The Education Studies Major
The Major in Education Studies is an interdisciplinary program for students who wish to understand, critically analyze, and conduct research on the role of education in society.
Students who pursue a major in Education Studies learn to evaluate educational policy, practice, and research through a critical, equity-oriented lens. Our graduates are prepared to act creatively for peace, justice, and sustainability in a range of local and global educational contexts.
Students who major in Education Studies pursue a diverse range of careers, including, but not limited to: policy research and analysis; post-graduate teacher training; working for local and global non-profit organizations; or continuing on to graduate study in education, law, and policy.
Currently, the major in Education Studies is open to Barnard College students only.
Education, Culture, and Society
Students interested in social contexts of education (including disciplinary perspectives from anthropology, sociology, history, philosophy); understanding education in family, school, and community contexts; understanding how race/ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality, and disability affect education.
Comparative and International Education
Students primarily interested in education outside of the US context. Areas of study include social contexts of education; educational policy; humanitarian, peace, and education in emergencies.
Educational Policy
Students whose primary interest is in educational policy-making (across any context). Students in this concentration will study the political, social, economic, and organizational factors that impact schools and educational policy at local, state, and national levels. Students will explore how educational policy is embedded within other broader contexts, for example, urban and rural contexts; or welfare policies of particular nation-states; or post conflict reconstruction efforts.
To declare the Educational Studies major:
- Attend an Open House: Please visit News and Events to view our next Open House date(s). If you cannot attend an Open House, please schedule a meeting with an Education faculty member to discuss the major.
- Meet with a Faculty Advisor for Program Plan Approval (required): You will meet with a faculty advisor, who will learn more about your goals and expectations, as well as review your Educational Studies program plan. At the end of the meeting, your faculty advisor will approve your program plan. You MUST meet with a faculty advisor and have your program plan approved to be considered "declared" for the major in our program.
- Declare the Major to the Barnard Registrar: To have the Educational Studies major appear on your transcript, you must submit a Major Declaration Form to the Registrar listing the courses in your program plan (BC students only).
- Declaration Approval: The Education Program Chair will approve the major declaration in Slate and finalize the assignment of your faculty advisor. You can suggest an advisor when you declare the major, but the final assignment will depend on the faculty member's advising load.
Students who major in Education Studies will take a set of core courses offered by the Education Program. They will also develop a specialization in one of three areas (see below) in consultation with their major advisor. Courses for the specialization will include electives offered not only by the Education Program faculty but also by faculty across the university.
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Educational Studies Major Requirements |
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A |
Foundational Coursework |
EDUC BC 1510* |
Foundations of Education |
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URBS UN 3310* |
Race, Space, and Urban Schools |
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B |
Field Studies Elective (1 course) |
EDUC BC 3030 | Critical Pedagogies | ||
| EDUC BC 3032 | Education Policy | ||||
| EDUC BC 3034 | Families, Communities and Schools | ||||
| EDUC BC 3040 | Migration, Globalization and Education | ||||
| EDUC BC 3050 | Science in the City I | ||||
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EDUC BC 3052 |
Math and the City |
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EDUC BC 3055 |
Arts and Humanities in the City |
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EDUC BC 3058 |
Science in the City II |
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EDUC BC 3059 |
Computer Science in the City |
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SOCI UN 3974 |
Sociology of Schools |
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C |
Specialization Courses |
EDUC BC 3032 |
Education Policy: NYC & the Climate/COVID Crisis |
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EDUC BC 3042 |
Gender, Sexuality, and Schooling |
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EDUC BC 3045 |
Complicating Class, Education and the Limits of Equity |
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EDUC BC 3040 |
Migration, Globalization and Education |
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EDUC BC 3250 |
Education in a Polarized and Unequal Society |
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EDUC BC 3044 |
Education and Social Change in Global Contexts |
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EDUC BC 3034 |
Families, Communities and Schools |
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EDUC BC 3030 |
Critical Pedagogies |
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PHIL UN 2100 |
Philosophy of Education |
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SOCI UN 3225 |
Sociology of Schools |
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ECON BC 3012 |
Economics of Education |
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PSYC BC 2134 |
Educational Psychology |
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CSER UN 3928 |
Colonization/Decolonization |
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HRTS UN 3001 |
Introduction to Human Rights |
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| Other electives may be used to count toward the requirement. Please meet with an Education faculty adviser to discuss these courses. | |||||
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D |
Senior Capstone |
EDUC BC 3088 |
Research Methods |
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EDUC BC 3089 |
Inquiry |
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NOTE: Courses taken for the Educational Studies major may not be counted for the major or another minor/special concentration. |
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Students planning to double major in Education Studies must take all the required courses, including the two Senior thesis seminars, even if they choose to write a combined thesis with their other major.