The College of Education offers degrees and experiences that suit the needs of learners across the continuum of educational careers.
Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood and Family Studies (ECFS)
The Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood and Family Studies is a challenging, inspiring academic path. ECFS majors study early childhood development, early learning, and family studies from a variety of perspectives across a range of disciplines. Students participate in fieldwork and/or research throughout their junior and senior years. Alums pursue careers in social services/mental health, education, childcare, or research. They may also pursue graduate studies in education, speech and hearing sciences, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, psychology, nutrition, and social work.
On campus degree for current University of Washington undergraduates.
Bachelor of Arts in Early Care and Education (ECE Online Degree)
The UW College of Education offers an online degree completion program in early care and education. This program prepares students to make a positive and lasting impact on the education of young children. This a degree completion program and requires applicants have completed at least 70 transferrable quarter units.
Bachelor of Arts in Education, Communities & Organizations (ECO)
The University of Washington's Education, Communities and Organizations (ECO) degree believes teaching and learning happens not only within the formal classroom, but also across a host of professions such as youth development, policy reform, business, health care and in a variety of other organizations serving communities. Curriculum in the ECO major prepares students to use content knowledge and skills in human development, equity studies, learning across contexts and organizational change when working with communities and organizations to achieve their goals.
On campus degree for current University of Washington undergraduates.
Minor in Education, Learning, and Society (ELS)
The Minor in Education, Learning, and Society (ELS) provides a strong background about how humans learn, and how society, environment, and culture shape that learning. Prospective students may want to pursue careers in education, or they may be interested in issues of public policy, social justice, or learning and cognition.
Master of Education (M.Ed.)
A Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree provides intermediate-level graduate training which enhances professional knowledge and prepares students for further graduate study, if desired. Each specialty option has specific requirements in terms of courses, credit hours, internships, etc. Working closely with a faculty advisor, every M.Ed. The student undertakes an individualized course of study, which culminates in a major project such as thesis, portfolio project, or an internship experience. Largely through valuable mentoring and networking, our graduates pursue careers in education administration, counseling, among other options. See the complete list of M.Ed. degrees offered by the College.
Master of Teaching (MIT)
A Master of Teaching (MIT) degree leads to a career as an elementary or secondary school teacher. The UW College of Education offers two Master in Teaching programs, one for elementary teaching and one for secondary teaching. Students completing the elementary program earn a Washington Residency Certificate for elementary education granted by the State of Washington. Secondary program students also earn a Residency Certificate and are endorsed by the state for specific subjects. Students participate in fieldwork through a wide network of partner schools, all located in culturally diverse urban communities around the greater Seattle area. M.I.T coursework is a strongly oriented toward inquiry, both in the methods promoted among teachers and in examinations of the effectiveness of student and faculty work.
Elementary Teacher Education Program
Education Specialist Degree (Ed.S)
The Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree is an intermediate degree that is more advanced than a master's degree but yet does not constitute doctoral-level study. It is generally taken up by those who intend to pursue advanced practice in a specialized field of education, such as school administration or curriculum design. In the UW College of Education, only students in our School Psychology program can pursue the Educational Specialist degree.
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
A Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree is designed to prepare a student for advanced professional practice directed mainly toward the application or transmission of existing knowledge. The program of study leading to the Doctor of Education, as a professional degree, focuses on the utilization of research knowledge, rather than on the production of new research knowledge. Those who aspire to leadership positions as administrators, policy analysts, curriculum designers, or learning resource specialists, for example, would appropriately seek the Doctor of Education degree. Our graduates have a finely tuned specialty expertise, an understanding of research development and application for positions in administrations, policy analyst, curriculum designer, or learned resources specialist.
Curriculum and Instruction: Excellence in Content Instruction
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
The Doctor of Philosophy program in the College of Education prepares students for careers in research or scholarly inquiry and teaching at the college level. The program consists of: (1) continuous research, (2) courses in education and related fields designed to develop a comprehensive academic basis for future work in research and teaching, and (3) teaching and other related experiences tailored to individual needs and career goals. Each student works closely with an advisor and a faculty Supervisory Committee to select courses, topics of research and inquiry, and teaching experiences. These three areas will combine to: (1) convey deep scholarly knowledge of education and a specialty outside of education (2) promote a broad understanding of various methods of inquiry in education and develop competency in several of those methods, (3) impart broad knowledge of theory and practice in two supportive cognates, and (4) promote excellence as a college teacher. Our Ph.D. alumni have positions at national research universities, at region and local universities, in community colleges, K-12 school settings, laboratories, foundations, agencies, and private businesses.
