Education Studies Minor
The education studies minor at Ƶintroduces students to key educational theories and practices applicable in nontraditional educational settings. Informed by a biblical perspective, the minor supports thoughtful engagement in roles involving teaching, learning, and mentoring across a changing cultural landscape.
Program Overview
In Dordt’s Education Studies minor, you’ll gain practical experience and essential knowledge for engaging education beyond a traditional classroom setting. This non-licensure pathway is designed for students who want to apply best practices in teaching and learning across a range of educational and community contexts.
What You'll Learn
You’ll gain a foundation in educational theory, teaching strategies, and mentoring practices. You’ll learn to design and support learning experiences in a variety of settings, apply best practices in teaching and learning, and develop skills for serving students and communities faithfully in both educational and ministry contexts.
What You Can Do With An Education Studies Minor
Graduates with a degree in education studies are prepared for work in a variety of educational and community settings. From supporting learning in PreK–12 settings to engaging in youth ministry or outreach, this degree provides the skills and background needed for meaningful, faith-centered service.
Paraprofessional
Support classroom teachers by working with individual students or small groups, assisting with instruction, and helping create an effective learning environment in PreK–12 schools.
Children's Ministry Coordinator
Assist with lesson planning, classroom support, and activities for preschool and elementary-age students in a church setting.
Educational Outreach Coordinator
Connect organizations with schools or community groups to provide educational resources, mentorship, or programming.
Career Preparation
Ƶ's 2024 Career Outcome Rate was 99.3%! “The entire campus is engaged in the work of discipleship,” said Amy Westra, Director of Career Development. “Providing a Christian education focused on Christ-centered renewal is owned by all faculty and staff.”
The Education Studies minor consists of 18 credits in foundational courses focused on teaching, learning, and mentoring, designed to equip students for educational roles beyond the traditional classroom. This non-licensure program does not require student teaching and can be completed alongside any major, giving you practical skills for a variety of educational and community settings.
- Introduction to Education: Designed to introduce students to the domain of education and to induct them into an initial understanding of teaching and the teaching profession. Emphasis is on the development of a distinctively Christian approach to education. Education 101 is a prerequisite to all other education courses.
- Educational Psychology: This course introduces you to the fields of educational psychology and developmental psychology as they help us figure out the teaching and learning environment. This course studies the growth and maturation of children and adolescents, including examination of physical development and activity, cognitive, social, emotional, and spiritual development. We will also look at different roles teachers play such as teacher-as-researcher, teacher-as-observer, and teacher-as-facilitator. This course introduces you to developmental theories and learning theories that impact PreK-12 education today.
- Learner Differences: Examination of individual differences and diverse cultures and communities-ethnicities, SES, immigrant, cognitive (SPED and TAG), gender, learning profiles, as well as English language learners. Focus on designing inclusive learning environments to meet high standards.
- Learning Environments: Focus on designing and implementing developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences. Creating individual and collaborative learning environments including competency-based, cooperative learning, technology-supported, experiential, and other environments.
- Planning, Instruction, and Assessment (Elementary or Secondary): Spring This course introduces students to an understanding of instructional theory. Focus is on the planning process and the integral role of instruction and assessment. Emphasis is on the development of a distinctively Christian approach to teaching and learning. Various perspectives on the instructional process are critically examined.
- Service Learning - Tutoring: A 25-hour field experience, designed to be taken in conjunction with EDUC 201 or 203. Students work in teams within an after-school program, planning and facilitating learning activities with children. Through direct engagement with students, participants practice skills addressed in the concurrent education course, including lesson preparation, learning environment management, and student engagement.
Ready to take the next step?
Faculty
With experience in a variety of fields, our faculty members are equipped and ready to help you succeed.
Faculty Info
Related Programs
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