COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
READING
(RDG)
0013 Reading Improvement
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Practical instruction in strategies for improving reading of university-level
materials. Strategies developed include determining word meanings; understanding
main ideas and supporting details; identifying the writer's purpose, point of
view, and intended meaning; analyzing relationships among ideas; using critical
reasoning when reading; and study skills. Course does not count toward any degree
at UTSA.
3513 Children's Literature
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Designed to familiarize students with children's books from diverse cultures
that are appropriate for young children. Topics will include: the values of
children's books, criteria for selecting materials, the evaluation of individual
books, a survey of the genres of children's literature, literary response, and
the discussion of current issues in the field of children's literature.
3523 Developmental Reading - Grades 4-8
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
An overview of the development of reading across the grades with an emphasis
on grades 4 through 8. This course focuses on the reading process, techniques
for developing oral and written language facility, word identification and comprehension
of readers from various sociocultural backgrounds and with differing abilities,
and classroom assessment of reading. Twenty hours of field experiences are required.
3533 Content Area Reading - Grades 4-8
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: RDG 3523
Study of the teaching and learning of content area reading in grades 4-8 including
the textual, contextual, and cultural factors that influence reading. The course
considers the range of reading abilities of intermediate and middle grade students,
texts used in these grade levels, and strategies for teaching and evaluating
vocabulary, comprehension, and thinking skills in the content areas. Twenty
hours of field experiences are required.
3633 Literature and Other Texts Across
the Content Areas - Grades 4-8
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
This course is designed to familiarize students with literature and other texts
appropriate for students in grades 4 through 8. These texts include trade books,
informational books, electronic texts, and other real world texts that are appropriate
for teaching and learning. Topics will include: examination of critical issues
in children's books and young adult literature, evaluation and selection of
texts, and literary response. Ten hours of field experience are required.
3773 Introduction to Content Area Reading-Secondary
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisites: Completion of all requirements for admission
to the teacher certification program, including but not limited to satisfying
the TASP, requirement and completing EDU 2103 and EDP 3203.
Study of the reading process and of materials and techniques for supporting
reading and writing in the secondary school. Considers the range of reading
ability of secondary students, texts used, and strategies for teaching vocabulary,
and comprehension in different content areas. Directed field experiences in
secondary school classrooms are required. Opportunities for cross-disciplinary
applications. Not offered in the summer. Twenty hours of field experience are
required. Restricted course; advisor code required for registration,
3803 Writing Development and Processes
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Examines the nature of written language and facets of the writing process. The
course focuses on stages in the writing process, writing in different genres,
the developmental nature of writing, writing in relation to other communication
processes, and the place of technology in writing.
3813 Early Literacy Learning-EC-4
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: ECE 3603.
Introduction to early literacy learning and ways in which it relates to language
development in diverse communities. Special emphasis is placed on emergent reading
and writing, development of phonemic awareness, decoding and word analysis,
fluency, and meaning construction. Additional topics include family literacy
and the assessment of early literacy development. Field experiences in this
course include an early literacy assessment of a young child and one-on-one
tutoring in oral language, reading, and writing. Twenty hours of field experience
required.
3823 Reading Comprehension-EC-4
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: RDG 3813.
Study of the reading comprehension process, including how textual, reader, contextual,
and cultural factors affect understanding of written text. Emphasis is placed
on comprehending narrative and expository text and supporting literacy in the
content areas. Twenty hours of directed field experience are required.
4733 Literacy Problems-EC-4
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisites: RDG 3813 and RDG 3823 (or RDG 3823 can
also be taken concurrently).
Practicum that affords students the opportunity to assess and tutor struggling
readers. Cognitive, socio-cultural, and affective factors related to the child's
literacy development are addressed. Students learn a variety of means to assess
literacy ability and develop instructional interventions to address identified
areas of need. A maximum of 25 hours of fieldwork are required.
4913 Independent Study
3 hours credit. Prerequisite: Permission in writing (form available) from the
instructor, the student's advisor, the Department Chair and Dean of the college
in which the course is offered.
Independent reading, research, discussion, and/or writing under the direction
of a faculty member. May be repeated for credit, but not more than 6 semester
credit hours of independent study, regardless of discipline, will apply to a
bachelor's degree.
4953 Special Studies in Reading
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Organized course offering the opportunity for specialized study not normally
or not often available as part of the regular course offerings. Special Studies
may be repeated for credit when topics vary, but not more than 6 semester credit
hours, regardless of discipline, will apply to a bachelor's degree.
4993 Honors Thesis
3 hours credit. Prerequisites: Enrollment limited to candidates for honors in
the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies and Curriculum and Instruction during
the last two semesters; consent of the Honors College.
Supervised research and preparation for an honors thesis. May be repeated once
with advisor's approval.