Curriculum

Education Studies is a 128-credit interdisciplinary BA program. Students in this major learn how education continuously shapes society and how, in turn, society continuously transforms education. Using powerful tools from public policy, advocacy, and social entrepreneurship, students learn how members of society, including themselves, can influence education at its many levels, whether in school or non-school settings, locally, nationally and internationally. Through liberal arts and education core courses, this major prepares students to gain a broad understanding of education from cultural, historical, sociological, political and economic perspectives. Students will dive deeply into a variety of education issues using approaches that are grounded in the social sciences and humanities, while honing relevant interdisciplinary skills such as writing, communication, as well as qualitative and quantitative methods of research and analysis. Learning experientially is a key component of the program. Through study abroad, internships and senior capstone projects, students gain hands-on experience involving educational change and advocacy. The major prepares students to work in a broad range of governmental, non-profit and industry settings as well as for graduate study in law, policy, social sciences, social work, education, and business.

Core Course Sequence

College Core Curriculum (CORE)

NYU’s College Core Curriculum provides a foundational academic experience of general education in the liberal arts for undergraduates at NYU. The Core Curriculum includes courses in foreign language, expository writing, and foundations of contemporary culture and scientific inquiry. In addition to these required subject areas, students also have the opportunity to explore liberal arts electives in the topics that most interest them, gaining the skills and breadth of intellectual perspective to flourish in their major programs of study and in their later careers. 

Major Requirements

Education Studies students will take major core courses in education through the lens of history, globalization, race and class, philosophy as well as education policy. Students are also required to take research methods classes. These courses provide foundational knowledge and approaches for students to critically analyze education issues and the opportunities to develop expertise in one area of specialization. 

Specialization Sequence

Education Studies students will have the opportunity to select one Area of Specialization. There are three different Areas of Specialization, detailed below. 

Students who are interested in US Education in urban and other settings can choose to specialize in the Education and Society track. Going beyond the core requirements, students can choose to delve into important education issues from the perspectives of in education such as sociology, history, culture, and immigration, equity and social justice to develop a solid foundation in these areas. 

Students who are interested in the role of education globally, in developing countries, or in the context of globalization, can choose to specialize in the Global Education track. Students can learn important issues in global education that are nested in sub disciplines such as politics and policy, human rights, peace and conflicts, and get real experience of how international education works through many NYU global sites. 

Students who are eager to make a social impact in education can choose the Impact & Entrepreneurship path. In this track, students will get many hands-on experiential learning opportunities such as utilizing data and problem solving via courses in entrepreneurship, consulting, and education policy analysis. 

Sample Elective Courses

Education and Society Specialization:

• Education as a Social Institution
• Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the New Immigration
• Education and Law

Global Education Specialization

• Globalization & Education
• International Human Rights Activism and Education
• Comparative Politics, Education, and Conflict

Impact & Entrepreneurship

• Education and Social Entrepreneurship
• Presenting and Visualization Education Data
• Topics in Political Economy of Education

Culminating Experience

Senior Seminar serves as the culmination of the Education Studies major. Students will craft a senior project on a topic of their choice. The senior project can take various forms such as a research paper/proposal, an education innovation/entrepreneurial proposal, policy analysis, or an advocacy plan. Drawing on the knowledge and skills acquired in previous courses, students will not only apply their existing expertise but also develop new skills. The course integrates a combination of self-reflective and design thinking approaches to explore the significance and value of education for social equity and personal growth. Engaging in diverse class activities, students will cultivate a humanistic-centered understanding of education, firmly rooted in both disciplines and professions.