Education Studies

Through courses in many disciplines, independent research, and Mentored Advanced Projects, you’ll gain an understanding of the role of education in societies, how education can help us imagine and realize social change, and the kind of society we are building or perpetuating with our current school systems.

You’ll tackle questions such as: What does it mean to be educated? How might our answers to that question vary across historical, social, and geographical contexts? What do you think should be the most important goal of schools: job preparation, civic knowledge, character building, critical thinking, creativity and exploration, or something else? How do people in other countries and across time educate their youth and why?

A true liberal arts education requires self-reflection and critical thinking. An education studies concentration helps you understand yourself and the impact your education has had on you. You’ll answer questions such as: How have your identities impacted your educational choices and your path to college? What are the values, both explicit and hidden, behind what you’ve been taught and how you’ve been taught? Why are certain subjects regularly taught in school and not others? What are the power dynamics and assumptions behind the pedagogical practices of your teachers? Who goes to college and who doesn’t, and why? And, what are your personal aspirations for your education?