Overview

Education and the study of learning touch every aspect of human activity. At the Smith College Department of Education and Child Study, we believe teaching and the study of how people learn are central to the health and future of our rapidly changing and diverse society.

Since 1871, Smith College has been preparing teachers and educational leaders who understand what it takes to create classrooms where students learn to engage their world critically, imaginatively, and reflectively. Our alumni, faculty and students work on the most pressing social and human question of our time: How can educators create settings where all children can learn and flourish?

What makes our program distinctive is our commitment to a philosophy of education rooted in the liberal arts. We believe that habits of inquiry cultivated by a liberal arts education are the best foundation for the intellectual and practical demands of teaching. We also believe that we do our best thinking and growing as teachers and learners in collaboration with others. We embody this ideal in our program. We are a small, flexible program devoted to providing students with opportunities to deeply engage with faculty, each other, and practicing educators around the core challenges of teaching and learning. Some aspects of our program that make it unique include research opportunities with faculty, our January term Urban Educational Fellowship in New York City, Chicago, and Boston, Project Coach – an opportunity to support urban youth through developing coaching skills that they share with younger students, the Pistoia Program, and our novel Museum Studies Concentration.

Preparing for a teaching career is foremost among the reasons for studying education. No undertaking is more challenging than teaching well. Our goal is to help students develop the ideas and tools they will need to address the challenges they will face. Teaching is not the only reason to study education. Other student interests that have motivated study in education include the history of education; educational publishing; children’s literature; curriculum and instructional development; museum and corporate education; reading; learners with special needs; urban and multicultural education; science, mathematics, and engineering education; and guidance and counseling.

Smith College boasts one of the largest and well-supported education departments at any liberal arts college. Students have many opportunities to work closely with faculty in a variety of research and school-based projects. The college’s laboratory school, The Smith College Campus School has been in existence for over 80 years and represents an enormous commitment to excellence in the study of children and teaching. The education of teachers was a stipulation in the will of Sophia Smith, the college’s founder. Smith graduates have been making an impact on the lives of students ever since.

Requirements for the major in Education & Child Study

Most students who major in Education & Child Study design their program in consultation with their adviser. All major programs consist of 10 semester courses and culminate in the department’s senior colloquium: Edc 340, Historical and Philosophical Perspectives and the Educative Process.

Usually the major program consists of one course in the area of Historical and Philosophical Foundations; one course in the area of Sociological and Cultural Foundations; two courses in the Learning Process; one course in Curriculum and Instruction; and at least one course on the advanced level. Additional courses are selected to best match the student’s goals and interests. All courses are listed in our on-line Course Catalog.

Students who are preparing to meet licensure requirements must design their major program so that it includes the prescribed set of courses and experiences described in the Teacher Education & Licensure section.

Requirements for the major

Requirements for the minor in Education & Child Study

A minor in Education & Child Study consists of 6 semester courses.

Programs in the following areas of concentration are available:
Special Needs
Child Development / Early Childhood
Learning and Instruction
Middle School or High School
Education Studies
Museum Education

Requirements for the minor

Many students, in consultation with their adviser, design a minor program that is tailored to their goals and interests. Students can meet minor requirements and also meet the requirements for teacher licensure.

Program Requirements

Overview

Major

Minor

Course Catalog

Teacher Licensure

Elementary Licensure

Secondary Licensure

MA DOE Licensure Help

Contact Director of Teacher Education