The Educational Studies Program meets the needs of candidates who might be interested in Education as a major or minor but not necessarily becoming a licensed classroom teacher. The Education Department has worked with other departments on campus to devleop a program that provides candidates with a bachelor’s degree, as well as an opportunity to explore education from diverse disciplinary perspectives, and through community-based internships.

This program can serve as pre-professional preparation for individuals planning to earn a master’s degree to become certified as school psychologists/counselors, speech therapists, athletic administrators and librarians. Graduates at the bachelor’s level have found positions and careers in the non-profit sector, such as church-based educators, scouting program administrators, museum educators, latch-key program supervisors, recreation program supervisors, and adult educators. 

There is also a niche for educators in the corporate community, for example, as publishers, editors, and corporate trainers. Educational Studies also complements many other majors on campus, for individuals interested in educational aspects of their chosen major/career path.  In many cases, Educational Studies has worked well as a double-major, and is also available as a minor.

For more information about this major, please contact Dr. Diane Ross dross@otterbein.edu or  Dr. Sue Constable sconstable@otterbein.edu. 

For admission to EDUC 1600, students must have a 2.5 overall GPA, have met test score requirements, and have a current FBI/BCI Background Check on file.

* Denotes course can be taken either fall or spring semester

General Education Requirements

• First Year or Transition Year Seminar (3 hours)
• Integrative Studies (21 hours)
• Skills Courses (8-9 hours)
• Mathematics (3 hours)
• Health and Physical Education Lifestyle Series (1 hour)
• Senior Year Experience (2 hours)
• Writing Intensive Requirement (9 hours)

 Major Requirements (30-31 hours)

Core Courses (21-22 hours) 

• EDUC 1600 – Study of the School – Writing Intensive (4) or EDUC 1000 – Introduction to Education (3)
• INST 2011 – Equity Literacy (3) or EDUC 3600 Multicultural Education (3)
• EDUC 2520 – Exceptional Children: Adolescence (3) or EDUC 2510 Exceptional Children: Primary (3)
• EDUC  4900 – Internship – consult with your advisor (at once or spread across the program) (3-12 hours)

Select 1 of the following:

• EDUC 2000 – Educational Psychology: Adolescence (3)
• EDUC 2200 – Educational Psychology: Early Childhood (3)

Select 1 of the following:

• EDUC 2100 – Educational Technology: Adolescence (3)
• EDUC 2300 – Educational Technology: Early Childhood (3)

Select 1 of the following:

• EDUC 3630 – Adolescent Literature in a Comprehensive Reading Program (3)
• EDUC 3650 –  Comprehension and Composition: P-5 (3)
• EDUC 3800 – Content Area Literacy (3)

Elective Hours (9 hours required, consult with your advisor) (at least one class must be at the 3000-level)

• EDUC 1000 – Introduction to Education (3)
• EDUC 1600 – Study of the School (4)
• EDUC 1800 – Health, Movement, and the Arts in Primary Education (3)
• EDUC 1710 – Systemic, Explicit Phonics Instruction: Middle Childhood (3)
• EDUC 2400 – Pedagogical Content Knowledge in the P-3 Social Studies Classroom (3)
• EDUC 2500 – Pedagogical Content Knowledge in the P-5 Science Classroom I (3)
• EDUC 3210 – Pedagogical Content Knowledge in the P-5 Science Classroom II (3)
• EDUC 3230 – Pedagogical Content Knowledge in the 4-5  Social Studies Classroom (3)
• EDUC 3370 – Technology in Special Education (3)
• EDUC 3410 – Middle Childhood Methods I (3) (contains 40 field hours)
• EDUC 3900 – Independent Study (3)
• EDUC 4000 – Field Experience (3)

Important Note about Educational Studies: There is a great deal of flexibility in the Educational Studies program, with the intention of guiding students toward an education-related career path of interest.  It is critical that you meet early and often with your acadmeic advisor to discuss and develop an intentional course plan, including electives, and internship experiences that support your goals.

*NOTE: KMERI refers to Otterbein's learning goals. It stands for Knowledgeable, Multi-literate, Engaged, Responsible, and Inquisitive. To learn more about KMERI, visit our University Learning Goals page.