What Will I Learn in the Education Minor?

A minor in education cultivates essential skills in understanding diverse learners and designing pedagogy. It’s ideal for those majoring in a content area, like history or math, while preparing to enter a Master of Arts in Teaching program after graduation, or who are looking to enhance their degree with skills applicable across numerous professions. You will learn to analyze diverse learning environments and instructional strategies, and develop your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly, facilitate group discussions, and assess learning outcomes using various methods, preparing you for advanced study in education or an education-related field, such as law, social work, and politics. You will also gain strong leadership and mentoring skills, making you a versatile candidate prepared for roles such as corporate training or non-profit management, where promoting understanding and leading progress are essential.

Education Minor Courses

Through 15 credit hours of coursework, 12 of which are upper-division courses, you will gain essential skills and knowledge based on foundational theories of child and adolescent development. Examine the behavioral, social, cognitive, and biological influences on human learning. Gain heightened awareness of the legal, curricular, and social factors necessary to help students learn equitably. Understand the practice standards related to neurodiverse learning and learn how to address strengths and needs in inclusive educational settings. Extensive field work in classrooms around the Portland metro area allow you to put your learning into practice.

Degree Requirements

University Core

At University of Portland, the Core Curriculum supports your education minor by integrating liberal arts courses that sharpen your critical thinking, communication, and decision-making skills, preparing you to foster understanding and guide change.

The Core