About the Center
The Center for Gifted Education at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock provides programs and services to talented students and their families, teachers, and administrators. Established in 2001, it is only one of twenty-five such centers nationwide.
NAGC Conferees: Please go to the new Center web site for all of your down- loadable materials.
Goals
The goals of the Center are:
- To provide graduate education for individuals interested in teaching talented youth and in assuming leadership positions in the field of gifted education.
- To provide professional development programs and services to educators who serve talented youth.
- To engage in research and scholarly inquiry on talent development among high ability learners and their educators who serve them.
- To provide a learning laboratory for precollegiate learners and their educators.
- To serve as a community resource for talented youth, their families, school districts, and state departments of education.
Graduate Programs
The Center supports a full range of graduate programs in gifted education:
- Licensure
Licensure in Gifted and Talented Education is a K-8 and/or 7-12 licensure attached to an existing license in general or specific education. Licensure is an 18-hour program. - Master of Education
The masters program in Gifted and Talented Education prepares educators for roles as classroom teachers, gifted and talented facilitators, gifted program coordinators, and educational cooperative supervisors. The Masters is a 36-hour program. - Summers and Saturdays Masters Program
To accommodate the busy professional, the masters program can be completed with online Saturday and summer short courses. - Doctor of Education
The doctoral program requires 60 post-Masters hours. The specialization in Gifted and Talented Education is a co-emphasis within the Educational Administration and Supervision program and focuses on curriculum and professional development.
Professional Development
Arkansas Advanced Placement Center
More than five hundred teachers a year receive training in teaching Advanced Placement courses at the Arkansas Advanced Placement Professional Development Center, a division of the Center for Gifted Education.
AP Summer Institute
Each summer, teachers attend UALR's AP Summer Institute at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Science and the Arts in Hot Springs. The College Board endorsed Institute provides Pre-AP and AP instruction in English, mathematics, social studies, science, art, and foreign languages.
Teachers of Color
The Teachers of Color and Mentors Program offers graduate study scholarships and mentors to middle and high school teachers of color who wish to teach AP and Pre-AP courses. The program was initiated with funding from the U.S. Department of Education.
Pre-College Programs
Summer Laureate/University for Youth
Summer Laureate/University for Youth provides unique learning experiences for students in grades K-7. The three-week summer program offers a variety of classes taught by graduate students seeking Masters degrees in gifted education, master teachers, and community experts. Approximately three to four hundred children participate in over thirty different courses annually. Established in 1980, Summer Laureate is one of the nation's longest running university enrichment programs for high ability youth.
Special Events
Arkansas Recognition Ceremony Talent Identification Program (TIP)
Each spring the Center hosts the Arkansas Recognition Ceremony for participants in the Duke University Talent Identification Program (TIP).
Talent Search Scholar Investigations
In conjunction with the Arkansas Recognition Ceremony, the Center provides special sessions on academic and career-focused topics. Sessions have showcased a virtual reality laboratory, cyber careers, the Clinton Presidential Library, and collaborative opportunities with the Arkansas Repertory Theatre.