Chair: S. Woolley
Department Site
The Department of Educational Studies offers two distinct undergraduate programs: (1) a major or minor in educational studies and (2) a preparation program for students intending to teach at either the elementary or secondary level. Both programs have a social justice focus.
The department also offers a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program for students wanting to complete an advanced degree before moving into the classroom (childhood and secondary education).
Given these programs, the department offers a comprehensive study of formal and informal educational institutions and practices, and the ways they are affected by social forces. Interdisciplinary by design, classes draw on diverse methods of inquiry to critically analyze the historical and contemporary ways that people educate and are educated in the United States and societies across the globe. Theory, research, and practice work together to help students ask questions about the relationships between knowledge, power, and identity, and to reimagine education and its contributions to a democratic society.
Courses are designed for liberal arts students interested in studying the problems and prospects of education, the nature and function of educational inquiry, the processes and outcomes of educational practice, and the relation of educational institutions to other social institutions. In addition, we move students beyond the borders of °Ä²Ê¿ª½± by offering students a variety of opportunities to apply the theoretical knowledge they gain through coursework to practical endeavors in local schools and community centers.
In particular, we encourage first-year students to consider taking our introductory course, EDUC 101.
For further details on programs and courses, consult the , our web page, and/or the department chair. Students interested in entering our elementary and secondary teacher education programs are encouraged to contact the department as soon as possible during their first semester at °Ä²Ê¿ª½±.