ESS

At the heart of the ESS program is the study of how humans learn and how society, culture, politics, and the economy influence that learning.

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Education is a complex challenge

Education - formal and informal, inside and outside a classroom - is a complex and challenging aspect of human experience. It's both an end in itself and a means to many personal, professional, and spiritual goals. Thus, understanding its history and traditions, analyzing its processes, critiquing its goals, and studying its outcomes is of great importance to all of us.

Turning a wide-angle lens on education, ESS is offered as a supplementary major consisting of eight courses, or as a 15-credit minor composed of an Intro course, 3 electives, and a senior capstone research project. The program is designed to help students understand education broadly defined and to view it from many liberal arts perspectives: political science, history, sociology, and more.

Check out a small sampling of the kinds of places that ESS might take you and your future.

If you're interested in questions like...What is the purpose of education? Why aren't educational opportunities equitable for all? How does education contribute to the development of the "good" citizen and the "just" society?...become an ESS minor or major! To sign up or learn more, email Professor Kevin Sandberg, C.S.C.

Already an ESS student and in need of some advising? Of course, Father Kevin Sandberg, Ph.D., C.S.C. would love to talk with you too, feel free to stop by or set-up an appointment via email.

Education, Schooling, and Society students at the University of Notre Dame respond to classroom discussion

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Study ESS, Prepare for Your Future

The program provides resources for students who will pursue a range of careers after graduation, from finance to film, law to medicine, philosophy to policy-making. Students who want to become certified teachers during their undergraduate studies may do so through our cooperative relationship with Saint Mary’s College.

Meet Some ESS Graduates

Sam Adofo

Majoring in ACMS with an Actuarial Science minor, Sam is from Central Falls, RI. With a long interest in education, Sam will earn his master's through the ACE Teaching Fellows program after he graduates.

Julie Allpow

Majoring in American Studies and Peace Studies, Julie is from the south side of Chicago. She chose the ESS minor in part, she says, "because there is a gap in peace studies initiatives in America. Education can fill that gap."

Lindsay Baca

Majoring in Psychology with a Latino Studies minor, Lindsay is from Los Angeles, CA. Lindsay has her eye on law school in hopes of working in K-12 education policy. But first she will gain an M.Ed. through ACE Teaching Fellows.

Maddie Carr

Majoring in Psychology, Maddie is from Rockville, MD. Given her interest in behavior and development, Maddie is also interested in teaching. She will earn her master's through ACE Teaching Fellows.

Paige Curley

Majoring in English with a Latino Studies minor, Paige is from Montgomery, NY. She is passionately pursuing a professional career in multicultural education and literacy curriculum, areas introduced to her by her incredible ESS professors.

Mar Diego

Majoring in Economics, Mar is from Makati, Philippines. With an interest in education across developing countries, Mar hopes to pursue a professional vocation in education and healthcare policy design and impact evaluation.

Delaney Farwell

Majoring in Anthropology with a Business Econ minor, Delaney is from Jacksonville, Florida. She chose ESS because "I wanted to understand the inequalities that exist in the American education system."

Alice Felker

Majoring in Psychology and ACMS, Alice is from Bethesda, Maryland. Alice has done research on continuing education for adults with disabilities and will continue to work in disability rights and policy after graduation.

Nay Fernandez

Majoring in Sociology, Nay is from New Orleans, Louisiana. A Posse scholar with years of experience as a camp counselor, Nay chose both her major and ESS because she would like to work with kids one day.

Collin Gortner

Majoring in Political Science with a minor in Constitutional Studies, Collin is from Monticello, Illinois. ESS courses "have allowed me to explore the intersection between political science and education and confirmed my desire to do ACE next year."

Emily Graff

Majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior, Emily is from the south side of Chicago. Emily is interested in the brain and how we learn. She hopes to pursue graduate programs focusing on what causes learning delays and how to address them.

Donna Hoang

Majoring in Political Science and minoring in Teaching English to Other Language Speakers, Donna is from Horsham, Pennsylvania. She is passionate about intercultural education and curriculum development, which led her to ESS.

Sam Kennedy

Majoring in Philosophy with a minor in History, Sam is from the south side of Chicago. With a heart for public education, Sam wants to teach someday, with hopes of becoming a professor.

Catherine Korth (ND '20)

Majoring in Marketing with a minor in Sociology, Catherine is from Westfield, New Jersey. She is curious about how the environment affects learning and will join ACE next year.

Zion Lee

Majoring in PLS and German, Zion is from Deagu, South Korea. Zion is interested in the role of education in developing a social/political atmosphere that promotes virtue. He will study philosophy and education in grad school.

Annie Moran

Majoring in Psychology with a minor in Catholic Social Tradition, Annie is from the north side of Chicago. With a passion for service, she would like to teach through a post-graduate teacher training program or grad school.

Julia Randall

Majoring in Economics, Julia is from Montclair, New Jersey. A Notre Dame rower, Julie has loved education and children since she was young. She learned about ESS in the course "Social Inequality and American Education."

Carolina Robledo

Majoring in Music with minors in Latino Studies and History, Carolina is from San Antonio, Texas. She is concerned about ed policy and creating opportunities for underrepresented students. Carolina will do ACE next year.

Emma Scheibel

Majoring in American Studies with minors in Hesburgh and Poverty Studies, Emma is from Rockville, Maryland. Emma is drawn to issues around educational equity and will join the Urban Teachers program next year.

Evy Stein

Majoring in English and Psychology, Evy is from Madison, Wisconsin. Evy's research this year was on authorship and its place in determining whether or not to read something. She'll be an educational consultant next fall.

Natalie Stevens

Natalie is from Moorestown, New Jersey. Majoring in Psychology, Natalie is drawn to both her major and ESS because she's interested in how children learn. Natalie plans to pursue a master’s in educational administration.

Mary Stoutenburgh

Majoring in Applied and Computational Math and Statistics, Mary is from Dallas, Texas. She has always loved teaching and will earn her M.Ed. through the ACE Teaching Fellows program.

Honoka Suzuki

Majoring in Applied and Computational Math and Statistics with an Actuary minor, Honoka is from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. An SSLP experience drew Honoka to ESS. She aims to become a data scientist in education.

Alli VanOverberghe

Majoring in Psychology with a minor in Business Econ, Alli is from Chicago, Illinois. Working in Professor McNeil's CLAD lab made her realize how much she enjoys research. She plans to pursue a master's in school psychology.

See ESS Seniors

What Our Students Say about ESS...

"My ESS education...reaffirmed my passion for the dignity of the individual, the fundamental importance of communities, and the quest for life-long learning for all." Rachel Iverson, Psychology, Glynn Family Honors Program

"ESS pushed me to see the ways in which education extends far beyond the classroom..." Colin O'Neill, American Studies, Poverty Studies

“Whether you're interested in becoming a classroom teacher, human rights lawyer, or neuroscientist, through ESS you will discover your role in contributing to students' lives nationwide." Lindsay Baca, Psychology

Connect With Us

Father Kevin Sandberg, C.S.C., Ph.D. - ESS Director of Undergraduate Studies
ksandberg@nd.edu | Phone 574.631.4517