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Welcome

Greetings! Thank you for your interest in the Department of Educational and Interdisciplinary Studies. The Department of Educational and Interdisciplinary Studies (EIS), formerly Educational Foundations (EDFD), has been an integral part of teacher preparation in the College of Education from its inception. All teacher candidates at Western take the four course professional sequence of EIS 201: Educational psychology--human growth and development, EIS 301: Educational psychology--learning and instruction, EIS 302: Multicultural and social foundations of education, EIS 401: Educational law and policy taught by faculty in the department. In addition, the department offers the Bilingual/Bicultural option for undergraduate teacher education candidates.

The department of Educational and Interdisciplinary Studies also houses several graduate degree programs. The EIS Master of Science in Education is a degree program with three options, or tracks: (1) Social Foundations of Education, (2) Language, Culture and Education, and (3) Cognition and Instruction. This set of options allows the degree candidate to prepare for, or advance in, careers in education,  P-12 through Junior College, and/or the eventual pursuit of the doctorate (Ph.D/Ed.D).  At a time when the ability to make data-driven, research based decisions that will enhance student learning in the classroom is increasingly becoming an expected skill that teachers will possess, we are the only graduate program in the college to explicitly stress the development of these critical skills as an integral part of our core graduate program across all three tracks. 

A fourth track, Transdisciplinary Studies, is designed for school districts wishing to establish cohorts seeking specific, targeted professional development in knowledge and skills to further understanding of and/or to solve issues or problems within their educational or professional community.  The cohort model allows for a flexible combination of courses from any, or all, of the EIS graduate tracks to be applied to a specific district’s particular needs and goals.

In addition, the Department also offers a highly acclaimed Master’s degree in College Student Personnel for those wishing to prepare for careers in Student Support Services in Higher Education.  

As evident from our mission statement, our graduate program is interdisciplinary in orientation allowing the degree candidate to develop a rich grasp of central issues and problems in education from the perspective of several key disciplines including psychology, philosophy, and anthropology/sociology. Our graduate program is designed to add real value to your professional development as an educator seeking to make a meaningful, positive impact on the learning and development of your students. We think you will find studying with us exhilarating and inspiring and welcome and look forward to your participation should you choose to join us.

 

“We need master’s programs that provide distinctly advanced content knowledge. These programs should significantly broaden teachers’ understanding of how children learn and develop, how different students respond to various teaching strategies, and how successful learning environments should be designed for the wide diversity of our nation’s preK-12 learners.” – From a recent op-ed entitled Education Master’s Programs, Add Value or Shut Down , by Sharon Robinson, President of the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (AACTE).