Sociology of Education
SOED-UE 1015 Education as a Social Institution: Part of the common pedagogical core, this course provides an introduction to the social foundations of education. The structure of education in terms of the rights and responsibilities of teachings, administrators, community members and policy makers in relation to the rest of the society are explored from both legal and sociological credits of view. Comparisons with education and schooling in other countries are made. The study of particular school and professional issues includes diversity, student variability, bilingualism, and special education in terms of their effects on policy, practice, and student and teacher rights.
SOED-UE 20 American Social Movements: Through the lenses of power, resistance, and identity, this course provides an introduction to American social movements from the 1950s to the present. Drawing from history, sociology, and politics, it examines a range of social movements, including: civil rights and Black Power, second and third wave feminism, gay and lesbian liberation and LGBT movements, and Right-wing mobilization. The course also examines the question of how social activism on both the political Left and Right has changed over the past fifty years.
History of Education
HSED-UE 1033 Global Culture Wars: This course will examine the origins, development, and meanings of so-called cultural conflict in the United States. Topics will include abortion, gay rights, bilingualism, and the teaching of evolution in public schools.
HSED-UE 1035 Reading The Plague While Surviving a Plague: In the last years of World War II, Albert Camus wrote his novel, The Plague, as a way to illuminate the deep personal and societal ills around him. The book has again become popular as people struggle to understand the ramifications of the COVID-19 plague. Students and faculty use Camus’s work to explore what humans are experiencing and how they are reacting to this 21st century plague and its impact on frontline workers, marginalized communities, elections, and universities. Students write an extended review of The Plague to add their reflections to the conversation.
HSED-UE 1070 The University: What Was It? What Is It? What Should It Be?: This course explores the nature & function of higher learning beginning with the Greeks & the ancient academy through the medieval rise of the universities & the expansion of the corporate culture of higher education. Students will be exposed to a vast array of classical works from the fields of philosophy, sociology, economics & the humanities. Student will apply the works of such thinkers as Plato, Kant, Veblen as well as others to ask critical questions about what has shaped their contemporary college experience.
International Education
INTE-UE 1545 Immigration and Education: The course examines the conceptual & empirical work on the social, cultural, & economic aspects of globalization & their implications for education. We shall explore education in light of: 1) the increasing de-territorialization of cultural formations; 2) the emergence of global markets along with the post-nationalization of the production & distribution of goods & services -- with a concomitant premiss on knowledge -- intensive work; 3) new information & communication technologies which are reshaping the structure & meaning of work, belonging & community; 4) unprecedented population movements & worldwide immigration. We shall examine recent conceptual work, in globalization & its relationships to human experience with a focus on youth.
INTE-UE 11 Globalization & Education: The course examines the conceptual & empirical work on the social, cultural, & economic aspects of globalization & their implications for education. We shall explore education in light of: 1) the increasing de-territorialization of cultural formations; 2) the emergence of global markets along with the post-nationalization of the production & distribution of goods & services -- with a concomitant premiss on knowledge -- intensive work; 3) new information & communication technologies which are reshaping the structure & meaning of work, belonging & community; 4) unprecedented population movements & worldwide immigration. We shall examine recent conceptual work, in globalization & its relationships to human experience with a focus on youth.
INTE-UE 1010 International Human Rights Activism and Education: How do educators & activists spread messages about human rights? What might make them more likely to succeed? What are the ethical & political implications of using education as a tool for moral persuasion? Students will engage with these questions, as well as be introduced to the role of the United Nations, NGOs, & state governments in facilitating human rights education. Students will also engage critically with debates over whether the human rights system is an appropriate way to achieve justice in diverse contexts. Throughout the course, students will apply theory on human rights education & activism to real-life examples, as well as create their own advocacy campaign & lesson plan.
INTE-UE 1028 Comparative Politics, Education, and Conflict: Explores the politics of civil conflict, peace-building, & the role of education in promising violence or peace. Explores the role of external actors (international organizations, bilateral donors, non governmental organizations), local actors (civil society associations, nationalist & ideological state factions), & their influence on education systems during was & emerging peace. Readings & discussion will focus on humanitarian action, human rights & development, nationalism & ethnic conflict, the political economy of post-conflict education, & the politics of promoting education in early reconstruction & peace-building. Case studies will include Afghanistan, Colombia, Sierra Leone, Pakistan, & West Bank/Gaze, but students will be encouraged to explore cases of their choosing.
EDST-UE 1321 Political Economy of Education: Why Does College Cost So Much?: Why do so many high school students apply to study at expensive institutions when there are cheaper alternatives available? Who is able to attend, and who is excluded? Why do college costs keep rising so fast? Shouldn’t college be free? Students explore answers to these kinds of questions in this course. Students explore a range of economic concepts and empirical evidence that speaks to the value of education for individuals and societies; state and institutional financial aid policies; and university budgets and spending priorities.
Data and Education
EDST-UE 1601 Presenting and Visualizing Education Data: Storytelling using data visualization is a powerful tool to communicate ideas and to highlight critical issues in education. This course provides a comprehensive overview of education data and effective ways of presenting them. Students gain hands-on experience and develop effective communication and storytelling skills using data visualization. Through working with real education data, students deepen their understanding of various issues in Education.
APSTA-UE 1031 Power + Politics of Data: The course empowers students to improve the social impact of data-driven analysis. Students explore human experiences shaped by algorithms, machine learning, and artificial intelligence while learning how to systematically collect, share, analyze, visualize, and interpret data. The course provides historical background on issues of data privacy, digital exclusion, and online discrimination. Building both quantitative reasoning and critical thinking skills, the course is designed for students either in the sciences or humanities. No statistics prerequisite.
Education Experiential Learning
EDST-UE 1503 Education and Social Entrepreneurship: Innovative solutions in education are emerging from the private sector every day. Business ventures from Teach for America to Khan Academy are changing the way teachers are prepared, the way students learn, and the way institutions use data. These ideas are started by “social entrepreneurs,” people who try to improve lives through solutions that have a market and customers. Students in this course learn about social entrepreneurship, how to identify critical issues in the education-related space, and how to develop their own entrepreneurial solutions accordingly.
EDST-UE 1505 Education Consulting: This practice-based course provides students with an opportunity to learn about the education consulting profession. The first module provides a critical overview of how consultants work with schools, districts, universities and nonprofit organizations to assess educational challenges. The second covers multiple applied research methods, including design thinking, individual and focus group interviews, and secondary data analysis. During the third module students consult for a school, district or nonprofit organization, getting first-hand experience in the profession.