Program Requirements

Educational Studies majors must complete all university and major requirements listed below.

Students can learn more about Educational Studies policies and petitions here and seek academic advising here.

On this page

• UW Bothell Requirements
• Major Requirements
• Capstone Sequence
• Applied Experience Guidelines and Policies

UW Bothell Requirements

• Earn 180 university credits
• 5 credits – Composition (C)
• 10 credits – Writing Across the Curriculum (W)
• 5 credits – Reasoning (RSN)
• 5 credits – Diversity (DIV)
  • For students admitted to the UW prior to Autumn 2023 the DIV requirement is 3 credits
• 15 credits – Arts & Humanities (A&H)
• 15 credits – Natural Sciences (NSc)
• 15 credits – Social Sciences (SSc)

Major Requirements

• 20 credits – Educational Studies Core Courses
  • B EDUC 205 Education & Equity in the United States
  • B EDUC 210 Teaching & Learning in a Multicultural Society
  • B EDUC 300 Research & Educational Knowledge
  • B EDUC 310 Theories of Learning, Culture & Identity
• 25 credits – Educational Studies concentration area electives
• 25 credits – Other Department concentration area electives
• 10 credits – Capstone Sequence
  • B EDUC 399 Capstone Seminar (3 credits)
  • B EDUC 495 Applied Experience (5 credits)
  • B EDUC 499 Capstone Project (2 credits)

Additional Requirements

• Students must select a concentration area, but can enroll in up to 10 credits of Educational Studies (B EDUC) and/or Other Department electives from the other concentration.
• Students may submit an SES Petition to register for more than 10 credits of electives from the other concentration.

Capstone Sequence

Critical reflection and applied learning

All students in the Educational Studies major enroll in a three-course capstone sequence:

• B EDUC 399 Capstone Seminar (3 credits)
• B EDUC 495 Applied Experience (5 credits)
• B EDUC 499 Capstone Project (2 credits)

Educational Studies majors build a portfolio which encourages them to reflect on Educational Studies Core Themes and make connections between what they have learned in their coursework and accomplished in Applied Experience. Students begin their reflection in B EDUC 399 Capstone Seminar, then apply what they have learned in their coursework in an Applied Experience placement, and complete their portfolio in B EDUC 499.

B EDUC 399 Capstone Seminar

In the first course of the Educational Studies major capstone sequence, students begin to build a portfolio that showcases their critical reflection and learning related to Educational Studies core themes. Students are encouraged to collect artifacts (previous course papers or projects) relating to these themes and to think and write reflectively on them throughout their course of study.

Students also begin assembling an annotated bibliography that is meant to span the degree and plan for B EDUC 495 Applied Experience.

B EDUC 495 Applied Experience

Read about the applied experience requirements, guidelines, and policies.

B EDUC 495 Applied Experience is designed to:

• be a hands-on, community-based learning and professional-development experience
• integrate the knowledge and skills students have cultivated in Educational Studies courses and Other Department Electives and apply elements of the Educational Studies Major core themes
• encourage self-reflection on the challenges and opportunities of education in diverse settings

B EDUC 499 Capstone Project

In the final course in the Educational Studies major capstone sequence, students reflect on their Applied Experience placement and complete their capstone portfolio.

Applied Experience Guidelines & Policies

Overview

Educational Studies majors are expected to participate in learning experiences in community-based settings to gain valuable insight into possible roles and career opportunities in education-related fields. To accomplish this, the Educational Studies major requires the completion of an applied learning experience, B EDUC 495 Applied Experience.

Resources for choosing an Applied Experience placement

• Community-Engaged Learning & Research
• Internships
• Career Services
• Student Clubs & Organizations

Hours Requirement

The total number of hours required for 5 credits of BEDUC 495 Applied Experience is 100. *See COVID-19 announcement below*

• The course may be taken for 2-5 credits each quarter until the number of required hours is fulfilled (see table below).
• Some academic requirements related to BEDUC 495 must be completed for each quarter enrolled–see the BEDUC 495 Applied Experience syllabus for details.

Placement Selection Process

• Students should meet with their academic advisor at least one quarter before beginning Applied Experience to discuss which Community-Engaged Learning & Research (CELR) placement option, or self-placement, best meets their academic and career interests. Students can use the EXPO database to explore available CBLR opportunities.
• Register for B EDUC 495 according to the academic plan developed with academic advisor
• Work with CBLR staff to secure placement or request approval from B EDUC 495 instructor for self-placement.

Placement Sites

• Placements must comply with all policies outlined below.
• Placements must allow students to examine the Educational Studies Major core themes
• Possible placements include:
  • Nonprofit organization with a teaching/learning/professional development component
  • Educational research projects
  • Museums
  • Alternative educational settings such as home-school networks, juvenile detention, or social service agencies
  • Neighborhood community centers
  • After-school programs (YMCA, Boys & Girls Club)
  • Public school programs
  • Experimental teaching in STEM or other professional fields
  • Union or advocacy organization

Policies

• Applied Experience hours cannot be completed as part of any time spent working in a paid job. 
  • Time spent completing Applied Experience hours is counted towards earning academic course credit for BEDUC 495, and, to avoid any potential conflict of interest regarding time and activities spent working as an employee versus time and activities spent learning as a student. 
  • Exception: Applied Experience hours may be completed in the same organizational setting where the student is employed, but the student must delineate, in writing:
  1. How their Applied Experience hours are separate from those hours for which the student is paid. 
  2. How Applied Experience hours go beyond their duties and responsibilities for their paid job.
  • This written statement must be submitted prior to beginning any Applied Experience hours and must be approved by the BEDUC 495 course instructor. 
  • A student may not request compensation from their employer for any hours they spent conducting an applied experience for BEDUC 495.
• Time spent in a time-limited internship, paid or unpaid, may be counted toward the completion of B EDUC 495 Applied Experience.
  • Internships are formal, organized programs used to provide a professionally-oriented learning experiences in an organization or occupation; and may be paid or unpaid. Internships are temporary, have a defined end date, and are not considered employment. 
• Applied Experience hours completed to earn academic credit for B EDUC 495 cannot be used for applied experience (or service learning) hours for another academic course. Nor can Applied Experience (or service learning) hours completed to earn academic credit for another academic course be used or counted for B EDUC 495 Applied Experience hours
  • A single agency or organizational setting may be used to complete Applied Experience hours required for multiple courses (including B EDUC 495) that the student is enrolled in during the same academic quarter.
  • In this case, the student must delineate, in writing:
  1. How their applied experience hours at the agency or organization are separately allocated for each course
  2. How applied experience activities and responsibilities are separate for each course
  3. How applied experience hours respectively contribute to the student’s learning goals for each course.
  • This written statement must be submitted prior to beginning any applied experience hours and must be approved by the BEDUC 495 course instructor.
• Religious content may not be delivered or taught as part of Applied Experience.
  • If students are engaged in religiously affiliated services or schools, students need to be contributing to the provision of social services through the institution, rather than participation in religious instruction.
  • Volunteer work must address a recognized need beyond congregation membership towards the greater community.
• Applied Experience hours need to be completed within the quarter dates of enrollment.
  • Any hours completed prior to the start of the quarter enrolled in Applied Experience do not count toward the total hours needed
• Students are held to the Student Conduct Code for the University of Washington.