The mission of Colby’s Education Program is to enable students to develop expertise in inquiry, theory construction, and practice in the field of education. The knowledge, skills, dispositions, and habits of mind required for such expertise are cultivated within the context of a rigorous liberal arts academic environment, informed by perspectives from a variety of disciplines, enhanced by multiple opportunities to engage in service learning and civic engagement, and animated by a commitment to social justice in schools and society.
Access to high quality public education for all children and youth is the civil rights issue of our time. Inequalities in our society will only be resolved when we achieve equality in both educational opportunities and educational outcomes. Moreover, a commitment to equity, equality, and social justice across all dimensions of difference is a moral imperative that we cannot and must not ignore.
In light of this commitment to social justice, courses in the Education Program explore the impact of cultural assumptions, societal norms, and institutional policies and practices on both individuals and groups. Students and faculty work together to examine the operation of power as it relates to the construction of knowledge and the preservation of privilege. In so doing, students are encouraged to analyze critically the intended and unintended oppressions resulting from specific educational and institutional practices.
There are four minors currently offered under the auspices of the program:
The Education minor encourages a wide-ranging liberal arts exploration of educational theories, issues, and practices.
The Environmental Education minor is intended for those students with an interest in environmental education, outdoor education and/or experiential education.
The Human Development minor encourages an interdisciplinary approach to understanding human growth and development.
The Professional Certification minor enables students to earn public secondary school certification (grades 7-12) in English language arts, foreign language, mathematics, life science, physical science, and social studies.
More information about these four minor programs can be found under the headings on the left-hand sidebar.
