Educational Studies

Majors, Minor and Certification

Faculty and professional interests

Jason Helfer, chair
Philosophy of education; curriculum and teaching; aesthetic education
Diana Beck
Cognitive processes of science learning, theory and practice of teacher preparation, elementary curriculum and methods, educational psychology
Xavier Romano
Comparative structures of international higher education (particularly that of the United Kingdom, Germany and the USA), history and philosophy of American higher education
Stephen Schroth
Differentiated instruction, literacy, effective teaching methods for high ability students, talent development in English language learners, middle school curriculum and methods
Barry Swanson
Teacher leadership, middle and secondary school curriculum and instruction

Lecturers
Joel Estes, Educational Foundation
Victoria Romano, Instructional Technology

Educational Studies is a field that uses several disciplinary approaches to arrive at an integrative understanding of the educational process and of what it means to be an educated person within institutions that are themselves part of larger personal, social, and historical contexts. As an area of inquiry, the study of education is expansive, investigating such issues as the nature of knowledge and the ways in which people construct knowledge, the ways in which it can be most effectively learned, the relationships between social justice and a variety of educational practices and institutions, and the values that we need to survive and flourish within a global and multicultural context that is increasingly interconnected, yet fragile.

The Department of Educational Studies offers a wide variety of courses in the academic study of education and in the practical dimensions of teaching and learning. These courses provide inquiry into issues such as the relationship between educational theory, policy and practice and issues of race, ethnicity, social class and gender; the politics of knowledge within schools and other institutions; the different ways in which people learn and how we make sense of our experiences; and the interconnections between educational and other institutions and phenomena such as the family, the economic sector, culture and politics; as well as broader questions of ideology.

The department’s courses provide a strong intellectual foundation for students preparing to enter the profession of teaching or for those interested in study in the field of education. The department's courses also emphasize research-based instructional strategies that help all learners.

The department offers majors with four distinct tracks. The elementary track concentrates on elementary school teaching, and the secondary track focuses on secondary school teaching in a variety of content areas. A third track prepares students to teach music, art, or world languages in K-12 classrooms. The fourth track is a Social Science Education program, which prepares students to teach a range of social science courses at the secondary level. Completing the requirements in any of the tracks does not by itself qualify students for teacher certification. Students must also be recommended by the department for certification and complete the teacher licensure requirements set by the Illinois State Board of Education Standards. These requirements include passing all Illinois Certification Tests. In 2007-2008, the pass rate for College program completers was 100%. The State-wide summary pass rate for the same year was 99%.

As a member of the Associated Colleges of Illinois, the Educational Studies Department also participates in a number of programs focused on preparing teachers for high needs schools. For example, majors in the Educational Studies Department have the opportunity to serve as interns during a summer school program for first through twelfth grade students from Chicago Public Schools. The interns teach their own group of students while completing professional development activities. Teacher candidates can also work with Knox College faculty and area master teachers at Knox College.

Teacher Certification

Knox offers certification programs approved by the State of Illinois in elementary education (kindergarten through ninth grade), and several subject areas in secondary education (grades six through twelve). The subject areas in which Knox offers secondary education certifications are: English; mathematics; science with designations in chemistry, biology, or physics; social science with designations in anthropology/sociology, economics, history, political science, or psychology. Knox is also approved to offer certification programs in K-12 Art, Music, and Language. The language designations are Latin, Spanish, French, and German. Students interested in either elementary or secondary certification may qualify for Middle School endorsement by successfully completing EDUC 205 and EDUC 317 and content area requirements.

In general terms, students can qualify for recommendation for certification by satisfactory completion of a major in Educational Studies; for secondary and K-12 education programs another major in a subject field (the second major should be in the teaching area); completion of the Knox general education courses; a required number of hours of field work, including all components of student teaching; and successful passage of the State of Illinois Certification tests. In order to meet certification standards in Illinois and other states, students must demonstrate knowledge in the arts, communications, history, literature, mathematics, philosophy, sciences, social sciences and global perspectives. The certification office, located in the Educational Studies department, maintains files of current certification requirements. (The ISBE may change certification requirements, usually with significant advance notice.)

Students should consult a faculty member in the Educational Studies department, early in their college career, to arrange their respective courses of study.

Admission to the Teacher Education Program

A student who wishes to prepare for teaching must apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program before the time of enrolling in EDUC 310. Admittance to the program and subsequent student teaching is based on maintaining a 2.5 GPA overall and in the major(s), and satisfactory completion of all prior Educational Studies courses and fieldwork.

Thirteenth Term Certification Scholarship

Students who want to complete requirements for teacher certification and who need an extra term to complete the requirements, may apply for a Teacher Certification Scholarship for that term.

The departmental curriculum contributes to the College's Key Competency Requirements as follows:

• Writing Key Competency - EDUC 202, 203, and 310 serve as writing-intensive courses
• Speaking Key Competency - EDUC 204, 314-316, 318, and 319 serve as speaking-intensive courses
• Information Literacy and Informed Use of Technology - Information literacy and informed use of technology are acquired in a variety of ways throughout the program that may include workshops, participation in special programs, requirements of particular courses, or enrollment in Educational Studies technology courses.

Educational Studies Course Descriptions
Requirements for the Major and Minor