Majors and Minors

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Major in Educational Studies

An educational studies major includes at least 8 credits in Educational Studies.  All majors must include a methods course in their program as preparation for their senior thesis or comprehensive.  Methods courses can include any of the following three courses:

  • EDUC 65 Qualitative Methods for Educational Change

  • SOCI 16B Research Methods in Social Science

  • EDUC 21 Educational Psychology

The culminating comprehensive exercise for the Educational Studies major is often a 1-2 credit senior thesis, completed in the senior year. Course Educational Studies majors also have the option of completing a Capstone Experience.

Students may take up to 3 credits outside of the Department of Educational Studies toward the major. These may include courses taught by a faculty member outside of the department and cross-listed in Educational Studies, and courses taken through off campus study.

Of the 8 credits required for the Educational Studies Major, no more than one credit may be taken as elected CR/NC. Seminars (courses numbered 92 and above) may not be taken CR/NC. Courses taken the first semester of the first year and those courses that are only offered CR/NC do not count towards this limit.

Prerequisites for entry into the major include EDUC 014, Pedagogy and Power: Introduction to Education and one additional course in the department. 

Students may also pursue an honors major in Educational Studies.

Majors in Educational Studies & Partnering Departments

Students may complete a course major that integrates work in Educational Studies with their study in another campus department. Pre-established programs have been created with the following disciplines: biology, Black studies, chemistry, computer science, English literature, French, German, history, Latin American and Latino studies, linguistics, mathematics, peace and conflict studies, physics, political science, psychology, Russian, sociology/anthropology, and Spanish (requirements below). Individualized majors incorporating Educational Studies and other disciplines not listed above can be pursued with the approval of both the Department of Educational Studies and the second department. For all majors involving additional disciplines, both departments collaborate in advising the student. The Educational Studies prerequisite for acceptance to any course major with a partnering department is EDUC 014. Pedagogy and Power: An Introduction to Education and one additional Educational Studies course. 

All majors are required to complete a one or two credit thesis or a comprehensive examination/capstone research/practicum experience integrating work in their two fields of study. All majors are encouraged to take EDUC 065: Educational Research for Social Change in the spring of their sophomore or junior year. This course prepares students to write a major thesis or conduct research in their senior year. 

The majors with partner departments usually require 10 to 12 credits, at least 5 of which must be in Educational Studies. For those pursuing teaching certification, EDUC 092: Practice Teaching and EDUC 093: Curriculum and Methods Seminar do not count towards the credits for the major. Students pursuing a major with a partner discipline may take up to 2 credits outside of the Department of Educational Studies toward the Educational Studies courses within their major. These may include courses taught by a faculty member outside of the department and cross-listed in Educational Studies, and courses taken through off campus study. No more than one EDUC course taken as elected CR/NC may be included in the major. Students must consult the partnering department of the major directly to determine if CR/NC courses may be accepted for the partnering department’s requirements within the major. Courses taken the first semester of the first year and courses that are only offered CR/NC do not count towards this limit.

Educational Studies has established majors with the departments listed below. The courses required both within Educational Studies and the second departments are described in the linked documents. There may be some flexibility in courses that will meet each requirement; each student's program will be planned in consultation with advisers in Educational Studies and the partnering department.

Majors in Educational Studies and partner departments may also be pursued as part of an honors program.

majoRs in Educational Studies & Partnering Departments:

 

Minor in Educational Studies

The Educational Studies minor provides students with the opportunity to choose from a variety of Educational Studies courses and prompts students to reflect on the overarching theme of their experience in the department. The Educational Studies course minor requires at least 5 credits in Educational Studies. Students may take up to 2 credits outside of the Department of Educational Studies toward the course minor. These may include courses taught by a faculty member outside of the department and cross-listed in Educational Studies and courses taken through off campus study. Elected CR/NC courses may not be counted towards the credit requirement for the Educational Studies minor. Courses taken the first semester of the first year and those only offered CR/NC are permitted. The prerequisite for acceptance to the Educational Studies course minor program is EDUC 014. Pedagogy and Power: An Introduction to Education and one additional Educational Studies course.  Course minors may also pursue teacher certification. 

Students may also pursue an honors minor in Educational Studies