Educational Design for Transformative Social Futures
Earn Your BS in Education & Human Development at BU Wheelock
At Boston University’s Wheelock College of Education & Human Development, undergraduate students pursue a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Education & Human Development.
- Years 1 & 2: Build a strong foundation with core and signature courses.
- Years 3 & 4: Specialize in one of five areas, gaining hands-on experience through coursework and field-based learning.
The Earl Center hosts the Educational Design for Social Transformation specialization, where students engage in creative, interdisciplinary, and innovative approaches to educational inquiry.
Explore how BU Wheelock prepares you to make a meaningful impact in education and beyond!
Educational Design for Transformative Social Futures
Housed in the Earl Center, this specialization empowers students to become innovative designers of educational experiences in both formal and informal settings.
Collaborate with communities, families, youth, and educators to reimagine learning.
Develop critical perspectives on education and the role of design in teaching and daily life.
Engage in research-driven design practices to drive positive social change.
Theory and Practice
Students are matched with sites aligned to their goals, applying theory to design learning experiences that inspire transformative social futures.
Ideation and Fabrication
Coursework includes the Earl Center Makerspace, where students explore tools, materials, and creative processes to bring ideas to life.
Field-Based Learning
Students engage in co-design and collaboration through their practicum, creating learning experiences tailored to the needs of local communities.
Student Practicum Experience
The practicum experience is a year-long, immersive opportunity for students to co-design educational experiences that align with the mission and work of our partner organizations. Through this field placement, students become active participants in the life of the organization—learning about its goals, the people who bring its mission to life, and the ways it engages with the public.
Current Partner Organizations
Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center
Community Art Center
Emerald Necklace Conservancy
The Possible Zone
New England Aquarium