Program Vision 

Educational Studies at Rhodes College strives to advance justice, democracy, and equity in underserved public schools, particularly in Memphis, through our interdisciplinary programs, partnerships, scholarship, and advocacy.

Program Mission

Educational Studies and the educators and advocates we prepare engage theory and research while embedded in our schools and communities in order to promote understandings of problems and strategies for change that transform schools in the service of justice.

Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA 49-5-5610) requires all students entering state approved educator preparation programs to submit the result of a criminal background check to the institution. In compliance with this requirement, Memphis Shelby County Schools (MSCS) requires criminal background checks for Rhodes College students who are placed in their schools for clinical experiences and internships with P – 12 students. The results will be sent to a Rhodes College representative. For more information, contact the Teacher Licensure Coordinator, Dr. Joseph Kelly (kellyj@rhodes.edu).

Professors

Natalie K. Person. 1994. B.A. University of Mississippi; M.S. and Ph.D. University of Memphis. (Cognitive psychology: learning technologies; Educational psychology)

Associate Professors

Zachary Casey. 2014. B.A.E. and M.A. Arizona State University; Ph.D. University of Minnesota. (Curriculum and Instruction, Multicultural Education, Critical Pedagogy, Teacher Education)

Cara Djonko-Moore. 2018. Chair. B.A. Northwestern University, M.A. University of Pennsylvania, Ph.D. Temple University (Culturally Responsive Pedagogy; Urban Education)

Laura Kelly. 2018. B.S. Freed-Hardeman University; M.Ed. Western Governors University; Ph.D. Arizona State University. (Elementary Literacy, Bilingual Education)

Laura Taylor. 2017. B.S. Cornell University; M.Ed. University of Saint Thomas; Ph.D. University of Texas at Austin. (Literacy Teaching and Learning; Critical Literacies; Educational Policy)

Affiliate Faculty

Nina Morais. 2023. Modern Languages and Literature. B.A. Federal University of Minas Gerais; M.A. Indiana University. (Transcultural, Transnational and Migration Studies; Germany-Africa and Germany-South America Relations; Contemporary German Theater and Film)

Erika Parr. 2023. Mathematics and Statistics. B.A., University of Dallas; M.A., Arizona State University; Ph.D., Arizona State University (Mathematics Education, Conceptual Learning)

Instructors

Erin Hillis. B.A. University of Memphis; M.A. University of Memphis; Ph.D. University of Memphis. (ESL, Linguistics, TEFL, International Education)

Staff

Joseph Kelly. 2018. Teacher Licensure Coordinator. B.A. Freed-Hardeman University; M.Div. Harding School of Theology; Ph.D. Southern Seminary. 

Amber Lewis. Administrative Assistant.

To declare a major in Educational Studies major, students should choose a professor in Educational Studies to be their major advisor. The advisor will approve the major essay, help students complete the Degree Requirements Worksheet, and sign the Declaration of Major form.

Once students have met with their major advisor, they are required to submit:

1. Two copies of the Declaration of Major form, filing one copy with the program chair and one copy with the Registrar. (Available from the Registrar's office or on Rhodes Express online.)
2. The Degree Requirements Worksheet, filing one copy with the program chair and one copy with the Registrar. (Available from the Registrar's office or on Rhodes Express online.)
3. The final, advisor approved, major essay. Email the essay as a Word document to Major_E.ymfk84k3izod0rl9@u.box.com so that it can be archived. The file name for the essay should be as follows: student’s last name, student’s first name, and graduation year.

NOTE: Secondary licensure students will double major and will have two major advisors, one in Educational Studies and the other in their content area major.

Students can earn elementary (grades K - 5) or secondary licensure (grades 6 -12) within the Teaching and Learning track of the Educational Studies major. The licensure program prepares students to teach in either elementary schools or middle and/or high schools in one of thirteen endorsement areas: American Government, English, History, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Spanish, French, German, Latin, Russian, and Chinese. The course of study for secondary licensure students is designed with guidance from faculty members in the discipline in which the student is being certified as well as with faculty in the Educational Studies Program. All secondary licensure candidates are required to double major in Educational Studies and their endorsement discipline. Elementary licensure does not require a double major. Students who are interested in teacher licensure should contact our Teacher Licensure Coordinator in the early stages of the academic planning process. All licensure information including applications to the Rhodes College Teacher Licensure Program can be found on the program's website.

Licensure to teach is a function of state governments. Institutions and agencies that offer licensure are approved by their respective state departments and boards of education. Tennessee licensure is transferable to all 50 states; some states may require additional exams or content. A guide to certification reciprocity is available through Certification Map. https://certificationmap.com/states/reciprocity-disclaimer/ Students wishing to teach in other states are advised to review the licensure requirements on the appropriate state's department of education website.

For information about teacher licensure, please contact Joseph Kelly at kellyj@rhodes.edu.

When declaring a major in Educational Studies, students must complete an essay in which they address each of the questions in their respective track. The essay should be at least two paragraphs, with one paragraph dedicated to each question.

Teaching and Learning Track

• What are the most important things for teachers and school personnel to be knowledgeable about in order to ensure the success of all of their students? 
• How will your work in this major equip you with this knowledge and experience?

Policy and Social Change Track

[select one of the following questions]

• Option 1: What roles can programs and activities for youth, outside of schools, play in creating a more democratic, participatory, humanizing society? How will your work in this major equip you with this knowledge and experience?
• Option 2: How can educational policy create more opportunities for more students to be successful learners within and beyond their experience(s) in schools? How will your work in this major equip you with this knowledge and experience?

Students will electronically submit the final, advisor approved, version of the essay as a Word document by emailing it to Major_E.ymfk84k3izod0rl9@u.box.com so that it can be archived. The file name for the essay should be as follows: student’s last name, student’s first name, and graduation year.

NOTE: Application to the Rhodes Teacher Licensure Program is a separate application process. For information regarding admission in the licensure program, see https://sites.rhodes.edu/educationalstudies/teacher-licensure.

Students select one of two tracks: Teaching & Learning or Policy & Social Change.  All students complete 5 Core Requirement courses and all requirements for their selected track. A total of forty-four (44) credits is required a major with the Teaching & Learning track and a total of forty-five (45) credits is required for a major with the Policy & Social Change track. 

Core Requirements (5 courses, 20 credits)

1. Foundations of Education - EDUC 201 
2. Educational Psychology - EDUC 222
3. Philosophy, Policy, & Equity (two of the following):
   1. Urban Education - EDUC 220
   2. African American Experiences in U.S. Schools - EDUC 225
   3. History of Education - EDUC 230
   4. Latinx Children's Literature - EDUC 235
   5. Urban Education Policy - EDUC 240 [only for Teaching & Learning track]
   6. Philosophy of Education - EDUC 270
   7. Race, Class, Gender, & Sexuality in Education - EDUC 320
   8. Education & Immigration - EDUC 330
   9. Social & Community Contexts of Education - EDUC 335
   10. Some sections of EDUC 265 (when appropriate)
4. Education Senior Seminar EDUC 485

 Track Requirements

Track 1: Teaching and Learning (24 credits)

1. Principles of Curriculum and Instruction - EDUC 355*
2. Educational Technologies - EDUC 300*
3. Reading, Writing, and Urban Schools - EDUC 310
4. Content Area Teaching Methods Course (one of the following, according to the student's curricular focus):
   1. Elementary Literacies - EDUC 370*
   2. Methods of Teaching Secondary STEM - EDUC 380*
   3. Methods of Teaching Secondary Humanities - EDUC 390*
5. Inclusive Education - EDUC 410*
6. Clinical Field Experiences - EDUC 360 (4 credits) 
   1. One credit must be taken co-requisite with each of the courses above marked with * .

Track 2: Policy and Social Change (25 credits)

1. Urban Education Policy - EDUC 240
2. Qualitative Methods in the Social Sciences - EDUC 395*
3. Clinical Field Experience - EDUC 360 (1 credit; *co-requisite with EDUC 395)
4. Interdisciplinary Course Requirement (1 course): 
   1. The City - ANSO 241 
   2. Social Movements - ANSO 243
   3. Introduction to Public Policy - PLAW 205
   4. Urban Policy and Polities - PLAW 206
   5. Race and Ethnic Politics - PLAW 207
   6. Black Political Thought - PLAW 230
   7. Health Care Policy - PLAW 320
   8. Community Psychology - PSYC 330
   9. Nonprofits in the City - URBN 340
5. One additional 4-credit EDUC course 
6. Two additional 4-credit Educational Studies Electives - see list below

Teacher Licensure

Students completing an Educational Studies major on the Teaching and Learning track can also pursue elementary or secondary teacher licensure. Teacher licensure requires completion of additional requirements, including: 

1. edTPA Preparation - EDUC 450 (1 credit, taken co-requisite with 1 credit of EDUC 360; typically taken semester prior to EDUC 499)
2. Clinical Practice (Student Teaching) - EDUC 499 (16 credits; typically completed either in the 8th semester or in a post-baccalaureate 9th semester)

Students pursuing secondary teacher licensure must double-major in the subject area plan to teach (e.g., English; Biology). More information about teacher licensure can be found on the Educational Studies micro-site or by contacting Dr. Joseph Kelly, Teacher Licensure Coordinator (kellyj@rhodes.edu). 

Educational Studies Elective Courses (Policy & Social Change Track)

• Gender and Society ANSO 231
• The City ANSO 241
• Social Movements ANSO 343
• Gender and Environment ANSO 273
• Race and Ethnicity in American Society ANSO 331
• Social Class in the United States ANSO 335
• Topics in ANSO 365 (when topics are relevant)
• Anthropology of Social Change ANSO 379
• Racism ANSO 391
• Sociology of Violence and Peace Making ANSO 392
• Social Impact of Business in South Africa BUS 284
• Economics of Education ECON 265
• Teaching English as a Foreign Language EDUC 160/161
• Urban Education EDUC 220
• African American Experiences in Schools EDUC 225
• History of Education EDUC 230
• Topics in Education EDUC 265
• Philosophy of Education EDUC 270
• Reading, Writing, and Urban Schools EDUC 310
• Race, Class, Gender, & Sexuality in Education EDUC 320
• Education & Immigration EDUC 330
• Principles of Curriculum and Instruction EDUC 355
• Directed Research in Education EDUC 451
• Internship in Education EDUC 460
• Academic Writing - ENGL 290 (4 credits)
• Advanced Grammar ENGL 380
• Study in African American Literature ENGL 264
• African American Literature ENGL 364
• Advanced Topics in Film (when topics are relevant) ENGL 381 
• Junior Seminar Critical Theory ENGL 385
• Introductory Seminars in History (when topics are relevant) HIST 105 
• Selected Topics in History (when topics are relevant) HIST 205 
• The United States in the Twentieth Century HIST 233 
• African American History HIST 242 
• Civil Rights Movement HIST 243 
• History of Memphis HIST 248 
• Gender in the United States HIST 249
• Slavery in the United States HIST 342
• Civil Rights in Memphis HIST 345
• African American Activism HIST 447
• Government and Politics of Africa INTS 251
• Politics of Social Movements and Grassroots Organizing INTS 332 
• International Human Rights INTS 336
• Politics of Migration INTS 340
• Justice, Equality, and Liberty PHIL 225
• Philosophy of Race and Racism PHIL 220
• Introduction to Public Policy PLAW 205
• Urban Politics and Policy PLAW 206
• Race and Ethnic Politics PLAW 207
• Black Political Thought PLAW 230
• Healthcare Policy PLAW 320
• Infant and Child Development PSYC 229
• Community Psychology PSYC 330
• Psychology of Gender and Sexuality PSYC 280
• Social Issues in Ethical & Religious Perspective RELS 232
• Theologies of Liberation RELS 259
• Health Equity Internship RELS 460
• Intro to Urban Studies URBN 201
• Social Statistics URBN 220 
• Urban Geography URBN 230 
• Principles of Public Health URBN 235 
• Intercultural Knowledge & Competence URBN 250 
• Special Topics in Urban Studies (when topics are relevant) URBN 265
• Urban Field Research URBN 362
• Research Methods in Urban Studies URBN 385

The Minor in Educational Studies requires 24 credits:

1. EDUC 201.

2. Twenty credits selected from the following courses: any EDUC course; ECON 295 (2 credits); LANG 240, PSYC 229, 230, 330; URBN 250.