Educational Studies
Educational Studies at Davidson
Educational studies refers to the systematic study of schooling and education in societies.
Its character and methods are derived from a number of academic disciplines, combinations of disciplines, and area studies, including history, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, religion, political science, economics, cultural studies, gender studies, LGBTQ studies, comparative and international education, educational policy studies, as well as transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches.
The Educational Studies Department specializes in the study of formal and non-formal educational settings and challenges students to think deeply about complex social issues and strategies for lives of leadership and service.
Born out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the College Crisis Initiative (C2i) is a student-driven research lab at Davidson College dedicated to understanding how educational institutions innovate and respond in times of crisis. In the last year, C2i has collected data on topics ranging from the impact of the California wildfires on schools on the west coast to college and university COVID-19 vaccine plans for the Fall 2021 school year.
Interested in Teaching?
Students who desire to teach should consult with Educational Studies faculty about the various routes available to them, including alternate route certification programs, graduate school programs, and independent school teaching opportunities.
Educational Studies News
Seeking Justice: Smith Recipients Advocate for Educational Equity, Disability Rights
Davidson College has awarded the W. Thomas Smith Scholarship to Rui Rui Bleifuss ’26 and Nina Worley ’26. The scholarship, modeled on those such as the Rhodes and Fulbright, pays for a year of graduate study abroad. Bleifuss, a disability justice advocate, will pursue a master’s degree in Humanitarian Policy and Practice at University College London. Worley, an advocate for educational equity, will pursue a master’s degree in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice at Queen’s University Belfast.