EDUC - Education

This seminar explores foundational ideas of democratic education. While focusing on the contexts and conditions of contemporary education, it traces the roots of educational theory and philosophy from the formation of the common school to the policy reforms of the 21st century. This look at the present through the past provides insight into the interactions between social, economic, political, ideological, and environmental factors and its impact on the purposes of education, school curriculum and ideas of measurement and evaluation. Students will be expected to consider the implications of/for democratic education, historically and presently, as it relates to issues of race, class, gender, and multiculturalism.

This course engages the student in work-based development of a use-inspired research agenda that will inform the student’s dissertation focus. This approach advances scientific insights while developing solutions for real-world issues. Under the supervision of the doctoral advisor and in coordination with the student’s workplace (or analogous organizational setting), the student will identify problems of practice, initial constructs, and theories that will inform the targeted research interest.