Requirements for a Major in Educational Studies

A total of fifty-one (51) credits for students not seeking licensure;  a total of fifty-two (52) credits for elementary licensure students; a total of forty seven (47) credits for secondary licensure students. All licensure students are also required to complete 12-credit student teaching experience (either in an 8th semester or in a post-baccalaureate 9th semester. Courses designated with asterisks have field components and have additional course fees.

1. Core Requirements (7 courses)

    1. Foundations of Education EDUC 201 (F8)
    2. Educational Psychology PSYC 222
    3. Human Behavior (one of the following):
      • Infant and Child Development PSYC 229 (F11)
      • Adolescence PSYC 230
      • Learning & Motivation PSYC 326
    4. Quantitative Skills (one of the following): 
      • Psychological Statistics PSYC 211 (F6)
      • Econ Stat ECON 290 (F6)
      • Applied Statistics for the Liberal Arts MATH 111 (F6)
      • Applied Statistics for the Natural & Social Sciences MATH 211 (F6)
    5. Philosophy, Ethics, Policy, & History (one of the following):
      • Philosophy of Education EDUC 270 
      • Ethics PHIL 301 (F1)
      • Urban Education Policy EDUC 240
      • Some sections of EDUC 265
    6. Educational Equity and Disparities (one of the following)
      • Urban Education EDUC 220
      • African American Experience in U.S. Schools EDUC 225 (F9, F11)
      • Race, Class, Gender, & Sexuality EDUC 320 (F9)
      • Some sections of EDUC 265
    7. Education Senior Seminar EDUC 485

 

2. Community-integrative Education EDUC 360*/460*  (3 or 4 credits total)

All students in Educational Studies are required to complete at least 1 credit of EDUC 360: Clinical Field Experience.  Each track has additional requirements, detailed below.

  • Teaching and Learning: Elementary students must complete 4 credits of EDUC 360; each of these field experiences (1 credit each) will have a different subject matter focus. Secondary students must complete 3 credits of EDUC 360 in Shelby County Schools; each of these field experiences (1 credit each) will have a different focus: high school, middle school, and special education setting (any grades 6-12).
  • Community and Social Change: Students must complete 1 section of EDUC 360 (any grades K-12).  Students must complete 2 additional credits of either EDUC 360 or EDUC 460.
  • Policy and Reform: Students must complete 1 section of EDUC 360, Clinical Field Experience.  Students must complete 2 additional credits of either EDUC 360 or EDUC 460.

Additional Notes: 

  • Students typically complete their first field placement (EDUC 360) in their first semester after declaring. The EDUC 460 course instructor will work with majors to ensure that the school/community placement complements each student’s course of study.
  • As part of EDUC 360, students must adhere to all Shelby County School rules and protocols in their placements.​
  • EDUC 460 is an Educational Studies Internship, which can be taken for 1-4 credits.  Please contact Educational Studies Faculty and Staff for additional information about possible internships.

3. Three tracks (five courses/20 credits for students not seeking licensure; five courses/20 credits for students elementary licensure students; four courses/16 credits for secondary licensure students). All majors will choose one of three following tracks (1) Teaching and Learning; (2) Community and Social Change, (3) Policy and Reform.

Teaching and Learning - (licensure optional) - supports students interested in entering the teaching profession as teachers or administrators and those interested in seeking licensure. Licensure within this track is optional. Students who wish to teach at the secondary level must also major in the discipline in which they plan to teach. All licensure candidates will complete student teaching (12 credits) in either an eighth semester or in a post-baccalaureate ninth semester.

Required courses for those seeking elementary licensure (five courses, 20 credits)

1. Principles of Curriculum and Instruction EDUC 355*
2. Educational Technologies EDUC 300
3. Reading, Writing, and Urban Schools EDUC 310 (f2i)
4. Elementary Literacies EDUC 370*
5. One additional course from electives

Required courses for those seeking secondary licensure (four courses, 16 credits)

​1. Principles of Curriculum and Instruction EDUC 355*
2. How to Write: Academic Writing and the Pedagogies that Support It ENGL 290 (F2i and F11)
3. Educational Technologies EDUC 300
4. Reading, Writing, and Urban Schools EDUC 310

Additional requirements for those seeking teacher licensure (elementary or secondary)

1. edTPA Preparation EDUC 450 (typically taken the semester prior to EDUC 499)
2. Clinical Practice: Student Teaching EDUC 499* (typically taken either in 8th semester or in post-baccalaureate 9th semester)

 

Community and Social Change - ­supports students who are interested in education outside of traditional educational settings. Prepares students who are interested in adult literacy and basic education, youth development, educational work in non-profits, museum education, artists-in-residence, community education, environmental educational, etc.

Required courses (at least two 300-400 level courses)

1. Community Psychology PSYC 250
2. The City ANSO 241 or Social Movements ANSO 243
3. Non-profits in the City URBN 340
4. Two additional courses from electives

Policy and Reform - provides opportunities for interdisciplinary explorations of pressing social and educational issues on local, national, and international levels. Prepares students who are interested in issues of equity and diversity, civic education, feminist and critical education, and the media.


Required courses (at least two 300-400 level courses)

1. U.S. Politics PLAW 151 (F8, F2i some sections)
2. Education Policy EDUC 240 
3. One of the following: PLAW 205, 206, 207, 214, 230, 318, 319, 320; PHIL 218; ECON 265
4. Two additional courses from electives


Elective courses for all three tracks (at least two 300-400 level courses)

    1. Gender and Society ANSO 231
    2. The City ANSO 241
    3. Social Movements ANSO 243
    4. Gender and Environment ANSO 273
    5. Race and Ethnicity in American Society ANSO 331
    6. Social Class in the United States ANSO 335
    7. Topics in ANSO 365 (when topics are relevant)
    8. Anthropology of Social Change ANSO 379
    9. Racism ANSO 391
    10. Sociology of Violence and Peace Making ANSO 392
    11. Social Impact of Business in South Africa BUS 284
    12. Economics of Education ECON 265
    13. Teaching English as a Foreign Language EDUC 160/161
    14. African American Experiences in Schools EDUC 225
    15. Urban Education Policy EDUC 240
    16. Topics in Education EDUC 265
    17. Philosophy of Education EDUC 270
    18. Reading, Writing, and Urban Schools EDUC 310
    19. Principles of Curriculum and Instruction EDUC 355
    20. Directed Research in Education EDUC 451
    21. Study in African American Literature ENGL 264
    22. African American Literature ENGL 364
    23. Advanced Topics in Film (when topics are relevant) ENGL 381 
    24. Junior Seminar Critical Theory ENGL 385
    25. Introductory Seminars in History (when topics are relevant) HIST 105 (F2i, F3)
    26. Selected Topics in History (when topics are relevant) HIST 205 (F3)
    27. The United States in the Twentieth Century HIST 233 (F3)
    28. African American History HIST 242 (F3, F9)
    29. Civil Rights Movement HIST 243 (F3)
    30. History of Memphis HIST 248 (F3)
    31. Gender in the United States HIST 249
    32. Slavery in the United States HIST 342
    33. Civil Rights in Memphis HIST 345
    34. African American Activism HIST 447
    35. Government and Politics of Africa INTS 251 (F9)
    36. Politics of Social Movements and Grassroots Organizing INTS 332 
    37. International Human Rights INTS 336
    38. Politics of Migration INTS 340
    39. Justice, Equality, and Liberty PHIL 218
    40. Social and Political Philosophy PHIL 220
    41. Philosophy of Race PHIL 255
    42. Philosophy of Education PHIL 270 (F11)
    43. Introduction to Public Policy PLAW 205
    44. Urban Politics and Policy PLAW 206
    45. Race and Ethnic Politics PLAW 207
    46. Modern Ideologies PLAW 214
    47. Black Political Thought PLAW 230
    48. Healthcare Policy 320 PLAW 320
    49. Community Psychology PSYC 250
    50. Gender and Sexualities PSYC 280
    51. Social Issues in Ethical & Religious Perspective RELS 232 (F1)
    52. Theologies of Liberation RELS 259
    53. Health Equity Internship RELS 460
    54. Intro to Urban Studies URBN 201 (F8, F11)
    55. Social Statistics URBN 220 
    56. Urban Geography URBN 230 (F2i, F8)
    57. Principles of Public Health URBN 235 
    58. Intercultural Knowledge & Competence URBN 250 (F9)
    59. Special Topics in Urban Studies (when topics are relevant) URBN 265
    60. Urban Field Research URBN 362
    61. Research Methods in Urban Studies URBN 385

   

   Additional electives for Teaching & Learning track only:

    1. Environmental Issues in Southern Africa BIOL 212
    2. Collaborative Chemistry Communities CHEM 260 (2 credits)
    3. Language Acquisition and Pedagogy AMS/MLL 240
    4. How to Write: Academic Writing and the Pedagogies that Support it ENGL 290 (F2i and F11, 4 credits)
    5. Advanced Grammar ENGL 380
    6. Advanced Language and Civilization SPAN 301
    7. Spanish American Literature and Culture SPAN 306

 

Additional elective courses in Community and Social Change track only:

    1. Management of Organizations BUS 361
    2. Global Politics INTS 220 (F8)
    3. Comparative Ecopolitics INTS 341 (F8)
    4. U.S. Politics POLS 151 (F8, F2i some sections)
    5. Urban Studies Internship (Crosstown Arts Section) URBN 460


Additional electives for Policy & Reform track only:

    1. Management of Organizations BUS 361
    2. Global Politics INTS 220 (F8)
    3. Comparative Ecopolitics INTS 341 (F8)
    4. Philosophy of Law PHIL 216
    5. Politics of Migration INTS 340

Other relevant classes may count towards the major or minor as they come online in other departments and programs.