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The 16-credit interdisciplinary minor in Global and Urban Education Studies provides you with a comprehensive grasp of key social, cultural, economic, political, legal, and policy issues in education – both nationally and internationally, and across urban and non-urban settings. Open to all undergraduates at NYU, this minor provides the groundwork for a career or advanced study in education, policymaking, law, business, or international development. You can customize your studies by choosing courses in either Urban Education or Global Education.

Core Course Sequence

All students complete Introduction to Education: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives which provides a foundational understanding of critical themes, issues, and controversies in American education. In this course you will address such questions as “What is the fundamental role of “school”? “How have schools transformed over time” since their emergence in the United States? “What are the similarities and differences for how children learn and how should that be incorporated into classroom instruction”? You will also complete one required course in your Area of Focus:

  1. Urban Education - American Dilemmas: Race, Inequality, and the Unfulfilled Promises of Public Education

  2. Global Education - Introduction to Global Education OR Globalization and Education

Specialization Sequence 

You will choose one of the Areas of Focus and complete two elective courses for a total of 8 credits.

The Urban Education area of focus provides a detailed understanding of the complexities that exist within urban educational settings. It includes coursework that addresses issues of equity, funding, urban youth identities, organizational structures and governance within urban schools, as well as policy development and implementation. 

The Global Education area of focus teaches you how to analyze the social, cultural, and economic aspects of globalization and the role they play in education. Coursework addresses international human rights standards, the influence of global markets and migration, and the intersection of race, class, gender, and sexuality within educational settings.