History of Education

The history of education in the United States covers the origin of the present system of public and private school, universities and vocational schools. It includes the roles gender and ethnicity have played in the educational setup. Most of all, it attempts to understand how education in the United States has evolved over the centuries and forecast the changes that should be expected in the future.

What will I study in the History of Education?

As a student of the history of education, you will study the defining moments in educational history. You will understand the process by which public universities were set up in each state. You will study how they were funded and what expectations were set of their output.
In parallel to the setting up of universities, the history of education will cover the establishment of community colleges and vocational schools. These institutions offer degrees that span less duration than those of universities. At the same time, these institutions offer programs that are specialized and focused on specific technical careers. It is important to understand the role of these alternative institutions in the history of education.

Another focus in the history of education is on primary and secondary schools. Students will understand the feature of public and private schools and their respective contributions to American society. The history of education includes a study of how states have attempted to standardize education across public schools and raise their standards. This includes considerations of teacher training and testing and debates over what should be taught to students given the diversity of religious and personal beliefs in the country.
The history of education will also expose you to the struggle of women and minorities to get equal opportunities in this sphere. Many universities did not open their doors to women until some point in the twentieth century. There was also a strong emphasis on racial segregation in the past particularly in southern states. The history of education will also teach you how race continues to play a role in university admissions thus promoting a debate on affirmative action.

Can I study the history of education online?

Online institutions offer courses in the history of education. They cover various periods in the history of education and even offer comparative courses on how the history of education has varied between America and the rest of the world. These online courses are designed to maximize the convenience of students with busy schedules. Lectures, tutorials and assignments can all be completed online. A degree in the History of Education will stress written work and original research which is still possible to complete in an online format. Forums and interactive discussions are used to simulate the classroom experience expected in such a subject.

What career options will I have after studying the history of education?

Many graduates of the history of education use their liberal arts background in critical thinking and writing to work in business, law and government. Others who are more interested in working directly in the education sector often find jobs as administrator or policy makers.