Foundations of Education Studies
EDST 105
Spring 2025
| Section:
01
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This course introduces students to the interdisciplinary field of Education Studies. Drawing on the fields of sociology, cultural studies, political science, psychology, history, and philosophy, this course emphasizes the key tensions and debates in the field of education. Through course readings and class discussions, students will grapple with questions such as: What is the purpose of education? How do we conceptualize what it means "to learn" or "to educate"? What do we teach in schools, and why? What social, cultural, political forces shape the educational opportunity structure and student outcomes? How do students learn, and what does this mean for educational practice? How do we support developmentally appropriate pedagogy in K-12 settings? How do we determine how to assess or measure student progress toward our goals for the purpose(s) of education? Students will be responsible for a variety of course readings and demonstrating understanding through in-class critical writing assignments throughout the course. Students should expect to read about three articles or chapters to prepare for each class session. Discussion facilitations and a final self-study project will allow students to synthesize and deepen their learning. This course is required for Education Studies majors. The course is designed for students in their second year who are seriously considering the major. Prospective Education Studies minors and current majors/minors may be admitted if seats are available during add/drop. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS EDST |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: None |
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Past Enrollment Probability: 90% or above |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Sample Readings:
Dewey, J. (1916, 2013). Aims in education. In Democracy and education: An introduction to the philosophy of education (pp.73-81). CreateSpace.
Freire, P. (2017). Pedagogy of the oppressed. Penguin Classics.
King Jr., M.L.K. (1947). The purpose of education. The Maroon Tiger, 10.
Ladson-Billings, G. (2013). ¿Lack of achievement or loss of opportunity?¿ In Carter, P., & Welner, K. (Eds.), Closing the opportunity gap: What America must do to give every child an even chance. Oxford University Press.
Lareau, A., & Horvat, E. M. (1999). Moments of social inclusion and exclusion: Race, class, and cultural capital in family-school relationships. Sociology of Education, 37-53.
Phillips, D. C., & Soltis, J. F. (2004). Perspectives on Learning. New York, NY: Teachers College. [excerpted chapters]
Zimmerman, J. (2002, 2022). Whose America? Culture wars in the public schools. University of Chicago Press. [excerpted chapters]
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Examinations and Assignments:
Students will be responsible for the following assignments:
Weekly readings
7 written reading response
2 student-led discussion groups
Final self study project, completed in stages (i.e., short proposal, annotated bibliography, peer-review drafts) |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
This course satisfies the Cohort requirement for the EDST major and the Foundations requirement for the EDST minor. |
| Instructor(s): Butler,Alisha Besharat Mann,Rachel Times: ..T.R.. 08:50AM-10:10AM; Location: FISK208; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 40 | | SR major: X | JR major: X | | |
| Seats Available: 1 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: X | JR non-major: X | SO: 35 | FR: 5 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 3 | 1st Ranked: 1 | 2nd Ranked: 2 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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