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Critical Studies in Educational Theory and Practice


Course Description

Students will explore the diverse historical, theoretical, political, economic influences on PK-12 education in local as well as global contexts in order to develop a critical disposition and an inquiry stance to understand how education came to be as it is and to imagine how it might be different.


Athena Title

Critical Stds in ETAP


Equivalent Courses

Not open to students with credit in ETAP 7310E


Semester Course Offered

Not offered on a regular basis.


Grading System

A - F (Traditional)


Course Objectives

COURSE OBJECTIVES OR EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES a. Students will briefly study the political history of education in the U.S. b. Students will study theories used to produce and maintain the status quo in education. c. Students will study discourses of modernity as well as their postmodern response. d. Students will study feminist, Marxist, critical, queer, and poststructural efforts to change the status quo in society as well as education. e. Students will study current dominant discourses, such as neoliberalism. f. Students will learn how to critique educational structures, policies, and practices using these theories. g. Students will reflect on the ethics and politics of critique.


Topical Outline

TOPICAL OUTLINE a. Political history of education in the U.S. b. Importance of theory which norms practice c. Importance of practice which changes theory d. Feminism e. Marxism f. Critical race theory and other critical theories g. Queer theory h. Neoliberalism i. Critical thinking