Education Policy Minor

Know more about the big issues in education

You’ve seen news reports about vouchers, charter schools, common curricula, and standardized testing. Now, you can get a deeper understanding of the issues behind the headlines. With a Minor in Education Policy, you’ll learn what works and what experts are doing to improve children's education.

You’ll also be able to position yourself for a job in this field by acquiring valuable skills in accounting, policy analysis, and program evaluation. You’ll be prepared to work for an organization like Teach for America or for a government agency or group devoted to improving education.

Education Minor Requirements

At least 9 credits must be at the 300 or above level. A grade of C or better is required in each course, and a 2.0 GPA overall for the minor.

Take the following two courses:

  • EDUC-H200 Introduction to Education Policy
  • EDUC-A308 Legal Issues for Secondary Teachers

Take one of the following courses:

  • EDUC-H205 Introduction to Educational Thought
  • EDUC-H340 Education and American Culture
  • LATS-L380 Latino Education Across the Americas
  • SOC-S312 Education and Society
  • SOC-S409 Social Context of Schooling

Take one of the following courses:

  • SPEA-V236 Management Concepts and Applications I
  • SPEA-V241 Management Foundations and Approaches
  • SPEA-V263 Public Management
  • SPEA-V366 Managing Behavior in Public Organizations
  • SPEA-V473 Management, Leadership and Policy

Take one of the following courses:

  • SPEA-V246 Elements of Government and Nonprofit Financial Accounting Cycle
  • SPEA-V361 Financial Management
  • SPEA-V370 Research Methods and Statistical Modeling
  • SPEA-V372 Government Finance and Budgets
  • SPEA-V379 Performance Measurement and Program Evaluation
  • SPEA-V401 Financial and Cost Benefit Analysis
  • SPEA-V449 Senior Policy Seminar

OR other courses approved by the minor oversight committee.

Description of the video:

00:07
the issues in education are fresh from
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the headlines telling how to make sense
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of them leads to good careers whether
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you want to teach or work outside the
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classroom for organizations like Teach
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for America either way you'll help
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children families and communities so
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what are the issues school choice like
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the charter school movement vouchers
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things like that teacher accountability
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the extent to which teachers should be
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accountable for their students learning
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outcomes school accountability school
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performance and school finance dr.
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Ashland Nelson is one of the leaders of
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the new Education Policy minor jointly
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offered by to Indiana University
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Bloomington schools public and
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Environmental Affairs and education
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every day I feel like I'm doing what's
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best for kids Carley book can say that
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even though she doesn't teach there are
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tons of exciting jobs in the field of
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education policy and what's more
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employers are desperate for more
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passionate individuals that have the
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knowledge and skills to do these jobs
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well the miner will help lay this
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critical foundation for you inspired by
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an education policy course taught by a
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speii a faculty member the recent IU
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College of Arts and Sciences graduate
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landed a good job with Teach for America
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so here's what's involved you'll get an
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introduction to the issues and a feel
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for the skills you need for a career in
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education policy budgeting accounting
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cost-benefit analysis
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it's a fast-growing field so there are
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jobs for example there are jobs at the
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state local and district levels that
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work at in school operations things like
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that there are a number of nonprofit
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organizations and advocacy organizations
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that work to improve education
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opportunities for students throughout
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the country there are a number of
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government organizations at the federal
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level including the federal Department
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of Education and there are a number of
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think-tanks also dedicated to these
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issues the program is open to any IU
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student no prior experience or knowledge
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needed and you're not doing it alone
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we have a fantastic student organization
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on campus it's called the education
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policy student association or IDI posa
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and they are working closely with the
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students pursuing the minor to ensure
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that they have a fantastic experience so
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here's what to do next check out our
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webpage call or email Speirs
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undergraduate program office or dr.
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Nelson for more information and you can
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set up an appointment for an advising
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session get started now our children our
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families and our communities need you