Education Studies (Non-Licensure)

If you are interested in pursuing a career in the field of educational without wanting to teach in a public school, the education studies major may be the right degree program for you. 

The mission of the education studies major is to prepare your for a career in the field of education but not necessarily classroom teaching. This non-licensure program prepares individuals for positions requiring expertise in formal and non-formal learning and educational settings that do NOT require licensure. This program provides students both a solid liberal arts and sciences foundation along with a strong background in educational theory and practice.

This program is optimized for people who are most interested in working in settings that do not require a teaching license or who plan to obtain a license elsewhere (for example, through a master’s degree).

By not offering a license, we are able to give you more flexibility, like choosing a content focus area and removing coursework that is required to meet licensing requirements.

We have many students who have an interest in education and working in educational settings but do not have an interest in becoming a public school classroom teacher. For example, we have international students who want to obtain an education degree from our university but have no intention of teaching in an Oregon public school.

We have students who are preparing for graduate programs, such as Special Education, Speech Therapy, ASL, Counseling, and the Masters of Arts in Teaching degree – a degree that does prepare students to teach in Oregon public schools.

We also have students in our program who regularly give professional presentations and seminars as a part of their job; students who have administrative positions in zoos, summer camps, and youth organizations; and, students who have the desire to develop educational materials for the education market. The education studies major provides students such as these with the background and skills necessary to help them achieve their individual and professional goals. 

The education studies degree contains three central components: your general education courses, your education studies, and a content area focus. Your general education courses will help develop your background knowledge as well as your communication and critical thinking skills. Your education studies courses will deepen your understanding of education including inquiry-based teaching and learning, advocacy, culturally and linguistically responsive practices, and innovative uses of technology.

The education studies degree program also allows you the opportunity to become an expert in another area through a content area focus of your choice. This secondary area of specialty will give you the depth of understanding necessary to be considered well educated. The choice is yours. For example, you might be interested in developing further specialty in ASL, criminal justice, forestry, geography, mathematics, biology, nursing – the list is broad. You can take a number of courses in your area of interest and apply them to your education studies degree.

Near the end of your program, you will take a seminar class and a practicum that are designed to help you examine the connections between education and your specific area of interest. You will get a work/study experience in a setting connected to your specialized studies that will better position you for future employment.