Educational Studies Major

Major Requirements

The major in Educational Studies provides carefully structured opportunities for students to engage in the study of education as an interdisciplinary field of social inquiry and advocacy. Through their participation in thematically related courses, civic engagement experiences, and completion of an advanced integrative seminar, students are supported in their preparation for teaching and/or in exploring issues emerging from interactions among contemporary educational systems and the broader social, cultural, political, and ethical systems of which they are a part. Students are further encouraged to integrate their interests in education with continuing academic preparation in a second major, in addition to their evolving commitments to social advocacy in diverse forms and settings.

The Educational Studies major consists of thirty-two semester hours selected in consultation with the department chair. Students select from two broad emphases, Teaching & Learning or Education & Society, with specific curricular patterns determined accordingly.

The Teaching & Learning track, also referred to as the Teacher Education Bridge, is designed to support students interested in entering the teaching profession. Students may begin their teacher education at Macalester and then complete their preparation at a cooperating “bridge” institution immediately after graduation. Areas of teaching supported include a broad spectrum of licenses serving public school students: Elementary (K–8); Secondary (5–12) in Social Studies, Mathematics, Communication Arts & Literature, and Science; and (K–12) in World Languages, Fine Arts, ESL, and Special Education.

Teaching & Learning track

The Teaching & Learning track, also referred to as the Teacher Education Bridge, is designed to support students interested in entering the teaching profession. Students may begin their teacher education at Macalester and then complete their preparation at a cooperating “bridge” institution immediately after graduation. Areas of teaching supported include a broad spectrum of licenses serving public school students: Elementary (K–8); Secondary (5–12) in Social Studies, Mathematics, Communication Arts & Literature, and Science; and (K–12) in World Languages, Fine Arts, ESL, and Special Education.

Requirements are as follows:

PSYC 250 - Developmental Psychology (4 credits)
EDUC 220 /PSYC 220 - Educational Psychology (4 credits)
EDUC 260 - Philosophy of Education (4 credits)
EDUC 300 : Education, Family & Community (2 credits)
EDUC 320 : Educating Exceptional Students (2 credits)
EDUC 340 /AMST 345 - Race, Culture, and Ethnicity in Education (4 credits)
EDUC 360 - Education and Emerging Technologies
EDUC 480 : Urban Education in Theory, Policy, and Practice (4 credits)

One elective course relevant to the student’s teaching focus.

Completion of a supporting major relevant to the teaching focus.

With the cooperation of members of the Educational Studies Steering Committee, students participating in the Teacher Education Bridge program are also advised to complete liberal arts courses specific to their chosen teaching license.

Although education credit distributions vary according to level of licensure and from campus to campus, upon completion of the Teaching & Learning track, students will have fulfilled approximately half of the education credits required for teacher licensing in the state of Minnesota.

The Teaching & Learning track also provides excellent preparation for students intending to enter teaching through programs that do not require state licensing such as Urban Teaching Fellows, World Teach, Peace Corp, JET, Ameri-Corp, Montessori or Waldorf training, adult basic or ESL education, museum education, artists-in-residence, community education, youth development and other cultural or public service programs.

Education & Society track

The Education & Society track provides opportunities for interdisciplinary explorations of pressing social and educational issues on local, national and international levels. Students selecting this track begin by proposing an integrative theme. Suggested themes include: Education, Equity & Diversity, Education Policy, Environmental Education, Urban Education, Civic Education, Youth Development, Media Literacy, Aesthetic Education, Feminism & Education, International/Development Education, Education for Social Justice, and individually designed focal areas.

Requirements are as follows:

EDUC 220 /PSYC 220 - Educational Psychology
EDUC 260 - Philosophy of Education

Three of the following (at least two at the 300 level):

EDUC 230 - Community Youth Development in Multicultural America
EDUC 280 /AMST 280 /POLI 211 - Re-envisioning Education and Democracy
EDUC 340 /AMST 345 - Race, Culture, and Ethnicity in Education
EDUC 360 - Education and Emerging Technologies
EDUC 370 /ENVI 370 - Education and the Challenge of Globalization
EDUC 460 - Education and Social Change
EDUC 614 - Independent Project
EDUC 624 - Internship

Two elective courses relevant to the student’s integrative theme.

Completion of a supporting major relevant to the integrative theme.