EDUST-215 Ideas and Ideals in Public Education
Using an interdisciplinary framework, this course will examine the social, historical, legal, philosophical, economic, and political foundations of education in the United States. It is designed to engage students in an examination of the enduring questions, debates, and tensions that revolve around the institution of schooling in the U.S. Topics covered will include an examination of political ideologies that have informed past and current education reform movements, an historical perspective on access to education, and an analysis of trends in funding of public education, among others.
EDUST-250 Special Topics in Educational Studies
EDUST-250FD Special Topics in Educational Studies: 'Foundations of Disability Studies in Psychology and Education'
This course provides an introduction to disability studies, focusing on its intersections with psychology and education. Students will explore key concepts, including the social and medical models of disability, the history of disability rights, and the role of societal attitudes in shaping experiences of disability. The course examines how psychological theories and educational practices influence the inclusion and support of individuals with disabilities, fostering a deeper understanding of disability as a complex and multifaceted experience.
EDUST-250ME Special Topics in Educational Studies: 'Children and Media'
This course explores the cognitive processes underlying how children understand and engage with screen media, as well as the effects media can have on their development. Through an examination of theories and research, we will analyze how factors like attention, memory, and comprehension shape children's interactions with media. Additionally, we will consider the broader impacts of media on social, emotional, and cognitive development, equipping students with a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between children and screen-based content.
EDUST-250PH Special Topics in Educational Studies: 'introduction to Sport Pedagogy'
This course is designed to introduce students to the many facets of sport pedagogy and coaching. Our focus is the strategies and styles of coaching youth sports. Topics include coaching philosophy, motor learning, anatomy and physiology, biomechanics, sport psychology and risk management/liability. Other topics include the benefits of playing sports, developing age-appropriate instruction and training, goal setting, effective feedback, special issues in coaching children, and coaches as role models for children. In a local school system, we will apply the concepts and theories learned, by developing and implementing lesson plans to introduce various athletic skills and sports.
EDUST-290 Capstone in Educational Studies
This two-credit independent study course, which is the culminating experience of the educational studies minor, requires analysis and synthesis of key ideas that emerged during focused study in the minor. Students will work with a faculty advisor of the Educational Studies Program Committee as they plan, write, and present a capstone paper.
EDUST-295 Independent Study
EDUST-339EP Seminar in Educational Studies: 'Educational Policy'
In this course, students will explore educational policy including why policy-making and policies matter, what makes compelling evidence to various stakeholders, ways to identify levers for change, and the negotiation processes. We will consider local, state, federal policy, and international comparative cases. Students will analyze the ways in which policy, practice, and theory intersect or diverge, and why. Beyond course materials, students will choose a topic, draft and revise a written policy brief, as well as practice pitching policy through spoken word.
EDUST-351 Topics in Education
EDUST-351AD Topics in Education: 'Adult Literacy'
In this seminar, we will explore a number of literacy issues as they relate to the ever-present challenge of adult illiteracy. We will examine the following topics as they relate to adults with low-literacy skills: vocabulary acquisition, reading comprehension, and writing abilities. This is a Community-Based Learning course, and students will spend time each week tutoring adults in local Adult Basic Education centers to gain first-hand insights into these issues.
EDUST-351AE Topics in Education: 'Self-Awareness in Education'
Educators and policymakers bring our whole selves when entering educational spaces. With us, we bring lived experiences and social identities as well as expectations, ideals, and emotional reactions to oppression (Adams et al., 2007). This course will assist future educators and policymakers in exploring social identities within their intended roles in education, whether implementing a curriculum or policy. Frameworks and theories around oppression and liberation will be used for reflection and action related to racism, classism, gender, and adultism. Students will examine contemporary issues in education on the local community and federal level, and submit a complete curriculum design or policy utilizing course-related social justice frameworks.
EDUST-351CH Topics in Education: 'Childhood and Adolescence in the U.S. Today'
This course will explore conceptualizations of childhood and adolescence in the United States today. Using both academic articles and media resources, the course will address topics such as: early education and school readiness; play and extracurricular involvement; college access and attendance; mental health, self-esteem, and social media; and youth activism. We will use developmental psychology as the lens for most of our readings and discussion, although the course will integrate concepts from sociology, history, and education. We will also examine the roles of relationships (e.g., family, teachers, and peers) and contexts (e.g., policy, schools, and culture) on youth experience.
EDUST-351LG Seminar in Developmental Psychology: 'Language and Literacy Development in Early Childhood'
This course explores how home and school learning environments influence the development of language and literacy skills of children ages 3-8. It examines situations in which families and schools, although utilizing different languages, dialects, and ways of communicating, can work together to enhance children's language learning. Particular attention is given to children's development of academic language -- the written and spoken language needed to understand and create texts required for success in school.
EDUST-351SJ Topics in Education: 'Social Justice and Education'
As U.S. racial group populations are on the rise, educational institutions need to prepare for racial diversity reflected in classrooms from elementary school to college. In this lab course, students will use qualitative research methods and social justice frameworks to code and analyze three distinct data sets, one collected from Puerto Rican parents in Holyoke; one from a college course on social justice; and one from pre-service teachers in public schools. Students will create posters to display their findings on the presence (or absence) of social justice in education at the end-of-semester event.
EDUST-395 Independent Study
