Education Studies

Education Studies explores all aspects of educational history, philosophy, policy, and practice, from many different disciplinary perspectives. Education Studies (EDST) courses are open to all students in the College and Conservatory and meet the general education requirement (GER) for social science; some also meet diversity or competency requirements. Interested students can complete the Education Studies minor described below.

Education Studies minor

The minor in education studies provides students in the College and Conservatory with the opportunity to pursue focused inquiry into the philosophical, cultural, and social foundations of education; the historical and present-day relationship between school and society; the part formal education plays in human development; and/or contemporary issues of education policy and practice. The minor helps prepare students for graduate study or work in education-related fields.

Required for the education studies minor

1. Three foundational courses (each with a 20-hour practicum):

EDST 180 Psychology of Learning - open to freshmen
EDST 350 Ethnicity, Cultural Diversity and Education
EDST 440 Sociology of Education

2. One of the following courses:

EDST 309 Hollywood Goes to High School
EDST 345 Distributed Cognition
EDST 400 The Environment, Community and Education
EDST 450 Topics in Education Studies (can be repeated as topics vary)
EDST 545 Gesture Studies
PSYC 260/265 Developmental Psychology
PSYC 460 Adolescent Psychology

3. Both of the following with approval from an Education Department faculty member:

One additional course in education studies or in another department as preparation for the academic internship or independent study below
An academic internship (EDST 395/595) or independent study (EDST 399/599) appropriate to the student’s interest in education studies

Possible settings for internships include but are not limited to: public, private, or charter schools; school district offices; museum or arts organizations; other non-profit or community organizations; social services agencies; governmental bodies; policy or advocacy groups; and other approved sites.

Students seeking teacher certification may also complete the Education Studies minor, but student teaching may not be used to fulfill the internship or independent study requirement, nor may the internship substitute for the classroom practicum hours required prior to student teaching. For more information, contact a member of the Education Department.