Sociology student reads book to small child

Educational Studies Major and Minor

Our department prepares you to:

  • Understand and apply multiple and conflicting perspectives on education and schooling;
  • Understand how historical events, social forces, and moral principles related to democratic institutions can inform and direct schooling practice, leadership, and governance;
  • Understand the full significance of diversity in a democratic society and how that bears on curriculum and instruction, school and community leadership, and state and national governance;
  • Analyze critically both historical and current educational policies and practices at national, state, and local levels, and their impacts on teaching, learning, and the assessment of P-16 students.
  • Prepare students who plan to enter graduate school in various education-related fields, such as school psychology, speech pathology, educational policy, education law, etc.
  • Fulfill the needs of students who are interested in the academic study of educational history, sociology, psychology, theory, and policy.

Educational Studies Interdisciplinary Major

Please review the catalog for more information on the educational studies major.

Educational Studies Minor

The minor, offered by our department, can also fulfill your interest in the academic study of educational history, sociology, psychology, theory, and policy. The minor requires students to complete six courses that include courses from our four epistemological pillars:

  1. Historical & Philosophical Foundations
  2. Learning and Development
  3. Social & Cultural
  4. Education Policy

A capstone course synthesizing the completed minor courses is also required. Please visit the degree requirements link for more detailed information.

Courses You Might Take

EDU 270

Democracy and Education examines philosophical and theoretical positions which contend that education is a public good and is essential to the cultivation of a democratic civil society. Through critical analysis and scrutiny, students investigate the notion that public schooling in the United States should be based on principles of equitable access and that every individual has a right to educational opportunities which are just, fair, and democratic.

EDU 340

This seminar explores the social and historical forces shaping the education of people of African descent in the United States from slavery to the 21st century. We will examine values, beliefs, and perspectives on education across gender and class lines, individual and group efforts toward building educational institutions and organizations, hidden or forgotten educational initiatives and programming, and cross-cultural projects to promote literacy and achievement in African American society. 

EDU 380

This course will survey selected social innovations aimed at improving social and educational outcomes for youth, and introduce students to theoretical and empirical approaches to assessing the effectiveness of innovations. Through the course, students will understand the evaluative needs of different stages of innovation, learn to connect appropriate research designs, and become critical consumers of research that examines social and educational innovation.

Related Academic Programs

Interested in Educational Studies at Davidson?