About the Integrated Educational Studies degree program
The Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Educational Studies (IES) provides a dynamic, liberal-arts curriculum for those students interested in inquiry and education as a source of transformation and liberation in a diverse society. The B.A. in Integrated Educational Studies embodies John Dewey’s concept of education as a “freeing of individual capacity in a progressive growth directed to social aims.” This major provides students a unique opportunity to be actively involved in those elements that create a just democracy. The major challenges students to dedicate their intellectual and personal capacities in a demanding and rewarding profession that can make a positive difference in the lives of children, youth and adults.
In a mobile, rapidly changing society, the B.A. in Integrated Educational Studies program is designed to prepare students to pursue careers in schools as well as other community environments such as business, human services, the arts, universities and community colleges. The curriculum combines challenging coursework with guided experiences in schools and/or other educational settings. The major is organized to address five key roles that educators need to acquire: 1) leader and change agent, 2) ethically responsible decision-maker, 3) learner and scholar, 4) advocate for inclusive and supportive communities and 5) facilitator and collaborator. To foster this acquisition of learning, the student who majors in integrated educational studies will complete a lower-division core (six courses), an upper-division core (five courses) and five additional courses in an emphasis area. Courses in the emphasis area are completed during upper-division study. Students additionally select a second major (double major) and/or minor(s) in order to further tailor their academic experience to their immediate post-graduate career choice or future study needs.
Admission to the IES degree program
Prospective students wishing to pursue a B.A. in Integrated Educational Studies are admitted as IES undecided and must be officially accepted into the emphasis area after completing the 100-level courses in the major and before earning 60 undergraduate credits. A program admission selection committee will review all applicants and determine final admission status. An applicant can petition another review if denied initial admission.
Expectations of Students in the IES degree program
Students in the Community emphasis must complete a second major or one minor, in addition to their upper-division three-course focus area within the B.A. in Integrated Educational Studies that gives them concentrated advanced study in one area within the community emphasis. The focus area must be distinct from the student’s minor(s); courses between the focus area and minor cannot be shared. The focus areas include business, creative and performing arts, disability studies, English and communication, health, leadership, or technology.
Students in the Curriculum and Instruction emphasis must apply and be accepted to the Accelerated Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction (MACI) in January of their sophomore year. Please see below for the requirements of the emphasis and the prerequisites to the MACI program. Students in the Curriculum and Instruction emphasis must complete either a second major or one minor, to ensure strong subject matter competency.
Students in the Schools emphasis must complete either a second major or one minor, to ensure strong subject matter competency. Subject areas chosen typically include mathematics, science, history, social science, English or other language, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education or language and literacy. As a part of their emphasis coursework, students will select three courses that emphasize critical inquiry in the liberal arts area of natural science, quantitative and values and ethical inquiry. These courses are in addition to inquiry classes completed as General Education (GE) requirements. At least two of the five courses in the emphasis must be upper-division. All courses selected must have permission of an Attallah College of Educational Studies advisor.
Throughout the B.A. in Integrated Educational Studies program, students will develop a portfolio of assessments that documents their acquisition of specific learning outcomes that ensure the integrated educational studies student is making good progress through the major before moving on to the next stage. These assessments ensure that the graduates from the B.A. in Integrated Educational Studies represent the Attallah College of Educational Studies as successful educators of the future, helping students and the public achieve and learn.
All courses within the major must be taken for a letter grade and passed with a “C” or higher. Due to the assigned observation and/or fieldwork component for many of the integrated educational studies courses, students may be required to provide additional documentation or certifications. All integrated educational studies students are required to read and sign specific information found in the integrated educational studies fieldwork clearance packet during their first integrated educational studies course.
Program Learning Outcomes and Educational Effectiveness Evaluation Plans for B.A. in Integrated Educational Studies
Students pursuing the B.A. in Integrated Educational Studies are required to:
- Maintain at least a 2.000 grade point average in the major.
- Earn a grade of “C” or higher in major courses, unless specifically noted.
- Complete all courses in the major for a letter grade.
- Complete 21 credits from upper division courses in the major.
- Complete the capstone requirement IES 405 and IES 492 . (IES 405 should be taken the semester before IES 492 .)