The Education Policy, Equity and Justice (EPEJ) minor is offered jointly by the College of Education and the School of Public Policy. The program is designed for students from all majors who want to deepen their understanding of how educational policymaking intersects with equity, social justice and broader sociopolitical and socioeconomic issues in school systems.
In this program, you will explore the historical, social, economic, political and cultural roles that school systems play in the United States and around the world. You’ll examine the unique barriers and opportunities created by the social construct of education and interrogate its implicit and explicit influences on both individuals and society.
The EPEJ minor will provide you with the knowledge and analytical skills to understand and assess the complex intersection of education, politics, policy, democracy, inequality and power structures that govern societies.
Key Features
- Critical Inquiry – Our students engage in critically-informed, intellectually rigorous inquiry around the intersection of education policy, equity and justice.
- Problem-Solving – Our students identify, interrogate and propose solutions that address issues in education policy and improve school systems.
- Advocacy-Oriented – You’ll complete the program as an EdTerp and Policy Terp ready to advance equity through advocacy efforts that promote more socially just schools and society.
- Articulate the historical and contemporary purposes of schooling as an equalizing force and ‘public good’ for advancing equity and social justice.
- Explain and detail the complex social, political and policy systems that influence, maintain and interrupt power in educational settings and school systems.
- Identify and explain major ideas that drive policy debates in education, their primary sources and how these often derive from individuals and agencies outside of the education field.
- Identify how competing social, economic and political interests shape educational opportunities, barriers and experiences, and ultimately define what constitutes quality curriculum in schools.
- Communicate clearly and in an accessible way to a diverse group of stakeholders, including caregivers, community leaders, school board members, policymakers, educators, school and district leaders, and elected officials, the key factors impacting how schools establish, implement and assess curriculum, teaching and learning.
- Explain how and why both power structures and inequality take shape in schools and how sustained advocacy efforts can counteract these imbalances.
You must submit an application to apply for the EPEJ minor, which includes providing your major and GPA.
To complete the EPEJ minor, you must earn at least 15 course credits. Each course must be completed with a grade of “C-” or higher to count toward the minor. Additionally, at least 9 credits must be from 300- or 400-level courses.
Three Required Courses
- TLPL254 (Spring), Surmounting School: Democracy, Inequality and Education
- TLPL360 (Fall/Spring), Foundations of Education
- PLCY388A (354 in 2025/2026) (Fall/Spring), Child and Family Policy Impact
Two Elective Courses
Choose from a wide variety of courses offered by the College of Education and School of Public Policy, or propose courses that align with your major.
Full course details can be found in the undergraduate catalog.
For more information, please contact the Office of Student Services at educminors@umd.edu.