Education Studies

Faculty: T. Beauboeuf, T. Dickinson, T. Erb, S. Harvey-Koelpin, D. Knaebel, M. McVorran, J. Stockton, E. Weisz The Department of Education Studies is a unit that oversees three programs: a four-year liberal arts program in Education Studies; the Music Education program leading to initial licensure; and the Fifth Year for Teaching post baccalaureate program leading to initial licensure.

Undergraduate Non-licensure Programs in Education Studies

The four-year non-licensure Education Studies program focuses on education as discipline within the liberal arts. Courses in Education Studies investigate topics within the sociology of education, the political economy of education systems, theories of learning and development, as well as cultural, historical and philosophical studies in education. Both a major and minor in Education Studies are offered, as outlined below.

Music Education Program The Music Education program is offered by the School of Music. Application and admission to the Music Education program must de directed to the DePauw School of Music. Candidates eligible for licensure are nominated by the School of Music. The Department of Education Studies is the unit responsible for recommending these candidates for Indiana State licensure.

Fifth Year for Teaching Program See Post-Baccalaureate Programs in Education Requirements for a major in Education Studies

Total courses required Ten
Core courses EDUC 170, EDUC 222, EDUC 223, EDUC 480, EDUC 490
Other required courses Five additional courses in Education Studies, three of which must be at the 300-level.
# 300 and 400 level courses Five
Senior requirement The senior requirement consists of successful completion of the following: EDUC 480: Methods of Educational Research and EDUC 490: Senior Seminar in Education Studies.
Additional information
Recent changes in major This major was created in March 2005. In October 2008 it was revised to require 10 courses in Education Studies. Previously, it had required eight Education Studies courses and two from an associated department. Students enrolled as of October 2008 may follow either the old or the new major requirements.

 

Requirements for a minor in Education Studies

Total courses required Five
Core courses EDUC 170, EDUC 222, EDUC 223
Other courses Two additional courses in Education Studies, at least one of which must be at the 300 level.
# 300 and 400 level courses One
Recent changes in minor The Education Studies minor was created in March 2005.

 

Courses in Education Studies
EDUC 170. Foundations of the Education  Group 2    1 course
(includes field experience) Establishes a liberal arts foundation for teacher preparation with an emphasis on community/school relationships. Explores major philosophical, historical, and sociological points of view in contemporary American education and their influence on educational decisions and systems. Field experience is required, and students should register for lab time concurrently. May not be taken pass/fail.
 
EDUC 180. Understanding Diverse Classrooms  Group 2    1/2 course
(includes field experience) Explores the cultural foundations of American education and examines the challenge to the schooling process presented by cultural diversity. Focuses on the existing definitions of knowledge, learning, cultural assimilation, the distribution of power and academic achievement. Field experience is required and students should register for lab time concurrently. May not be taken pass/fail. Open only to Music Education students.
 
EDUC 222. Developmental Theories in Education  Group 2    1 course
(includes field experience) Provides students with an understanding of the principles of psychology as they apply to P-12+ education. Projects and discussions focus on the application of such topics as: human development, learning theories, instructional theories, student differences, student motivation, and evaluation in educational settings. Field experience is required and students should register for lab time concurrently. May not be taken pass/fail.
 
EDUC 223. Deconstructing Difference: Education and Society  Group 2    1 course
Investigates the cultural foundations of American Education and examines the challenges that issues of cultural and cognitive differences pose to the learning process. Focuses on existing definitions of knowledge, identity, community, inclusion, equity and the distribution of power. Field experience is required and students should register for lab time concurrently. May not be taken pass/fail.
 
EDUC 240. Issues and Trends in Education  Group 2    1 course
Examination of the education process and its bilateral relationship with society in both historical and sociological terms. Attitudes and values developed as a result of research in both education and sociology are stressed. May not be taken pass/fail.
 
EDUC 280. Contexts of Schooling in the United States      1 course
Investigates how and why schooling in the U.S. is failing to serve the academic needs of many low-income students and students of color. Explores the wide variety of schooling and unschooling contexts available to K-12 students in the U.S. Examines the ways in which the available forms of schooling respond to the needs of the communities where they are located. A strong emphasis is placed on deconstructing the various contexts of schooling in the U.S. through critical engagement with the course material and field experiences. Provides opportunities for students to become more informed decision makers about school related issues and recognize ways to enhance the quality of education available to all students in the U.S. May not be taken pass/fail.
 
EDUC 290. Topics      1/2-1 course
Assorted topics related to the field of education and education-related issues. May be repeated with different topics for credit. May not be taken pass/fail.
 
EDUC 305. The American High School: Anatomy of an Educational Institution  Group 2    1 course
Examines the American high school, a school that has been described as the 'icon' of American education from multiple perspectives: architectural, historical, institutional, organizational, and as a reform element in American education. To frame our examination of the American high school as an institution, students conduct a major research project which involves the life story of a current, mid-career high school teacher. May not be taken pass/fail.
 
EDUC 311. Critical Multiculturalism      1 course
Explores the cultural foundations of American education and examines the challenge to the schooling process, presented by cultural diversity. Focuses on the existing definitions of knowledge, learning, cultural assimilation, the distribution of power and academic achievement. Particular attention is paid to school policy and the system as a site of political and cultural contestation. Prerequisite: ECUC 223 highly recommended. May not be taken pass/fail.
 
EDUC 320. Education and Social Change      1 course
Examines issues related to the school's function as a catalyst for social change. Analyzes the school's role in the reformation of society and formation of attitudes and behaviors, and determination of outcomes. May not be taken pass/fail.
 
EDUC 322. Thinking, Learning, and Ways of Knowing in Education  Group 2    1 course
What factors affect one's cognitive ability? How has our understanding of cognition and intelligence changed in recent times? Can cognitive/intellectual development be enhanced with specific parenting and instructional techniques? How does one's ways of knowing change over time? These are but four of the questions that are addressed in this course. Issues related to thinking, understanding, and intellectual development will be explored from early childhood through adulthood. Recent research and current thought in the field will be analyzed and debated to try to gain insights into these issues as they relate to themes of social justice and equity, critical thinking, and leadership in education. Prerequisite: EDUC 222 highly recommended. May not be taken pass/fail.
 
EDUC 325. History of American Education  Group 2    1 course
Explores the purposes and practices of American education as they are reflected in the documentary history of formal education from colonial times to the present. Cultivates an understanding of the evolving contexts within which American traditions of education evolved, developed, and became institutionalized over time. May not be taken pass/fail.
 
EDUC 330. Comparative Education      1 course
A socio-cultural comparative view of education in different social contexts. Investigates the impact of economic, social, cultural and political factors upon schooling in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas. Prerequisite: it is strongly advised that students have taken EDUC 240 or a course in sociology, anthropology, economics, political science or geography. May not be taken pass/fail.
 
EDUC 331. School Discipline: Practices, Issues and Trends      1 course
School discipline is a topic of major interest and concern among parents, principals, teachers, school boards and even state legislatures. This course explores the nature of school discipline problems, including its symptoms, causes and ways that schools respond. The course also examines the role that schools themselves play in 'causing' such problems, as well as the impact of social and political forces. Theory and current research on school discipline are reviewed in an attempt to seek alternate discipline responses. May not be taken pass/fail.
 
EDUC 332. Artistic Dimensions of Teaching      1 course
Explores the artistic dimensions of teaching and examines the relationships between teaching and performing as art forms. Topics such as creativity, attitude, perception and intuition are covered. Unique parallels are drawn between classrooms and other educational settings and theater, with a specific focus on the teacher role. Activities include pantomine, role playing and oral interpretation as vehicles to improve self-confidence, voice and positive approaches to the nuances of the classroom. May not be taken pass/fail.
 
EDUC 350. Women in Education  Group 2    1 course
Examines how women have embodied and at many times challenged the concept of teaching as "women's work." Particular attention is placed on how social class, sexual orientation, and ethnicity have shaped the educational experiences, development, and aspirations of women as teachers, researchers, students, and scholars over the last century. May not be taken pass/fail.
 
EDUC 355. Education Process      1 course
Examines the impact of education upon our culture within the dynamics of social change. May not be taken pass/fail.
 
EDUC 360. The Political Economy of Schools  Group 2    1 course
The term 'political economy' refers to the fusion of the interests of political and economic elites. The course establishes an economic context for the analysis of current reform initiatives and investigates claims in the literature and in policy about the performance of schools and the privileging of training over education. Examines the claim that economic imperatives have shaped and re-named the world, including the school, and have turned education into a production process. May not be taken pass/fail.
 
EDUC 362. Education Reform      1 course
Investigates the educational reports, agendas, initiatives and debates that have had an impact on American schools since 1978. Involves the critical analysis of present school systems, as well as the changes expected from reform proposals. May not be taken pass/fail.
 
EDUC 390. Topics in Education Studies      1 course
Detailed study of theoretical and policy topics and issues related to education studies. May be repeated for credit with different topics. May not be taken pass/fail.
 
EDUC 399. Deschooling: Rediscovering the Joy of Learning  Group 2    1 course
Examines what lifelong learning might look like at various life stages. Students will design and implement a personal learning project based on their individual needs and interests. Through their experience with self-directed learning, students will explore ways to improve the quality of schooling and will begin to view learning as a journey, not a destination. Prerequisite: EDUC 170 highly recommended.
 
EDUC 405. John Dewey and Progressive Education  Group 4    1 course
Examines the major writings and impact of America's foremost educational philosopher John Dewey and the educational reform that has come to be known as Progressive Education. Roughly set in the period 1890-1920, this examination focuses on the transformation of American schools from traditional enclaves of narrow curricular offerings and formulaic teaching to classrooms that focused upon experimental curricula and child-centered teaching characterized by student action and engagement. May not be taken pass/fail.
 
EDUC 410. Historical Perspectives on American Curriculum Reform  Group 4    1 course
Examines the historical development of school curricula within American public education. Focuses upon major curriculum reform efforts in the United States and historical interpretations of these reform efforts through the examination of original documents and other interpretive sources. May not be taken pass/fail.
 
EDUC 411. Directed Study      1 course
Independent study. Prerequisite: by permission of instructor. May not be taken pass/fail.
 
EDUC 412. Directed Study      1 course
Independent study. Prerequisite: by permission of instructor. May not be taken pass/fail.
 
EDUC 415. American Public School Law  Group 2    1 course
Explores the legal framework and governance of public education in the United States and court decisions and legal issues affecting the schools, school personnel, parents and students. Current and historical legal issues are examined including those involving the instructional program; student rights involving speech, expression, and privacy; students with disabilities; discrimination; the rights of parents; and teacher rights and freedoms. May not be taken pass/fail.
 
EDUC 425. Projects in Education      1 course
A systematic exploration of projects reflecting issues and concerns in education. Focuses on students in collaboration with faculty examining research, application, adaptation and implementation. May be offered with a specific research topic. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. May not be taken pass/fail.
 
EDUC 426. Projects in Education      1 course
A systematic exploration of projects reflecting issues and concerns in education. Focuses on students in collaboration with faculty examining research, application, adaptation and implementation. May be offered with a specific research topic. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. May not be taken pass/fail.
 
EDUC 480. Methods of Educational Research  Group 2    1 course
A hands-on exploration of the research process, with particular focus on educational issues. Examines the important connections between theory, research, and practice; ethics; research design; data analysis; interpretation; and the writing of research. Draws on published research from the social sciences and education to illuminate best methodological practice. May not be taken pass/fail.
 
EDUC 490. Education Studies Senior Seminar      1 course
The capstone course in the major and an independent study experience that is guided by the instructor and informed by the peer community. Involves the development and completion of a significant research and writing project that serves to extend and advance the ideas that define the citizen educator, the skilled practitioner, and the transformative intellectual. May not be taken pass/fail.