Educational Studies, B.A.

Educational Studies is a Bachelor of Arts degree program for students who wish to pursue a career in a field that works with or advocates for children. This program offers a strong foundation of child development, educational theories, and special education. The Educational Studies program supports students as they customize their learning towards many different educational fields. Features of the program include a minor in special education with the option for a second minor in a program of choice, and an internship during senior year. This degree provides a gateway to many different career paths. Educational studies is a non-certification education degree. The program provides opportunities for students who want to work in education, but do not want to be a classroom teacher. Educational Studies majors take classes focusing on Child Development, Teaching Multilingual Learners, Assessment in special education, Autism and Assistive Technology.

Career options include the ability to work for education-related agencies, children’s hospitals, preschool programs, and not-for profits that do not require state teacher certifications. Students that have graduated with an Educational Studies degree have pursued jobs at locations including the YMCA, Head Start, independent preschools, children’s museums, children’s hospitals, and non-profit child advocacy programs. This degree would also lay the foundation for Master’s degrees in teaching, behavioral analysis, and speech and language therapy, among others.

Program Outcomes

The following program outcomes are used to evaluate the success of the program and its students. 

1. Planning and Preparation:  Students demonstrate thorough knowledge of content and pedagogical skills in planning and preparation. Students make, plan, and set goals based on the content to be delivered to children in instructional, medical, or childcare environments.

2. Positive Environment: Students have the ability to establish and maintain a purposeful and equitable environment in which children feel safe, valued, and respected, by instituting routines and setting clear expectations for the child’s behavior.

3. Professionalism: Students utilize qualities that characterize a professional person and adhere to the standards of integrity, ethical behavior and professional conduct as stated in local state and federal laws and regulations in any learning or childcare environment. 

4. Communication: Students express ideas clearly in written and spoken forms; reason analytically and critically; and demonstrate appropriate use of research as evidenced by classroom presentations and discussions, and academic writing.

Progression in the Educational Studies major leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree requires students to:

• Maintain a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA.

 

Limitation on Transfer Credit

In addition to the institutional requirement of a grade of “C” or better for all transfer courses, and in order to maintain the most current and highest quality of career preparation standards, transfer students are to refer to the following guidelines regarding the acceptance of transfer credits into the degree program: 

• Transfer credits must be from a regionally accredited, degree-granting institution and current within a 10-year period. All stipulated transfer criteria as outlined in the University catalog must be met.
• Transfer credits earned more than 10 years ago may be accepted as elective credits, based upon a review by the Division Dean, in consultation with the University Registrar.

Field Experience

Throughout their four-year program at Neumann University, students participate in a clinical field experience sequence which is designed to help them connect theory to practice; enhance their observational, instructional, and analytical skills; and develop their professional ethos. Field experiences expose students to a variety of classroom settings with scaffolded involvement to include: observation, one-on-one interaction, instructional aide responsibilities, designing and delivering lessons in small groups, and full class instruction.

Course content and assignments are linked to field experiences. Students must obtain and submit to the Field Experience Coordinator all security clearances that meet current state-approved teaching requirements. For current security clearance requirements, contact the Field Experience Coordinator.