Education Studies and Human Relations, BA

This is the first version of the 2025–26 General Catalog. Please check back regularly for changes. The final edition and the historical PDF will be published during the fall semester.

The education studies and human relations major in the College of Education blends the principles of education with the dynamics of human interactions. This multidisciplinary program enhances broad liberal arts and sciences education for students who want to make a difference in professions related to helping, learning, and instruction while building strong, positive relations, effective communication, and leadership skills.

This major focuses on foundational knowledge from both education studies and human relations. Students explore the foundations of how people learn beyond the traditional classroom and how to support them in that process, how to work effectively with a variety of people, and how systems of education affect how people are supported. Elective coursework allows students to gain an additional understanding of how people learn and grow by engaging in coursework that focuses on the study of instructional design, human development, communication, diverse perspectives, and learning how to manage and improve interpersonal relationships.

Students who plan to earn the major pursue their academic interests with a variety of courses from across the College of Education's four academic departments to further career goals or prepare for future graduate study. They may choose to select among all the course offerings for the education studies and human relations major or select one of two subprograms.

The education studies subprogram is for students interested in pursuing careers in higher education, nonprofit organizations, companies that develop training, learning technology companies, health care settings, community organizations, school district support roles, and informal learning spaces such as nature environments, maker spaces, museums, and athletic teams, as well as competitive preparation for future graduate study in learning sciences, educational measurement, education policy, educational psychology, higher education, and student affairs.

The human relations subprogram is for students who are interested in careers in helping fields that rely on interpersonal communication and personal problem solving (e.g., addiction, case management), as well as competitive preparation for future graduate study in professional counseling, health service psychology, couple and family therapy, community leadership, and related fields.

Learning Outcomes

  • Understand learning and instruction, broadly construed, as it may be realized in a number of different contexts, situations, and learners.
  • Understand how to support learners via teaching, counseling, advocacy, and other intervention relationships.
  • Think critically, conceptually, and psychologically about issues and problems in and the social purposes of education in a variety of contexts.
  • Develop interpersonal skills that enhance helping relationships and foster collaboration in a variety of contexts.
  • Develop increased sensitivity to and understanding of values, beliefs, lifestyles, and attitudes of individuals and diverse groups found in a pluralistic society by exploring diversity, diversity consciousness, and the causes, implications, and resolutions of systemic inequities.
  • Draw on research to understand and implement instructional and intervention practices, assessment processes, and leadership and advocacy skills to foster positive outcomes in education and related organizations.
  • Understand ethical and professional issues that may arise in education-related contexts.