The Education Studies Department at Skidmore College offers a major in Education Studies that leads to initial certification in New York State for grades 1-6. The Education Studies major is innovative and premised on a constructivist view of education with social justice as a central goal. This pre-professional program provides extensive opportunities for working with children in varied school settings. Because the department is relatively small, faculty get to know our students well, developing close relationships with them as they support student coursework and field placements. The department also offers an early childhood education minor with opportunities for working in the Early Childhood Center lab school. All Education Studies majors and minors develop portfolios over the course of their four years at Skidmore demonstrating the knowledge and skills that will help them to find competitive teaching positions and to enter excellent graduate programs.