Minors for Lynch School students

COMMUNICATION

The Department of Communication is offering a Communication minor designed for Lynch School of Education and Human Development students in Teacher Education and Applied Psychology and Human Development. This new minor includes four courses plus two communications electives.

CYBERSTRATEGY AND DESIGN

The Lynch School of Education and Human Development (LSEHD) Cyberstrategy and Design minor consists of 18 credits, 12 of which may not simultaneously be counted toward the BC core or other major/minor requirements. The minor is designed to advance understanding of the intersections of cyberstrategy and design. Students will explore introductory and mastery level coursework, select electives from different departments and engage in applied action projects and special topics research specially designated each year.

DESIGN THINKING AND INNOVATION

The Lynch School of Education and Human Development (LSEHD) Interdisciplinary minor in Design-Thinking consists of 18 credits, 12 of which may not simultaneously be counted toward the BC core or other major/minor requirements. The minor is designed to advance understanding of Design-Thinking as an important tool for social impact and human centered problem solving for our world. Students will explore introductory, and mastery Design-Thinking coursework, select electives from different departments and engage in social impact action/field-based projects specially designated each year.

EDUCATIONAL THEATRE

The Department of Theatre is offering an Educational Theatre Minor designed for Lynch School of Education and Human Development students in Teacher Education and Applied Psychology and Human Development. This new minor provides drama education and theatre training to Lynch School students who hope to include theatre as a subject they teach and practice in school settings and/or who want to use creative dramatics and applied theatre techniques as teaching tools in other institutional settings.  As research consistently supports the impact of creative dramatics on students’ self-esteem, literacy achievement, overall stamina, and psychological health (Brinda, 2008; Dupont, 1998; Moran, 2006), the study and practice of theatre arts, richly enhances pedagogy for teachers and human service providers. Furthermore, Theatre techniques have also emerged as a successful intervention for students with moderate and severe special needs (Hipsky, 2007), thus complementing a special needs concentration. This minor is comprised of 6 courses and 2 labs for a total of 20 credits.

IMMIGRATION, EDUCATION & HUMANITARIAN STUDIES    

The Immigration Education and Humanitarian Studies minor consists of 18 credits, 12 of which may not simultaneously be counted toward the BC core or other major/minor requirements. The minor is designed to advance understanding of immigration and related educational and humanitarian topics.

LEADERSHIP IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY SETTINGS

This minor serves students who are interested in institutions of higher education, in local and international non-government organizations (NGOs) and/or in community-based programs.  The minor consists of six courses (18 credits), which are taken in the Lynch School of Education and Human Development and the Carroll School of Management.  The Leadership in Higher Education and Community Settings minor includes 2 required courses (6 credits) and 4 courses (12 credits) that must be selected from the list of approved courses provided below.  APHD majors must earn 18 credits and must choose different APSY courses than their focus electives.

MIDDLE SCHOOL MATHEMATIC TEACHING

A minor in Middle School Mathematics Teaching is available to undergraduates who are either: Elementary Education majors (with an MCAS Mathematics major OR a Mathematics/Computer Science Interdisciplinary major) OR Secondary Education majors (with an MCAS Mathematics major).

Teaching mathematics in the middle school is great fun and teachers in this area are in great need.  Less than twenty-five percent of the middle school mathematics teachers in the United States of America are currently certified to teach mathematics at the middle school level.  While the minor does not lead directly to middle school mathematics certification at Boston College (we do not offer middle school certification), it does fulfill the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics requirements for middle school teachers of mathematics. With this minor, acquiring middle school mathematics certification in Massachusetts should not be difficult.

RESEARCH, EVALUATION, AND MEASUREMENT

The Lynch School of Education and Human Development (LSEHD) Research, Evaluation, and Measurement minor consists of 18 credits, 12 of which may not simultaneously be counted toward the BC core or other major/minor requirements. The Research, Evaluation, and Measurement minor is designed to advance understanding Research, Evaluation, and Measurement tools and practices. Students will explore topics as they relate to Education, Applied Psychology, and Human Development, select electives from different departments and engage in Senior Project or Thesis.

RESTORATIVE AND TRANSFORMATIONAL JUSTICE

The Lynch School of Education and Human Development (LSEHD) Restorative and Transformational Justice minor consists of 18 credits, 12 of which may not simultaneously be counted toward the BC core or other major/minor requirements. The minor is designed to advance understanding of Restorative and Transformational Justice as a critical important tool. Students will explore Restorative and Transformational Justice topics as they relate to Education, Applied Psychology, and Human Development, select electives from different departments and engage in social impact action project or Senior Thesis.

SPECIAL EDUCATION CONCENTRATION

This minor is for students majoring in Elementary Education, Secondary Education, and Applied Psychology and Human Development who have an interest in special needs education.  The concentration consists of four courses that include one Teacher Education core required course (EDUC 1044); two special education courses [EDUC 2208 and either EDUC 6373 (for teacher education majors) or EDUC 6374 (for APHD majors)]; and elective options for the fourth course.  Selection of the fourth course should be made in consultation with the student’s advisor, with consideration for the student’s major interests.

TEACHING ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS (TELL) CERTIFICATE

The Lynch School of Education and Human Development at Boston College offers a certificate program in Teaching English Language Learners (TELL). Candidates should be working toward a licensure in an education field (early childhood, elementary, secondary, etc.). This program is designed to prepare mainstream teachers to work with emergent bilingual learners/English language learners in their mainstream classroom settings. The certificate requires two courses and completion of a field experience in a classroom that includes bilingual learners.