Education Program

Minor in Education Studies

Are you interested in shaping how and what schools teach, understanding the role school plays in society, exploring human learning, or pursuing a career in an education-related field? Consider complementing your major with a minor in education studies.

If you are interested in the Education Studies minor path to a teaching license, please refer to the Minor + Licensure requirements under Teacher Education.

An education studies minor will prepare you well for a variety of careers in related fields, including education policy, school psychology, higher education, and alternative classroom learning, such as museum education. It will also give you a solid foundation from which to pursue graduate studies in education-related fields.

To minor in education studies, you’ll complete six courses in all: two core courses, including Purpose and Politics of Education, and four electives from an approved list that covers policy, human development, and teaching and learning. If you wish, you may substitute an essay, thesis, or internship for the fourth elective.

Requirements for the Minor in Education Studies

Six courses (or the equivalent of 24 credits) are required to complete the education studies minor:

  • two core courses, one of which is ED 150b, Purpose and Politics of Education, and
  • at least four additional program electives
Program electives are listed at the end of the education course listings. A grade of C or better is required in each course taken for credit in the minor.  Pass/Fail courses are not allowed.

Students my substitute successful completion of an essay, thesis, or internship, as described below, for the fourth elective course option:
  1. Essay: an approved research or honors essay, usually taken in the senior year. Students would receive credit for this essay through their department major, or ED 98a (Individual Readings and Research in Educaiton), or an independent study or research course approved by the director of the education program.
  2. Honors Thesis: a senior thesis in the student's major that has an emphasis on some aspect of education.
  3. Internship: ED 89a Applied Learning Seminar & Internship with Education Related internship

To Declare the Minor:

  1. review the requirements carefully
    NB: If you are interested in the Education Studies minor path to a teaching license, please refer to the Minor + Licensure requirements under Teacher Education.
  2. COPY and DOWNLOAD the ED Studies declaration worksheet (revised as of 1/10/2024).
  3. read the directions (tab 1) and complete the worksheet (tab 2).
  4. email the completed form, or questions to education@brandeis.edu.
  • please use the subject line: ED Studies minor declaration.
  • we will also schedule a meeting for you with Prof. Rachel Kramer Theodorou, UAH, to select an advisor.