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Education | Faculty of Education Simon Fraser University Calendar | Fall 2013

International and Global Education Minor

This minor explores an interdisciplinary, experientially based approach to international and global education so that appropriate learning experiences can be created and infused in any given elementary and secondary course.

Program Requirements

Lower Division Requirements

Students complete one of

EDUC 100W - Selected Questions and Issues in Education (3)

An introduction to a small but representative sample of basic questions and issues in education. Students will examine questions relating to: the concept or idea of education; learning and the learner; teaching and the teacher; and more generally, the broader contexts of education. This course also introduces students to different ways of exploring educational questions and issues from philosophical and critical analysis, to historical and cross-cultural studies, to empirical research. Cannot be taken for credit by students with credit for 300 and 400 level education courses. Writing/Breadth-Humanities. Prerequisite: REQ-Cannot be taken for credit by students with credit for 300 and 400 level education courses. Equivalent Courses: EDUC100. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.

EDUC 230 - Introduction to Philosophy of Education (3)

Provides prospective teachers and others interested in education an opportunity to examine a variety of educational problems from a philosophical perspective. The central concern of the course is to elucidate the nature of education as a phenomenon distinct from such activities as training, schooling, and socialization. May be applied towards the certificate in liberal arts. Breadth-Humanities. Breadth-Humanities.

EDUC 240 - Social Issues in Education (3)

Social functions of the school; education and socialization; social, political, economic and cultural influences on the institutions and practices of education. May be applied towards the certificate in liberal arts.

EDUC 250 - Studies in the History of Education in the Western World (3)

A study of major trends in educational practice from antiquity to the present. May be applied towards the certificate in liberal arts. Breadth-Humanities/Social Sciences. Breadth-Humanities/Social Science.

Upper Division Requirements

Students complete a minimum total of 15 units, and an intercultural/international experience (see below), and both of

EDUC 370 - International and Intercultural Education (4)

Practical and theoretical approaches to international and intercultural education, including examinations of the relationships between culture, learning and schooling, and contemporary issues in teacher education from an international perspective. Prerequisite: Completion of at least 60 units, including 3 units in Education.

EDUC 435 - Infusing Global Perspectives into Curriculum (4)

An examination of the rationale for and concepts of global education including its content, methods and skills objectives, and its place in existing provincial curricula. Prerequisite: 60 units, including three of which must be in Education.

and either

one Designs for Learning course and one of the following courses

or two of

EDUC 311 - Foundations in Aboriginal Education, Language, and Culture (3)

An introduction to Aboriginal education in Canada and BC. There will be a critical examination of historical and contemporary issues in education and an exploration of culturally based Aboriginal education grounded in Aboriginal philosophies. Prerequisite: 60 units. Breadth-Humanities.

EDUC 382 - Diversity in Education: Theories, Policies, Practices (4)

An examination of the impact of social diversity on schooling in Canada exploring contemporary issues and perspectives on diversity education as they relate to cultural, ethnic, racial, linguistic, religious, economic, and gender differences. Prerequisite: 60 units. Students who have received credit for EDUC 441, EDUC 382-4 Special Topics from Fall 2003-3 on, may not take this course for further credit.

EDUC 438 - Education and Popular Culture (4)

What is the connection between popular culture and education? Using the concept of "societal curriculum," students will study the representation of socially constructed differences in movies, music videos, cartoons and toys produced for and/or consumed by youth to examine how these constructions reproduce or challenge existing norms and power relations in mainstream society. Prerequisite: 60 units. Students may not take this course for further credit if same title has been taken under a Special Topics course number.

EDUC 441 - Multicultural and Anti-racist Education (4)

Focuses on developing approaches for multicultural and anti-racist teaching. Topics include: diversity of race, language and culture among learners; identifying the operation of racism, prejudice and discrimination in classrooms and schools; becoming familiar with a variety of approaches such as: co-operative learning, culturally appropriate assessment, and community involvement to counteract and prevent negative classroom and school dynamics; identifying bias in curriculum resources; and locating entry points in selected curriculum areas (e.g. language arts, social studies, art, music, etc.) for integrating approaches which employ a range of multicultural/anti-racist curriculum resources. Prerequisite: EDUC 401/402 or corequisite EDUC 403. Students with credit for EDUC 382: Diversity in Education: Theories, Policies, Practices may not take this course for further credit.

EDUC 448 - Teaching about Justice, Law and Citizenship (4)

The justification and practise of law-related education in the K-12 curriculum are the subjects of this methodology course. Students will examine the place of law in the curriculum, existing resources and appropriate teaching strategies and will have the opportunity to develop unit plans and curriculum materials. Emphasis is on developing and implementing law-related programs in the classroom. Prerequisite: 60 units including six in education courses. Teaching experience is recommended.

EDUC 452 - Environmental Education (8)

Examines the educational problems entailed in developing human awareness and understanding of the environment. Explores environmental issues through a multi-disciplinary approach and relates historical and contemporary problems in human-environment interactions to school curricula from the elementary to the secondary level. Includes a laboratory component. Grading will be on a pass/fail basis. A $46 field activity fee will be levied in this course. Normally offered in summer session only. Prerequisite: EDUC 401W/402W or corequisite EDUC 403. Students may be required to successfully complete a Criminal Record Check. Quantitative/Breadth-Science.

EDUC 454 - Quantitative Approaches to Environmental Education (4)

Integrating mathematical, scientific and socio-cultural methods and processes of learning across the curriculum and in teaching practice. Students will experience and apply approaches that are situated in the practices of environmental and social scientists through modelling, simulation and evaluation. Prerequisite: EDUC 401: Introduction to Classroom Teaching and EDUC 402: Studies of Educational Theory and Practice or. Corequisite: EDUC 403: Studies in Teaching and Learning. Students who have completed EDUC 452 may not complete this course for further credit. Quantitative.

EDUC 467 - Curriculum and Instruction in Teaching English as an Additional Language (4)

Designed for prospective and beginning teachers to learn more about theory, research, and practice in teaching English as an additional language (EAL) in today's multilingual classrooms. Exploring an integrated approach working with learners to develop language skills through designing and delivering curriculum, instruction and assessment. Prerequisite: 60 units plus one of the following: six units of lower division EDUC course work; or completion of EDUC 401/402; or admission to the Certificate in Teaching ESL program.

Intercultural/International Experience

In addition to the requirements listed above, an academic intercultural and/or international experience is also required before students complete this minor. This post-secondary experience may be an intercultural experience within Canada, such as a practicum experience in a First Nations community, or outside of Canada. Examples include

  • SFU co-operative education placement in an intercultural/international setting
  • participation in an SFU international field school program
  • SFU international student exchange term outside of Canada or the United States
  • SFU PDP International Teacher Education Module (ITEM)

Experiences fulfilling the requirements of this minor will need to meet the following criteria.

  • successful completion of the program experience as indicated by an official document from the supervising institution
  • an experience with high participatory involvement
  • an experience completed within five years prior to enrolling in the minor, or five years after completing the course work for the minor

All applicants must receive prior approval by submitting a proposal to the director of undergraduate programs indicating the nature of their experience. After the experience has been completed, a written report must be submitted to the director including an analysis of their learning and experience, and a letter of support from a person involved in supervising the experience. The director of undergraduate programs will oversee the submission assessment that will be conducted by the cognate faculty members. A follow-up interview may be required.

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