EDUC 502 Psychological & Sociological Foundations of Education
An advanced graduate seminar examining the psychological and sociological foundations of learning and schooling. The course integrates individual and systemic perspectives, engaging major theories of development, cognition, and motivation alongside analyses of culture, social structure, and institutional inequality. Through scholarly reading, discussion, and research, students explore how learning is shaped by both internal processes and external conditions, developing their capacity to understand and respond to the complex realities of contemporary education. The purpose of this course is to prepare graduate students to interpret learning as both a psychological and social phenomenon. Candidates will examine how individuals develop within broader cultural and institutional contexts, and they will analyze how identity, environment, and structure influence educational opportunity and outcomes. Emphasis is placed on cultivating a nuanced understanding of learners and the systems in which they exist, informing inclusive and ethically grounded educational practice. Offered in Fall.
Prerequisite
Matriculation in the Master of Arts in Teaching or Master of Education degree program.