Education

Children with Disabilities
The intent of this course is for students to develop a thorough understanding of and sensitivity to children and youth who experience disabilities. The course examines the following questions: How does society determine who is considered disabled? What impact does labeling have on children's lives? How special is special education? What are the various disabilities children may experience? How do we create more inclusive communities for children with disabilities?

Children’s Literature
Children's literature is roughly as old as the United States, and in recent years it has evolved into the most energetic branch of the publishing industry, with works in the genres of folk tales, poetry, picture books, "easy readers," informational books, chapter books, and novels for middle grades and young adults. Children's books regularly spawn films, and even as we speak the medium is rapidly becoming digital. Children's books can be read carefully for their literary qualities, and are an interesting testing ground for skills in literary criticism.

Multiculturalism
This course examines the institution of schooling, broadly conceived, as it is positioned in a multicultural and diverse society. It looks at historical and contemporary debates surrounding the concept of multiculturalism and explores how the ideas are played out in U.S. education systems and in our everyday, public and private social experiences. Students examine the relationship of schooling to other societal institutions in order to understand the academic, political, and social effects on students and society.