While most professors in the C& I d

While most professors in the C& I department could teach an introduction to education course, only a few have the background to approach a course in education from a foundations of education approach, in the same way that only a few could teach a mathematics education, or literacy education, or special education course. This foundations approach, which makes use of interpretive, normative, and critical analytical tools for understanding education, is what I bring to each course I teach and each program that I help to develop. To generate foundations of education perspectives in my students, I make use of a study from a number of social science areas, especially history, sociology, anthropology, and philosophy. Thus when the New York State Education Department or NCATE establishes expectations that every teacher preparation program will include study in the history, philosophy and sociology of education, they are referring to study in the foundations of education, a field very distinct from the educational psychology, educational methods, and/or field placement experiences that are required in our education majors.

Currently in the Curriculum & Instruction Department at SUNY Oswego, the following courses are directly connected to this Foundations of Education perspective: Edu 301 (Schooling, Pedagogy & Social Justice);
Edu 501 (Foundations of Education); and Edu 500 (Critical Pedagogy).

In addition, there are courses that by nature also relate to an educational foundations perspective. These include:
Edu 380 (Culturally Relevant Teaching); Edu 381 (Schools & Urban Society);
Edu 430 (Professionalism and Social Justice); and
Edu 505 (Seminar in Urban Education).