Undergraduate Minor: Education as a Social Science
- Degrees & Programs
- Community Studies and Engagement
- Creativity and Play
- Digital Learning
- Educational Policy and Social Justice
- Exceptional Learners
- General Studies
- Global Education
- Download the minor information sheet (includes course list)
- Contact Assistant Dean Dr. Matthew Winkler
The undergraduate minor in Education as a Social Science – offered by the Graduate School of Education and led by award-winning faculty – is designed for Rutgers students interested in investigating learning and teaching in a broad range of human contexts. The minor takes a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of educational practices, and students have the flexibility, and are encouraged, to pursue one of the 7 available concentrations within the minor:
A General Studies option is also available to students pursuing the minor but that do not wish to choose a particular concentration. All pathways of study within the minor share the following key assumptions: learning and teaching are fundamental human and cultural processes; education is intimately bound up with social, cultural, economic, and political systems; and reflection and inquiry are powerful tools for the exploration of teaching and learning in all human contexts. Through completion of the required coursework in the program, students will examine each of these assumptions by investigating educational practices in and outside of formal settings.
The Education as a Social Science minor is explicitly designed for students who do not want to seek certification as a teacher. If you are interested in becoming a teacher, please explore our five-year teacher education program.
For more information about this program:
Program Details:
Application Deadline
No Application Needed
Entry Term(s)
Rolling
Program Level
Undergraduate
Program Type
Minor
Format
On-Campus
Credits
18
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What You’ll Learn
Students pursuing the undergraduate minor in Education as a Social Science will have the opportunity to explore a range of socially relevant, specialized topics in education while also gaining a theoretical and research-backed foundational understanding of the discipline. The four minor concentrations offer students the opportunity to explore a range of issues through a focus on Educational Policy and Social Justice, Creativity and Play, Global Education, or Exceptional Learners. Students are also able to pursue a general studies option without pursuing a particular concentration.
For more information about the courses in this program, please visit the course catalog and online schedule of classes.
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Program Requirements
- 18 credit minimum
- At least 12 credits must be completed at the 300-level or higher
- Minimum grade of C for all courses in the Education as a Social Science Minor
- Take 05:300:200 Introduction to Education or 05:300:202 Introduction to How
People Learn - Take 15 additional credits, only 3 credits of which may be taken outside the GSE,
from the list of approved courses.
Consider concentrating your coursework into one of the suggested groupings.
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Careers and Outcomes
While the undergraduate minor in Education as a Social Science does not prepare graduates with teacher certification, it empowers students with critical skills applicable in a variety of career settings and that extend well beyond the professional field of education. Completing the minor can complement specific majors to help improve marketability in the job market, and can contribute to the improvement of career outcomes overall. Careers that involve professional development or training, such as positions within Human Resources, or jobs that require advocacy at the local, national, and global levels, such as positions in Social Work or for nonprofit organizations serve as two examples.
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Admissions Requirements
Candidates must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program at Rutgers University, New Brunswick.
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How to Declare
SAS students can declare the minor using the mymajor tool. Instructions on how to declare a minor can be found on the SAS degree requirements page. Students from their undergraduate schools and colleges should consult with their advisors on the process for declaring this minor.