Education Studies Minor

Are you considering a graduate degree in teacher education?  Do you have an interest in understanding the broader issues of education as they relate to other fields?  Are you passionate about the potential of education to change lives and contribute to a more socially just and equitable society?

The Education Studies Minor may be a good fit for you!

Tailor the Minor to Your Unique Interests in Education

The Education Studies Minor is flexible and allows you to tailor the required 16-to-20-credits to your unique interests. Students enrolled in the minor have a variety of interests, which may include P-12 schooling, higher education, education policy or law, community-based learning initiatives, and more. In keeping with the mission and vision of the Education Department of Ithaca College, a focus on education as a vehicle for social justice is emphasized across the program.

The minor provides academic and practical experience as preparation for employment, for graduate study, or for active participation in civic life.

Choose your Coursework

You will be required to take the following two core courses:

  • EDUC 21010: Educational Psychology
  • EDUC 34000: Social and Cultural Foundations of Education

In addition, working closely with an advisor from the Education Department, you will select additional courses from approved options to fulfill the minor.  This will include at least two (2) additional EDUC courses plus Interdisciplinary Electives.

In your Interdisciplinary Electives courses, you can choose from coursework addressing a wide range of educational issues across the college. Beyond the courses offered by the Education Department, students in our minor also frequently choose to complete courses in the following areas of study:

  • Anthropology
  • The Center for the Study of Culture, Race, and Ethnicity
  • English
  • History
  • Mathematics
  • Philosophy
  • Politics
  • Psychology
  • Religious Studies
  • Sociology
  • Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
  • Writing

Students can find courses that are applicable toward the minor by exploring available courses with the "ESE-Education Studies Elective" attribute. 

Faculty will collaborate with you to establish a plan that meets your unique goals.

Ready to Register for the Education Studies Minor?

To begin the process of adding the Education Studies Minor, please submit a Request to Add or Drop Minor form and schedule an appointment with Dr. Shuzhan Li, Assistant Professor, Department of Education.

Interested in applying to a graduate program in teacher education?

If you are interested in preparing for graduate study leading to teacher certification, please meet with the Chair of Graduate Programs in Education, Dr. Peter Martin. You can remain at Ithaca College for a fifth year, to complete a graduate program in teacher education. We offer:

  • Master of Science (MS) in Childhood Education that leads to elementary teacher certification (grades 1-6)
  • Master of Arts in Teaching in Adolescence Education that leads to secondary teacher certification (grades 7-12).
  • Master of Arts in Teaching in Agriculture Education that leads to teacher certification (grades P-12)
  • Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Art Education that leads to teacher certification (grades K-12)

You will determine, in consultation with your advisor, which courses best help prepare you for you next-step goals.

Please note: Minoring in Education Studies does not automatically fulfill prerequisites for admission to Ithaca College graduate programs in education. Meeting with the Chair of Graduate Programs in Education is essential to plan an undergraduate pathway leading towards successful admission into graduate school.