Department of Social and Psychological Foundations of Education

Chairperson: Poonam C. Dev, Ph.D. Professor: Dev, Ph.D.; Associate Professor: Tell, Ph.D.; Assistant Professor: Bailey Jones, Ph.D.; Visiting Professor: Sommers, Ph.D.

Foundations of Education encourages students to ask questions regarding conventional notions of schooling and learning. After examining the contextual influences and political interests that shape such conventional notions, students are able to expand their subjective understanding of education to include broader perspectives based on interdisciplinary studies, educational research, and conceptual analysis.

Specifically, students learn to investigate educational practices, propositions, and policies; evaluate the norms and values prioritized by specific approaches; and productively critique the supporting arguments. Students will be able to imagine and implement educational arrangements that incorporate inclusive and equitable approaches.
Further study in the Foundations of Education is available at the graduate level.