A degree in Education Studies, administered by the School of Education, prepares undergraduate students for professions within the field of education, but outside of K-12 classroom teaching. This non-licensure degree seeks to equip educators across the education landscape with the ability to design, implement, and assess educational programming that advances teaching and learning for all.
As part of this proposed degree program, students would take classes that meet ISU general education and college-level requirements along with SOE foundational education courses for the first two years to provide a grounding in education theory and practice. In the final two years, students in this new degree program would then pursue a parallel track that would include coursework focused on one of three emphasis areas (Teaching, Learning & Leadership, Innovation, Technology, & Society, or STEM) before participating in a semester-long internship related to their career goals.
The following emphasis areas in this degree are intended to be multidisciplinary and flexible in nature to reflect current trends and issues in education in order to prepare students for a broad and ever-changing education landscape.
- Teaching, Learning, and Leadership – this emphasis area is for students who are interested in teaching and learning across a range of educational settings, contexts, and learners. Students in this emphasis area can pursue a variety of careers related to education including international education, informal or community-based education such as museum or library educators, support for K-12 classrooms, or educational programming, policy, or consulting.
- Innovation, Technology, and Society - this emphasis area is for students who are interested in the intersection of innovation, design, educational technology, and the impact on society. This concentration would build upon expertise of education technology faculty within the SOE and with collaborations across campus to explore current technology-based innovations and learning technologies in educational settings, such as game-based learning, computer science, artificial intelligence, and human computer interaction for educators. Students in this emphasis area could pursue careers in instructional design, technology-based learning, educational or technology firms, online learning, educational consulting, or educational entrepreneurship.
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) - this emphasis area is for students who are interested in learning and teaching as it relates to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) contexts and environments. This concentration seeks to equip educators across STEM fields with the ability to design, implement, and assess research-based educational programs that advance the goals of STEM education for all involved. Students in this emphasis area could pursue careers in museums, science or nature centers, out of school STEM programs and camps, curriculum development and testing, educational programming for STEM-related industries, such as business or healthcare.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students pursuing the education studies degree program would engage with the following objectives to build a well-rounded foundation that would allow them to make meaningful contributions to the field of education.
- Study various educational systems, including their structures, policies, and practices.
- Build foundational knowledge and understanding of educational theory, research, and practice to better understand how people learn and how to facilitate effective learning experiences.
- Learn to design and implement engaging and effective educational materials and programming including innovative technology-based learning.
- Participate in a program of study that aligns with career aspirations and interests that that includes a semester-long internship experience.
Degree requirements
To receive a Bachelor of Science degree in education studies, a student must complete a minimum of 120 credits.
- International Perspective: 3 credits
- U.S. Cultures and Communities: 3 credits
Communication/Library: 10 credits
| ENGL 1500 | Critical Thinking and Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 2500 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition | 3 |
| LIB 1600 | Introduction to College Level Research | 1 |
| Approved Communications Course | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 10 | |
Humanities and Social Sciences: 15 credits
| PSYCH 2300 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| Approved Social Science Courses (2 Courses) | 6 | |
| Approved Humanities Courses (2 Courses) | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Mathematics and Sciences: 15 credits
| Approved Mathematics Courses (2 Courses) | 6 | |
| Approved Science Courses (3 Courses) | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Education Studies Core: 29 credits
| Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
| Educational Technologies in the PK-6 Classroom | ||
| Educational Technologies in the 7-12 Classroom | ||
| Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
| Social Foundations of Education in the United States: Secondary | ||
| Social Foundations of Education in the United States: Early Childhood and Elementary Education | ||
| Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
| Education of the Exceptional Learner | ||
| Teaching Secondary Students with Exceptionalities in General Education | ||
| Disability in a Diverse Society | ||
| EDUC 3320 | Educational Psychology of Early Childhood and Elementary Education | 3 |
| Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
| Landscape of Teaching | ||
| Principles of Secondary Education | ||
| EDUC 3550X | Teaching Multilingual Learners | 3 |
| EDUC 3690X | Dilemmas in Education | 3 |
| Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
| Teaching and Learning in a Pluralistic Society: Early Childhood and Elementary | ||
| Teaching and Learning in a Pluralistic Society: Secondary | ||
| Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
| Teaching Disciplinary Literacy | ||
| Critical Approaches to Teaching Children's and Adolescent Literature | ||
| Approved Learning Community Course | 1 | |
| Approved Initial Field Experience Course | 1 | |
| Total Credits | 29 | |
Emphasis Area Electives: 36 credits
- Teaching, Learning, and Leadership
- Technology, Design, and Innovation
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
Internship: 15 credits
Four Year Plan
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Freshman Learning Community | 1 | Level 1 Field Experience (EDUC 2800) | 1 |
| ENGL 1500 | 3 | Education of the Exceptional Learner (SPED 2100/2500/4010) | 3 |
| LIB 1600 | 1 | Humanities Option | 3 |
| Social Foundations of Education (EDUC 2040/2050) | 3 | Math Option | 3 |
| Social Science | 3 | Science Option | 3 |
| Science Option | 3 | Social Science Option | 3 |
| 14 | 16 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Intro to Educational Technologies (EDUC 2010/2020) | 3 | Landscapes of Teaching (EDUC 2450/4260) | 3 |
| ENGL 2500 | 3 | Educational Psychology (EDUC 3320/3330) | 3 |
| Math Option | 3 | CHS Communications Option | 3 |
| Science Option | 3 | Humanities Option | 3 |
| Social Science Option | 3 | Emphasis Area Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| EDUC 3690X | 3 | Introduction to Social Justice (EDUC 4050/4060) | 3 |
| Emphasis Area Elective | 3 | Emphasis Area Elective | 3 |
| Emphasis Area Elective | 3 | Emphasis Area Elective | 3 |
| Emphasis Area Elective | 3 | Emphasis Area Elective | 3 |
| Emphasis Area Elective | 3 | Emphasis Area Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Literature and Learning (EDUC 3950/4590) | 3 | Semester Long Internship | 15 |
| EDUC 3550X | 3 | ||
| Emphasis Area Elective | 3 | ||
| Emphasis Area Elective | 3 | ||
| Emphasis Area Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
** In year 3, students have completed ISU & CHS gen ed requirements and SOE core courses
They would choose one of three Education Studies emphasis areas:
- Teaching, Learning, and Leadership
- Technology, Design, and Innovation
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
See table for emphasis area elective options.
Emphasis Area Options: Teaching, Learning, and Leadership
| EDUC 3020 | Principles and Practices of Learning with Technology | 3 |
| EDUC 3700 | Toying with Technology | 3 |
| EDUC 3770 | Foundations of Literacy | 4 |
| EDUC 3780 | Methods for Teaching Literacy in the Elementary Classroom | 4 |
| EDUC 4070 | Online Education in Pre-K-12 Classrooms: Hybrid, Virtual, and Blended Approaches | 3 |
| EDUC 4200 | Bilingualism & The Education of Latinx Youth | 3 |
| EDUC 4220 | Teaching and Learning Iowa History | 3 |
| EDUC 4430 | The Teaching of Social Studies | 3 |
| EDUC 4480 | Teaching Children Mathematics | 3 |
| EDUC 4490 | The Teaching of Science | 3 |
| EDUC 4520 | Assessment for Literacy and Learning | 3 |
| EDUC 4540 | Emerging Topics in Educational Technologies | 1 |
| EDUC 4560 | Integrating Technology into Literacy | 3 |
| EDUC 4880 | Supervised Tutoring in Reading | 3 |
| EDUC 4750 | International Travel Study in Education | 1-6 |
| AESHM 2110 | Leadership Experiences and Development (LEAD) | 3 |
| COMST 2100 | Communication and U.S. Diversity | 3 |
| COMST 2110 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COMST 2140 | Professional Communication | 3 |
| COMST 2180 | Communication and Conflict Management | 3 |
| HDFS 1020 | Human Development | 3 |
| HDFS 2230 | Child Development and Health | 3 |
| HDFS 2260 | Development and Guidance in Middle Childhood | 3 |
| HDFS 2270 | Middle Childhood and Adolescence | 3 |
| HDFS 2490 | Family Studies | 3 |
| HDFS 2760 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| HDFS 2490 | Family Studies | 3 |
| PSYCH 2300 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| PSYCH 3130 | Learning and Memory | 3 |
| PSYCH 3350 | Child and Adolescent Psychopathology | 3 |
| PSYCH 3500 | Human Factors in Technology | 3 |
| PR 2200 | Principles of Public Relations | 3 |
| POLS 2350 | Introduction to Ethics and Politics | 3 |
| POLS 3330 | Democracy in America | 3 |
| POLS 4800 | Ethics and Public Policy | 3 |
| POLS 3350 | Science, Technology, and Public Policy | 3 |
| LDST 1220 | Leading with Purpose | 1 |
| LDST 3220 | Leadership in a Diverse Society | 3 |
| LDST 3330 | Women, Gender, and Leadership | 3 |
| LLS 1120 | Foundations of Learning and Productive Team Membership | 2 |
| LLS 1140 | Developing Responsible Learners and Effective Leaders | 2 |
| LLS 2120 | Habits of Mind and Decision-Making in Leadership | 2 |
| SOC 4640 | Strategies for Community Engagement | 3 |
Emphasis Area Options: Technology, Design, and Innovation
| EDUC 3020 | Principles and Practices of Learning with Technology | 3 |
| EDUC 3700 | Toying with Technology | 3 |
| EDUC 4070 | Online Education in Pre-K-12 Classrooms: Hybrid, Virtual, and Blended Approaches | 3 |
| EDUC 4540 | Emerging Topics in Educational Technologies | 1 |
| EDUC 4560 | Integrating Technology into Literacy | 3 |
| COMS 1030 | Computer Literacy and Applications | 4 |
| COMS 1040 | Brief Introduction to Computer Programming for Non-Majors | 2 |
| COMS 1050A | Short Course in Computer Programming: Perl | 2 |
| COMS 1050B | Short Course in Computer Programming: MATLAB | 2 |
| COMS 1060 | Introduction to Web Programming | 3 |
| COMS 1070 | Windows Application Programming | 3 |
| COMS 2070 | Fundamentals of Computer Programming | 3 |
| COMS 4720 | Principles of Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| COMST 3300 | Communication in a Digital World | 3 |
| CPRE 2300 | Cyber Security Fundamentals | 3 |
| DES 1500 | Introduction to Innovation and Design | 3 |
| DES 2300 | Design Thinking | 3 |
| DS 2010 | Introduction to Data Science | 3 |
| DSNS 2320 | Digital Design Communications | 3 |
| ECON 3830X | Economics of Innovation | 3 |
| ENGL 2220 | Artificial Intelligence and Writing | 3 |
| ENTSP 3100 | Entrepreneurship and Innovation | 3 |
| JLMC 4740 | Communication Technology and Social Change | 3 |
| PHIL 3430 | Philosophy of Technology | 3 |
| PSYCH 3500 | Human Factors in Technology | 3 |
| PSYCH 3860 | Media Psychology | 3 |
| POLS 3350 | Science, Technology, and Public Policy | 3 |
Emphasis Area Options: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
| EDUC 3020 | Principles and Practices of Learning with Technology | 3 |
| EDUC 3700 | Toying with Technology | 3 |
| EDUC 4070 | Online Education in Pre-K-12 Classrooms: Hybrid, Virtual, and Blended Approaches | 3 |
| EDUC 4430 | The Teaching of Social Studies | 3 |
| EDUC 4480 | Teaching Children Mathematics | 3 |
| EDUC 4490 | The Teaching of Science | 3 |
| EDUC 4540 | Emerging Topics in Educational Technologies | 1 |
| EDUC 4560 | Integrating Technology into Literacy | 3 |
| AECL/BIOL/ENSCI 3120: Ecology | 3 | |
| BIOL/ENVS/ENSCI 2010: Introduction to Environmental Issues | 3 | |
| ENGL 2220 | Artificial Intelligence and Writing | 3 |
| ENGL 3120 | Communicating Science and Public Engagement | 3 |
| IALL 3100 | Science Teaching Methods | 1-3 |
| IALL 3140 | Nature Based, Early Childhood Teaching Methods Using 'The Project Approach' | 3-4 |
| JLMC 2600 | Media Controversies in Science and Technology | 3 |
| JLMC 3470 | Science Communication | 3 |
| NREM 3800 | Field Ecology Research and Teaching | 3 |
| PHIL 3430 | Philosophy of Technology | 3 |
| PSYCH 3500 | Human Factors in Technology | 3 |
| POLS 3350 | Science, Technology, and Public Policy | 3 |
Additional emphasis area electives may be included towards the requirement following consultation with their academic advisor.