Educational Studies
View Educational Studies Department website
Minor in Educational Studies
The minor in educational studies is includes six (6) courses that offer a basic knowledge of many elements of the teaching and learning process. Though these courses represent most of prerequisite courses for the MAT program (see further information on the MAT.), this minor is also recommended for students who are interested in pursuing careers related to education, but do not necessarily plan to teach in K-12 settings. For the most part, the courses within the minor may be completed in any order, though it is important to acknowledge that some of the courses have prerequisites, so students need to be mindful of this fact as they plan. Note, too, that EDUC/PSYC 368 is a prerequisite for admission to EDUC 491. For students who are interested in education, but are not planning to apply for the MAT program or teacher certification, it is possible to petition for course substitutions for a portion of the requirements. Please contact the department chair for additional information about this process.
Completion of the minor or equivalent course work is one of the pre-requisites for admission to the MAT, but because these courses are not the only requirements for admission to the MAT program, the successful completion of this minor does not guarantee that a student will be admitted to the program. There are also specific content courses required for teacher certification in Maryland. Students who are considering the MAT should meet with their department chair and/or an educational studies adviser about course selection. For a complete list of these courses, and additional information about the St. Mary’s course equivalencies for St. Mary’s educational studies courses, please contact the department chair.
Students who transfer three or more of the courses from outside institutions are not eligible to earn this minor, but they are not excluded from or otherwise placed at a disadvantage for applying to the MAT program. Students who transfer one or two courses that are not awarded the same credit equivalencies as the comparable St. Mary’s course do need to make up these credits to earn the minor by taking other education-related undergraduate courses; these courses include those not listed in the minor.
The Department of Educational Studies offers several undergraduate courses that are not included in the minor in educational studies. Students are encouraged to pursue these courses to broaden their understanding of relevant issues of learning and teaching.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyze the influence of various laws, policies, theories, historical events, and systemic structures on modern education.
- Connect teaching and learning experiences to research and theory on cognition, development, motivation, language acquisition, and social interaction.
- Articulate how dimensions of individual difference, classroom diversity, and principles of social justice intersect with teaching and learning events.
Degree Requirements for the Educational Studies Minor
General College Requirements
- General College Requirements (see “Curriculum” section.)
- All requirements in a major area of study.
Required Courses
At least 23 credit hours, as comprised through the successful completion of the six following courses, with a minimum earned grade of C in each course, but with a combined minimum GPA of 3.0:
- EDUC 206: Education in America (4 credits)
- One course in language acquisition chosen from the following two:
- EDUC 296: Language Acquisition and Phonemic Awareness (3 credits) –This is the course required for future elementary teachers.
- EDUC 286 Language Acquisition and Reading Development for Secondary and K-12 Teachers (3 credits)
- EDUC 336: Exceptionality: Introduction to Special Education (4 credits)
- EDUC/PSYC 368: Educational Psychology (4 credits)
- EDUC 491: ESL Across the Curriculum (4 credits)
- One course with a developmental focus chosen from the following three:
- PSYC 331: Infant and Child Development (4 credits)
This course is recommended for students who wish to pursue early childhood/elementary certification - PSYC 333: Adolescence (4 credits)
This course is recommended for students who wish to pursue secondary certification - PSYC 230: Lifespan Development (4 credits)
This course is recommended for students who wish to pursue K-12 certification in Art, Music, or Theater.
- PSYC 331: Infant and Child Development (4 credits)
Faculty
Katy Arnett (Director of Teacher Education), Teresa Filbert, Angela Johnson (Chair& Director of Teacher Education), Kathy Koch, David Morris, Lin Muilenburg