Henderson State University has a proud history of preparing thousands of Arkansas’s best teachers, school administrators, and other school professionals. In 1929, Henderson became Henderson State Teachers College (HSTC) and kept that distinction for almost 40 years. When HSTC became Henderson State College and later Henderson State University, the College of Education broadened its scope to include professions other than P-12 educators. The College of Education was renamed Teachers College, Henderson with the dedication of the Education Center in 2002. Today, with its varied professional programs and partnerships, Teachers College, Henderson is dedicated to its vision of “Preparing Professionals for Progressive Communities.”
Because quality matters, all Teachers College programs build upon a foundation of strong liberal arts. Most of Teachers College, Henderson’s programs are nationally accredited or recognized. The educator preparation program has been accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) since NCATE’s inception in 1954. NCATE is now the Council for the Accreditation for Educator Preparation. Moreover, programs in early childhood education, middle level education, educational leadership, special education, English Language Arts, mathematics, and social studies are nationally recognized by their specialty professional associations. The Didactics Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ASCEND) and the Athletic Training Program is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). The Counselor Education Program was one of the first in the region to become accredited by the Counsel for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The Recreation Program is in the process of seeking national accreditation.
Teachers College, Henderson (TCH) State University is a multifaceted college comprised of five academic departments and several support centers and a model public school partnership. Academic departments include the Department of Curriculum and Instruction; Family and Consumer Sciences; Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Athletic Training; Advanced Instructional Studies; and Counselor Education. Support programs include the Office of Teacher Licensure, the M. H. Russell Center for Economic Education, the South Arkansas Math and STEM Science Center, and the Southwest-A Education Renewal Zone.
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction includes bachelor-level programs leading to educator licensure in early childhood (P-4), middle level education (4-8), and Business Technology Education (7-12). The Department’s alternative route leading to educator licensure is the Master of Arts in Teaching. Also included in the Department is the Office of Teacher Education Admissions and Clinical Experiences where all field and clinical experiences for initial teacher licensure are coordinated. The Department relies on the departments of Family and Consumer Sciences and HPER/AT and Ellis College of Arts and Sciences to provide content preparation.
The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) offers Bachelor of Science degrees in FCS education, childcare management, dietetics, early childhood development, foods and nutrition, and fashion merchandising.
The Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Athletic Training offers a Bachelor of Science in Education degree in Physical Education, Wellness, and Leisure, including a program of study leading to a coaching endorsement); a Bachelor of Science in Recreation with options in natural resource management, leisure services management, and sport management; and a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training.
The Department of Advanced Instructional Studies offers Master of Science in Education degrees in Advanced Instructional Studies, including options in English as a Second Language, Instructional Facilitator, Interdisciplinary Studies, Mathematics, and Physical Education; Special Education; and Educational Leadership. In addition, the Department offers a Master of Science degree in Early Intervention in Developmental Therapy, an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership, and a program of study leading to licensure in Curriculum Program Administrator.
The Counselor Education Department offers a Master of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Master of Science in Education degree in School Counseling.
The M. H. Russell Center for Economic Education, the South Arkansas Math and STEM Science Center, and the Southwest A Education Renewal Zone provide professional development and resources for Arkansas P-12 schools. HSU has maintained a strong P-16 partnership with public schools since the early 1990’s when it was part of the “Break the Mold” initiative, funded by the Rockefeller Foundation to build P-16 partnerships between higher education and public schools. While many of the original P-16 recipients of “Break the Mold” funds no longer have strong public school partnerships, TCH’s Partners in Education (PiE) is stronger than ever.