty; and admission to the
professional development sequence of courses.
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Topic 20: Teaching English as a Second Language. The methods,
teaching strategies, and materials for developing and assessing English
language proficiency in culturally and linguistically diverse populations
within the context of the elementary school curriculum.
EDC 371G Guiding Young Children in Groups:
Designed to provide students with frameworks for observing and interacting with
young children in classroom settings, and to acquaint students with the teacher's
varied roles in early childhood classrooms. Topics include cultural and linguistic
diversity; supervising and interacting with children in a range of instructional
groupings, including center-based and play-based learning activities and wholegroup experiences; planning and implementing appropriate practices and
strategies; and record-keeping and assessment. Three lecture hours a week for one
semester, and twelve to sixteen hours of fieldwork a week in a public school.
HED 329K Child, Adolescent, and Adult Health:
The foundations of child, adolescent, and adult health; health education; and the
biological, environmental, and behavioral health determinants of health. Includes
the application of evidence-based child, adolescent, and adult health promotion
concepts; prominent health risk behaviors established during youth that increase
the risk of morbidity and mortality; and the application of personal health and
wellness information. Three lecture hours a week for one semester.
KIN 314 Children's Movement:
Principles and practices related to the development of children's movement skills,
fitness, and commitment to a physically active lifestyle. Includes the scientific basis
for motor performance, curricular organization, and pedagogical methodology
related to elementary school physical education. Involves group work, field
experience in elementary school physical education classes, and participation in
community activities. Three lecture hours and three laboratory hours a week for one
semester, including off-campus observation of children's movement programs.