Education Studies Major & Minor
Examining education and education-related issues from a variety of theoretical perspectives, the department offers courses that recognize the socio-cultural, historical, political, economic and philosophical influences on learning, teaching and human development. As a result of their coursework, field experiences, formal research projects, exposure to national speakers, and internships and off-campus study trips, education students cultivate several qualities: an awareness of their personal power and agency, the ability to critique as well as problem solve, and the capacity to undertake informed and principled action within learning communities. Thus, the department’s curricular offerings highlight how self-discovery and understanding one’s natural and social worlds occur in a range of settings, including but not limited to, schools.
Undergraduate Non-licensure Programs in Education Studies
The four-year non-licensure Education Studies program focuses on education as discipline within the liberal arts. Courses in Education Studies investigate topics within the sociology of education, the political economy of schools, theories of learning and development, as well as cultural, historical and philosophical studies in education. Both a major and minor in Education Studies are offered, as outlined below.
Requirements for a major
Education Studies
| Total courses required | Ten |
|---|---|
| Core courses | EDUC 170, EDUC 222, EDUC 223, EDUC 480, EDUC 490 |
| Other required courses | Five additional courses in Education Studies, three of which must be at the 300-level or higher. |
| Number 300 and 400 level courses | Five |
| Senior requirement and capstone experience | The capstone experience in the Department of Education Studies is the senior seminar (EDUC 490). Students engage in a half semester of common readings determined by the seminar faculty member and then select and complete an individual, empirical project. This original research is the subject of a 25-35 page thesis and a final presentation. Students must earn a grade of C or higher to successfully meet the senior requirement. |
| Writing in the Major | The Education Studies department distributes the writing requirement across all existing courses, such that majors and minors have many opportunities to develop and refine their writing skills. . A student will complete the Writing in the Major requirement for Education Studies when he/she successfully completes the following courses with a grade of C+ or higher: EDUC 170, EDUC 222, EDUC 223, EDUC 480, EDUC 490. |
Requirements for a minor
Education Studies
| Total courses required | Five |
|---|---|
| Core courses | EDUC 170, EDUC 222, EDUC 223 |
| Other required courses | Two additional courses in Education Studies, at least one of which must be at the 300 level. |
| Number 300 and 400 level courses | One |