Version: 3/20/2019 2
Additional Course Information
Topical Outline: Each offering of this course must include the following topics (be sure to include information regarding lab,
practicum, and clinical or other non-lecture instruction).
1. An overview of the history of education and the kindergarten movement from their earliest forms to modern
education both in America and other cultures/nations
2. Introduction to appropriate theoretical considerations regarding current educational philosophy spanning early
childhood, elementary, middle school, and secondary education
(Maslow, Bronfenbrenner, Piaget, Erikson, Vygotsky, Gardner, Bandura, and classical
behaviorism)
3. Introduction to education as an academic discipline with an overview of the teaching profession as a career
(including a review of the various high-need career fields in
education)
4. Description of the professional demeanor and character traits of an educator
5. Description of and discussion about the role of the teacher at the various levels (early childhood, elementary, middle
school, high school)
6. Overview of admission and academic requirements for educators (including certification requirements)
7. Introduction to the bureaucratic frameworks of schools, including a comparison of the structures of public, private,
and parochial schools
8. Introduction to modern educational movements and trends (including inclusion of children
with special needs into general education classrooms, dual language programs, advanced placement courses in high
school, and the International Baccalaureate Degree)
9. Overview of relative successes and failures of the various forms of education in modern
America and other nations
10. Overview of current educational research and theory, both domestic and cross-cultural
11. Overview of the roles of school administrators and teachers in the community, both academically and
organizationally
12. Introduction to basic school curriculum models and their related philosophies
13. Introduction to the contemporary issues and concerns related to economically- disadvantaged students and schools
14. A look at the relationship of formal education to standard of living and economic
development; definition of the “Achievement Gap” and the role of SES (socio-economic status) in student achievement
and levels of family involvement in schools
15. A basic introduction to the education of students with special-needs (particularly the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act-IDEA)
16. A basic introduction to terminology used in special education (Admission, Review, and Dismissal meeting-ARD,
Individual Education Plan-IEP, inclusion, related services, continuum of services)
17. Introduction to the role of language and culture of families in the success and failure of students, including the
education of non-English speaking students
18. Introduction to the dimensions of gender, class, and race in education
19. Overview of landmark supreme court decisions guaranteeing due process (the 14th
amendment) to students with disabilities and to those students with racial, gender, and language differences
20. Introduction to the differences among urban, rural, and suburban schools and their issues and concerns
21. Overview of the conflicts between the public and the educational institution, and between parents, teachers, and
administrators, particularly in the area of school funding
22. Overview of the school as a socializing agent in children’s development
23. Overview of the role of school accountability, state standards, and standardized testing and issues surrounding each
24. A discussion of policies and practices relating to student discipline (such as due process).
25. Introduction of basic school law and funding practices, including federal, state and local requirements, policies,
options, and rationale
26. Overview of common school-related technical documents such as charts, graphs, tables,
and other statistical presentations
