The College of Education at North Carolina A&T State University, a historically Black educational institution in Greensboro, has announced plans to develop a new bachelor’s degree program in educational studies.
Housed within the department of educator preparation, the new degree is a non-licensure interdisciplinary program designed to prepare students for diverse careers in the education ecosystem, including those relating to policy, nonprofit leadership, technology, community-based initiatives, and specialized services. Unlike general education degrees, this program is grounded in the social and philosophical foundations of education, allowing students to examine educational systems through the lenses of human development, learning science, and technology. In addition to coursework, the program will emphasize undergraduate research, internships, and grant writing opportunities.
Students who major in educational studies can choose from one of three concentrations, providing them with an interdisciplinary curriculum tailored to their future career goals. The first focus area, technology and innovation, will include electives in engineering, computer science, business, and information technology. The second concentration – leadership and policy – will include coursework in political science, criminal justice, and social sciences. Finally, the family and community concentration will center on human development, early childhood studies, and family studies.
“We are excited to add the B.S. in educational studies to serve students who are passionate about education but whose career path may not be in the classroom,” said Gerrelyn C. Patterson, chair of the department of educator preparation. “There are myriad rewarding opportunities in the field of education that some students may not have considered. We want to make sure they can explore those nontraditional options and have the preparation to flourish in those positions.”
In May, the bachelor’s degree program in educational studies received official approval from the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors. Next, the College of Education will submit new degree courses through the university’s upcoming curriculum review and approval process in the fall 2025 semester. The HBCU plans to enroll its first cohort of educational studies majors in fall 2026.
