专业详情

Please note that the Education Studies major is currently being offered to Barnard College students only.

The Barnard Education Program is committed to strengthening public education and addressing issues of equity and social justice, particularly in urban schools. We offer two tracks in Education: Education Studies (Major and Minor/Special Concentration), and Urban-Teaching Minors/Special Concentration (that leads to teacher certification in Elementary/Childhood Education or Secondary-Adolescent Education). In all tracks, students develop critical lenses to understand education as a fundamental human activity that occurs across many settings; to analyze the issues facing public schools; and to consider ways to promote fair and inclusive policies and practices for children and youth. The classes are open to all undergraduates at Columbia (BC, SEAS, GS, CC). The two tracks we offer are:

Education Studies

Education Studies is an interdisciplinary program for students who wish to understand, critically analyze, and conduct research on the role of education in society. Our students draw on a wide range of theoretical and empirical scholarship to study education as a social, cultural, and historical process. We understand education as much more than schooling, even as schooling is central to many of our concerns. Students who pursue the major or the minor/special concentration in Education Studies learn to evaluate educational policy, practice, and research through a critical, equity-oriented lens. Our graduates will be prepared to act creatively for peace, justice, and sustainability in local and global educational contexts. Education Studies prepares students to pursue graduate studies or positions in public policy, sociology, history, youth studies, philosophy, psychology, and other areas where K-12 education is frequently a focus of coursework and scholarship, as well as to pursue teacher certification through a graduate program. Education Studies does not lead to teacher certification.

Urban Teaching Minors/Special Concentrations

This track is for students who want to graduate from college with teacher certification. Our goal is to prepare students to become skilled and reflective teachers who can effectively respond to the learning needs of diverse learners, and create supportive and intellectually stimulating classroom communities. Students learn to create innovative curriculum; gain experience observing, tutoring, and teaching a diverse range of children and young people; develop confidence in their role as teachers who can promote fair and inclusive school practices; and graduate with certification to teach in New York.