School of Education
Education Advisors
T: 303-492-6555
edadvise@colorado.edu

Education studies majors engage in a deep study of how political, cultural, social and historical dynamics shape both policy and practice in education. In addition to three core courses, students complete an additional ten courses chosen from four areas of emphasis:

  • Curriculum and Instruction
  • Educational Foundations, Policies and Practices
  • Equity, Bilingualism and Biliteracy
  • Learning Sciences and Human Development

Students work with an education advisor to select coursework that best supports their career trajectory. Education studies graduates are engaged and informed educators, researchers, policymakers and community leaders.

Requirements

Students complete a minimum of 39 credit hours in the major. Of those 39 credit hours, 24 must be at the upper-division level. All major requirements must be completed with a grade of C- or better. 

The Education Studies major consists of nine credit hours of core coursework and 30 credit hours chosen from a list of approved courses, of which at least three credit hours must include a field-based or community-engagement component.

In addition to the education studies core requirements, the major’s curriculum is divided into four main areas:

  • Curriculum and instruction
  • Educational foundations, policies and practices
  • Equity, bilingualism and biliteracy
  • Learning sciences and human development

Students must complete at least one course from each of the four areas above. For the remaining credits required for the major, students work in consultation with an academic advisor to pursue a combination of coursework that will support their career trajectory.

Education Studies Core
EDUC 3013School and Society3
EDUC 4150Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods3
EDUC 4716Basic Statistical Methods3
Curriculum and Instruction Requirements
Curriculum and Instruction undergraduate courses focus on teaching and learning in the following curricular areas: Literacy Studies and Humanities, and STEM Education. Coursework focuses on foundations of learning, foundations of education and subject matter knowledge and pedagogy. Choose at least one course from the following:
Literacy Studies and Humanities
Education in Film
Children's Literature and Literacy Engagement in Elementary Schools
Race, Class, and Gender in Young Adult Literature
Story and Memoir
Language Study for Educators
Social and Emotional Learning in Schools
Nature of Social Studies and Social Studies Education
STEM Education
Teaching and Learning Math: Calculus, Trig and Adv Functions
Knowing and Learning in Mathematics and Science
Perspectives on Science
Perspectives on Mathematics
Teaching K-12 Mathematics: Number Sense
Teaching K-12 Mathematics: Algebraic Thinking
Teaching K-12 Mathematics: Geometry & Measurement
Teaching and Learning Computational Thinking
Teaching K-12 Mathematics: Probability & Statistics
Educational Foundations, Policies and Practices
Choose at least one course from the following:
History of American Public Education
International / Comparative Education
Gender Issues in Education
African American Education in the United States
Queer(ing) Topics in Education
Equity, Bilingualism and Biliteracy
Choose at least one course from the following:
Teaching English Language Development
Introduction to Bilingual/Multicultural Education
Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies for Bilingual Learners
Language Acquisition for Bilingual Learners
Learning Sciences and Human Development
Choose at least one course from the following:
Educational Psychology for Elementary Schools
Learning With Technology In and Out of School
Adolescent Development and Learning for Teachers

Plan(s) of Study 

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Fall SemesterCredit Hours
EDUC 3013 School and Society 3
MATH 1012 Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematical Skills 3
Social Science Distribution Requirement 3
Arts & Humanities Distribution Requirement 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
EDUC 2125 History of American Public Education 3
WRTG 1150 First-Year Writing and Rhetoric 3
Social Science Distribution Requirement 3
Arts & Humanities Distribution Requirement 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Year Two
Fall Semester
EDUC 2625 Teaching English Language Development 3
Natural Science Distribution Requirement with Lab 4
Elective 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring Semester
EDUC 3570 Learning With Technology In and Out of School 3
Natural Science Distribution Requirement 3
Global Perspective Diversity Requirement 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Year Three
Fall Semester
EDUC 3030 Race, Class, and Gender in Young Adult Literature 3
WRTG 3030 Writing on Science and Society 3
Social Science Distribution Requirement 3
Arts & Humanities Distribution Requirement 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
EDUC 4015 International / Comparative Education 3
EDUC 4301 Queer(ing) Topics in Education 3
Arts & Humanities Distribution Requirement 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Year Four
Fall Semester
EDUC 4240 African American Education in the United States 3
EDUC 4615 Language Acquisition for Bilingual Learners 3
EDUC 4716 Basic Statistical Methods 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
EDUC 4150 Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods 3
EDUC 4220 Gender Issues in Education 3
EDUC 4850 Teaching K-12 Mathematics: Probability & Statistics 3
Elective 3
Elective 2
 Credit Hours14
 Total Credit Hours120

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing the program, students will be able to: 

  • Develop and apply strong critical thinking, analysis, communication, interpersonal/team-building and problem-solving skills based on skills, knowledge and dispositions in the discipline of education.
  • Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of youth development, research on teaching and learning and strengths of diverse cultural and linguistic educational contexts.
  • Develop an awareness of, and appreciation for, diverse views, cultures and ideas as a means to becoming agents of change in educational and youth-serving organizations.
  • Demonstrate an ability to support and create supportive learning experiences that are culturally responsive and build on the strengths and knowledges of all participants.