Undergraduates who pursue the minor in Education have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of educational institutions (such as schools and community centers), educational policies, and educational practices. Students can choose minor courses from across all departments in the College of Education: Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Policy Studies, Educational Psychology, and Special Education.

Students in the Education minor are encouraged to choose an Area of Emphasis for their studies, or choose their focus area through the Self-Design option. The minor's Areas of Emphasis are Equity and Inclusion, 21st Century Literacies, Art of Teaching and Learning, Out-of-School Learning and Sports, Leadership, and Policy (see below for course information for each area).

Admission Requirements Heading link

  • The Education minor is available to all UIC undergraduates, but students are not permitted to count coursework towards both their major and the minor
  • Students need to have a minimum 2.0 GPA to apply to the minor
  • Students must officially declare the Education minor before they can register for the minor capstone course (either ED 410 or ED 396)
  • Please see the web form below to request more information or apply to the minor

Course Requirements Heading link

  • The Education minor requires a minimum of 12 credit hours (usually comes out to 4 undergraduate courses)
  • Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 for all minor courses
  • All minor courses must be in the following subjects: CI, ED, EDPS, EDPS, EPSY, and/or SPED
  • At least 2 minor courses (6 credit hours) must be at the 200 level or above
  • The minor has one required capstone course: either ED 410 | Capstone Inquiry on Critical Issues in Education, or ED 396 | Independent Study
  • Students choosing an Area of Emphasis with their minor should reference the course lists below to choose courses that fit within their area

Areas of Emphasis Heading link

Students may select their minor courses to align with one of the Areas of Emphasis below, or they may choose the Self-Design option. For the Area of Emphasis option, students must choose 3 courses (9 hours total) from one of the below areas, with at least 2 of the 3 courses being at the 200 level or above.

Full course descriptions can be found in the UIC Catalog.

Course Options for Equity and Inclusion

Course Name Title
ED 101 Critical Literacies in a Digital Democracy
ED 135 Child and Youth Policies in Urban America
ED 200 Education Policy Foundations
ED 205 Introduction to Race, Ethnicity, and Education
ED 217 STEM, Education, and Society: Exploring Identity, Community, Ethics, and Ideology
ED 222 Introduction to Gender, Sexuality, and Education
ED 243 Foundations of Youth, Education, and Punishment
ED 258 Language Development and Learning in a Diverse Society
ED 373 Introduction to the School Prison Nexus
ED 430 Curriculum and Teaching
EPSY 242 Introduction to Sexuality Development Across the Lifespan
EPSY 424 Family Diversity and Film: A Resilience Framework
SPED/ED 201 Children’s Literature and Disabilities
SPED 410 Exceptional Learners

Course Options for 21st Century Literacy

Course Name Title
ED 101 Critical Literacies in a Digital Democracy
ED 205 Introduction to Race, Ethnicity, and Education
ED 217 STEM, Education, and Society: Exploring Identity, Community, Ethics, and Ideology
ED 258 Language Development and Learning in a Diverse Society
EPSY 100 Introduction to Human Development and Learning
EPSY/ED 160 Games, Learning, and Society
EPSY 424 Family Diversity and Film: A Resilience Framework
SPED/ED 201 Children’s Literature and Disabilities
SPED 410 Exceptional Learners
Course Name Title
ED 200 Education Policy Foundations
ED 205 Introduction to Race, Ethnicity, and Education
ED 222 Introduction to Gender, Sexuality, and Education
ED 252 Contemporary Controversies in U.S. Schools
ED 258 Language Development and Learning in a Diverse Society
ED 430 Curriculum and Teaching
ED 431 Improving Learning Environments
EPSY/ED 160 Games, Learning, and Society
SPED/ED 201 Children’s Literature and Disabilities
SPED 410 Exceptional Learners

Course Options for Out-of-School Learning

Course Name Title
ED 101 Critical Literacies in a Digital Democracy
ED 210 Principles of Learning and Instruction Across the Lifespan
ED 217 STEM, Education, and Society: Exploring Identity, Community, Ethics, and Ideology
ED 222 Introduction to Gender, Sexuality, and Education
ED 258 Language Development and Learning in a Diverse Society
ED 431 Improving Learning Environments
EPSY 100 Introduction to Human Development and Learning
EPSY/ED 160 Games, Learning, and Society
EPSY 242 Introduction to Sexuality Development Across the Lifespan
EPSY 255 Child Development in Contemporary Society
EPSY 256 Adolescent through Early Adulthood Development in Contemporary Society
EPSY 371 Human Development/Learning in the Context of Institutions
EPSY 372 Youth, Families, Communities, and Justice

Course Options for Sports, Leadership, and Policy

* Students selecting this emphasis are strongly encouraged to take at least two of the sports focused courses and ED 410.
Course Name Title
EPSY 100 Introduction to Human Development and Learning
EPSY 263 Sport, Global Cultures, and Development
EPSY 364 Sport and Human Development
ED 264 Sport, Education, and Society
ED 200 Education Policy Foundations
ED 100 Introduction to Urban Education
ED 135 Child and Youth Policies in Urban America
ED 222 Introduction to Gender, Sexuality, and Education
ED 252 Contemporary Controversies in U.S. Schools
ED 253 Current Debates in Higher Education
ED 410 Capstone Inquiry on Critical Issues in Education

Apply or Request Info for the Minor in Education Heading link

Contact for the Minor in Education Heading link