The Daily Orange

Students who want a degree in education but don't necessarily want a teaching degree can now enter the selected studies program at Syracuse University's School of Education.

The new major is geared toward students who want foundations in education without a teaching degree, said SOE Dean Doug Biklen.

"It makes kids aware of how they can change society," Biklen said.

The program prepares students for graduate studies, Biklen said. Selected studies students take half of their required classes in The College of Arts and Sciences.

In the first semester of the program, six or seven students have begun coursework in selected studies, Biklen said. He would eventually like to see up to 30 students in the program.

Students begin by exploring one of four thematic areas. They then pursue that area in graduate work, Biklen said. The four areas include pre-teaching focus, post-secondary human services, cultural foundations of education and media technology in education, said Richard Shinn, the program's director.

Biklen met with undergraduate SOE students to see what they would be interested in studying without receiving a teaching certificate.

"There was a lot of feedback from students," Shinn said.

All of the individual tracks in the selected studies program lead very smoothly to graduate programs, Shinn said. "It's a natural transition."

The program lets students get their graduate degree in one to two years because they take graduate prerequisites as part of their undergraduate class work, Biklen said.

"The real strength of the program is its flexibility," Shinn said. "It allows students enough room to create their own education experience."

The curriculum has a liberal arts focus, Shinn said, while the SOE classes provide an overview of different educational fields.

"A lot of students aren't aware of different careers in education," Shinn said.

There are various career tracks with a strong education focus in which students would benefit from this new program, Shinn said. Policy in education, human services, case management and museum studies are just a few.

"Selected studies is intended for students who are interested in education and want to use a degree with an education focus to have a positive impact on the community and society," Biklen said.

Dominiquie Herndon, a freshman selected studies major, aims to become a counselor or a principal.

"I want to give back any way I can, provide kids with opportunities I had, like education," she said. "The program isn't necessarily for teachers. It's for people who want to change the world, be counselors or work with the media."

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