Learning & Education Studies Application Information
The Learning and Education Studies (LES) degree program allows students to explore education outside the licensed teaching profession. The program focuses on the demand for professionals who bring an educational perspective to a range of industries, including business, non-profit organizations, healthcare, and technology.
Students must declare one of the following concentrations:
- Educational Technology
- Educational Equality and Cultural Understanding (note: students admitted to the university Fall 2025 to present cannot declare this concentration)
- Inclusive Leadership & Learning in Organizations
- Workplace Training and Development (note: students admitted to the university Fall 2025 to present cannot declare this concentration)
Admission Requirements
Required:
- Illinois/Overall GPA of 2.50 or higher (3.0 or higher GPA is highly recommended)
- Two years of one language other than English in high school or through the second level course in college must be completed by desired term of entry.
- Completion of Composition I requirement.
- Completion of a Quantitative Reasoning General Education course.
Highly Recommended:
- EDUC 201 and EDUC 202; or EPOL 201/202
- EPSY 201
- CI 210
Students with the best essays and the best academic and professional qualifications, including any pertinent extracurricular activities will receive highest priority. One way to demonstrate interest is to have earned a grade of “B” or better in introductory courses (e.g., EDUC 201, EDUC 202, EPOL 201/202, EPSY 201, CI 210).
Meeting the minimum GPA and the completion of prerequisite coursework does not guarantee admission into any major.
Concentrations
Educational Technology
Focuses on understanding, designing and implementing digital technologies that promote learning in a range of environments. These environments range from technology-enhanced classrooms to mobile devices and immersive virtual worlds, in schools, homes, museums and workplaces. Graduating students will be prepared to work in a range of fields, including educational publishing and educational technology development, museum exhibit design, corporate training, game design, web and mobile application development, and be prepared for graduate programs in related areas.
Educational Equality and Cultural Understanding
Prepares students to better understand the role of education in enabling equality and cultural understanding in domestic and international perspectives. Focusing on equality, diversity, and cultural understanding will give students a unique perspective on the historical place of education in both challenging inequities and helping to justify social divisions. Understanding how education as an institution operates to perpetuate social and economic stratification will give students a perspective on the challenges of creating a more equitable distribution of education.
Inclusive Leadership & Learning in Organizations
Addresses the growing demand across sectors for graduates equipped to advance organizational change, lead in the workplace, and navigate barriers across diverse populations. This program will provide international and domestic students with an overview of organizational leadership, specifically regarding diversity and inclusion. Students will also learn how organizations can address contemporary environmental and political challenges to enact sustainable and meaningful change.
Workplace Training and Development
Provides international and domestic students with the broad sets of knowledge and skills necessary to develop, deliver, and evaluate training and development programs across workplace settings, such as businesses and industries, two-year post-secondary schools, or community and government agencies. In addition, it will serve a growing demand for graduates who have an interest in helping adults learn about and seek to improve organizational performance.