The Major

The Education Major

The College offers an undergraduate major in Education with three possible concentrations: B.A. in Early Childhood Education (licensure), B.A. in Special Education (licensure), B.A. in Community Education and Social Change (non-licensure).

The Education major has three possible concentrations:

B.A. in Early Childhood Education (licensure for PreK-2)

This is a restricted major, which means students must apply during sophomore year through an on-campus process to be accepted into the major. Students should indicate Education or Education-Exploratory Track on their initial application to UMass for the time being. For admission to the program, students must complete Math 113, Math 114, and HUMDEV270 with a B or higher. A cumulative grade point average of at least a 3.00 is required. Students interested in Early Childhood Education should seek advising from the Advising Center education@umass.edu

B.A. in Special Education (licensure for moderate disabilities K-8 or 5-12)

This is a restricted major, which means students must apply during sophomore year through an on-campus process to be accepted into the major. Students should indicate Education or Education-Exploratory Track on their initial application to UMass for the time being. Students must also complete a secondary major in liberal arts or sciences. For admission to the program, students must complete Math 113, Math 114, HUMDEV270 and EDUC325 with a B or higher. A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 is required. Students interested in Special Education should seek advising from the Advising Center education@umass.edu

B.A. in Community Education and Social Change (non-licensure)

Intended for students interested in education and/or non-profit based work. This concentration does not lead to licensure. Students can apply directly into this major from the common application by selecting Education BA. Students interested in Community Education and Social Change should seek advising from the Advising Center education@umass.edu

Summary of Requirements for the B.A. in Community Education and Social Change Concentration (non-licensure)

Students will complete 43- 48 credits.

REQUIRED FOUNDATIONAL COURSES:

EDUC 210: Social Diversity in Education OR SOC 224: Social Class and Inequality OR SOC 245: Race and Society OR STPEC 391: STPEC Core 1
EDUC 305/PSYCH 305: Educational Psychology OR EDUC 490C: Curriculum Development
EDUC 394B S: Leadership in Diverse Communities OR EDUC 393F: Leadership Careers Student Affairs
EDUC 390D: Digital Tools & Apps for 21st Century Students

REQUIRED GENED COURSES (FOR PRIMARY MAJORS)

EDUC 240: Introduction to Educational Statistics (or equivalent)
EDUC 390A: Research Methods in Education (Junior Year Writing Course)
EDUC 494DI: Making Sense of Educational Data (IE) OR EDUC 494RI: Educational Issues in Real World Context (IE)

Courses are taken in each of the following six domains;

Domain 1: Social Justice [TWO Course Requirement: Select ONE of the required courses and ONE of the other courses listed]

EDUC 210: Social Diversity in Education Or SOC 224: Social Class and Inequality or SOC 245: Race and Society (one course is required)
EDUC 258: Education in Social Justice + Diversity Peer Theater
EDUC 291E: S-Theatre for Social Change OR
EDUC 258: Education for Social Justice and Diversity Through Peer Theatre
EDUC 292A: S-Voices Against Violence
EDUC 297A: ST-School to Prison Pipeline
EDUC 377: Introduction to Multicultural Education
EDUC 390B: Gender and Childhood
EDUC 392A-K: Social Issues Workshops (must complete three 1-credit workshops)
PUBPAdm 397: Making a Difference: Policies and Strategies for Social Change
STPEC 391: STPEC Core 1
STPEC 392: STPEC Core 2
SRVCLRNG 293H: Learning Through Community Engagement

Domain 2: Interpersonal Skills/Communication; Planning and Facilitating Groups [Select AT LEAST ONE course]

EDUC 202: Social Issues; Intergroup Dialogue
EDUC 390G/EDUC 302: Intergroup Relations
COMM 212: Cultural Codes in Communication
COMM 250: Interpersonal Communication
COMM 260: Public Speaking

Domain 3: Teaching and Learning/Pedagogy/Curriculum/Assessment [TWO Course Requirement: Select ONE of the Required Courses and ONE of the other courses listed]-

EDUC/PSYCH 305: Educational Psychology or EDUC 490C: Curriculum Development (required course)
EDUC 351: Foundations of Educ.
EDUC 378: Survey of Children’s Literature
EDUC 497I: ST-Tutoring in Schools
SOC 322: Sociology of Education
SOC 382: Sociology of Childhood

Domain 4: Theories and Models of Change/Leadership in Education [TWO Course Requirement: Select ONE of the Required Courses and ONE of the other courses listed]

EDUC 394B S: Leadership in Diverse Communities or EDUC 393F: Leadership Careers Student Affairs (required)
EDUC 395E: S: Leadership in Action
EDUC 494RI: Educational Issues in Real World Context (IE)
EDUC 591F: S-Leadership and Organizational Behavior
SOC 327: Social Change
PUBPAdm 497C: Catalyzing Change: Creating and Operating a Nonprofit

Domain 5: Research and Evaluation in Education [TWO Required Courses; May select additional courses as electives]

EDUC 240: Introduction to Educational Statistics (R2) (required)
EDUC 390A: Educational Research Design (Junior Year Writing Course) (required)
EDUC 495G: Anthropology of Childhood
EDUC 490B: Introduction to Evaluation
EDUC 494DI: Making Sense of Educational Data (IE)

Domain 6: Digital Technologies in Education [ONE Required Course; May select additional courses as electives]

EDUC 390D: Digital Tools & Apps for 21st Century Students (required)
EDUC 390F or EDUC 593A: Teaching and Learning with Technology
EDUC 597S: ST: Service Learning and Teaching with Computational Media

Internship Domain

EDUC 398: Practicum [Required]
PH 397Q Special Topics: Professional Development

See the Getting Started tab to learn more about joining this major.