The Educational Studies Minor

Learn about teaching and learning and the inner workings of the United States school system in the Educational Studies minor. Each course is steeped in current research on diversity, equity, and inclusion for all kinds of students, and taught by professors with experience teaching K-12. In many educational studies classes, students volunteer in local elementary and middle schools.

The minor is designed to be flexible. It consists of 20 credit hours, including at least 16 from Educational Studies and at least 12 at the upper division. 

This minor is recommended for anyone interested in teaching or other careers involving children, including pediatric health care, social work, and child psychology. The minor does not lead to teacher licensure; to be able to teach in Maryland, aspiring teachers complete the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT).  To be prepared to enter the MAT, students must complete additional prerequisites; prerequisite checklists for each licensure area are located here. Students who complete MAT prerequisites for any licensure area automatically complete the Educational Studies minor.

The Special Education Minor

Gain a solid foundation in special education theory and practice with a special education minor. Students work closely with local K-12 schools to gain hands-on, practical experience. In the classroom, students benefit from small class sizes and engaging course topics. Students with the special education minor can be eligible to enter the SMCM  Master of Arts in Teaching program with licensure in elementary/middle school special education (grades 1-8).

The minor in Special Education includes six required courses that offer a basic foundation in the field of special education. This minor is also recommended for students who are interested in pursuing careers related to special education, such as school counseling, school psychology, or speech/language pathology, but do not necessarily plan to teach in K-12 settings.

• EDUC 331-Topics in Behavior and Related Disorders (only offered in the spring)
  • Prerequisite: PSYC 101

• EDUC 336: Exceptionality: An Introduction to Special Education
  • Prerequisite: PSYC 101

• EDUC 339: Learning Disabilities (only offered in the fall)
  • Prerequisite: PSYC 101

• EDUC 368: Educational Psychology
  • Prerequisite: PSYC 101

• EDUC 396: Language Acquisition & Phonemic Awareness
  • Prerequisite: EDUC 206 (only offered in the fall)
• One course from the following two:
  • PSYC 331: Infant & Child
  • PSYC 230: Lifespan