Offered through the Education Studies Department, UC San Diego’s Education Sciences major explores how people learn and how educational systems function, with a focus on equity, research, and real‑world impact. Students study learning theory, human development, teaching practices, and the social contexts that shape schooling. The major offers opportunities to analyze educational data, engage in classroom fieldwork, and examine issues such as access, diversity, and the role of technology in learning. Designed for students interested in teaching, policy, research, or community work, Education Sciences provides a strong foundation for careers that support learners and improve educational outcomes.
Program Highlights
- Community Impact includes:
- More than 200 P-16 educational leaders and 400 teacher leaders across Southern California.
- More than 10 current and former superintendents in regional school districts.
- More than 75 pre-service teachers.
Education Sciences
This page is intended to give some highlights about the program. If you are interested in learning more about the major and its curriculum, visit the Education Studies department website.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Co-curricular Programs
Learn how to make the most of your experience at UC San Diego within the context of your major.
Research
Conduct research in your field of study with one of the many research programs available. Research opportunities in this major include, but are not limited to:
- Available Winter, Spring and Summer term (8 weeks; 3 quarter commitment).
- Open to juniors and seniors.
- Stipend, course credit, and housing available.
- Available Fall, Winter, or Spring terms (2-3 quarter commitment).
- Open to undergraduate students.
- Course and co-curricular credit available.
Undergraduate Researcher Position
- Open to undergraduate students.
For more details, eligibility, and to explore more programs, visit our Undergraduate Research website.
Internships
UC San Diego offers strong internship pathways for undergraduates through the Academic Internship Program (AIP) and the Research Experience and Applied Learning (REAL) Portal. AIP enables students to earn academic credit while gaining professional experience in fields across all majors, supported by faculty mentorship and an academic component. The REAL Portal serves as a centralized hub for finding research, internships, service learning, and other hands‑on opportunities on and off campus. Together, these resources help students explore career interests, build professional skills, and connect academic learning with real‑world experience.
Find a Program
- Academic Internship Program: https://aip.ucsd.edu
- REAL Portal: https://real.ucsd.edu
Study Abroad
Students are encouraged to explore study abroad opportunities which allow students to experience the culture and history of another country and gain a global perspective, all while earning academic credit toward their degree.
Learn more about study abroad opportunities for Education.
Student Organizations
With over 600 student organizations, students are able to connect with other students who share similar interests. And, if you can't find something that interests you, it's easy to create a new one with just a few other students. Explore UC San Diego student organizations.
Be sure to check out these organizations related to your major:
What can I do with this major?
Learn about how you can apply your major to various opportunities after you graduate. The information below is based on recent surveys from alumni in this (or similar) majors and is not an exhaustive list.
- Recent Employers - Top 10 employers alumni reported working for.
- Job Types - Industries and types of jobs that alumni reported.
- Skills - Common skills and skills specific to the major that alumni reported gaining from this major.
- Graduate Programs - The types of graduate programs alumni reported going to (if applicable)
Recent Employers
- University of California
- San Miguel Elementary
- Poway Unified School District
- Pennsylvania State University
- Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE)
- Pacific Dental Services
- Los Angeles Unified School District
- Gateway Care
- Family Health Centers Of San Diego
- East Bay Peace Action
Job Types
- Social and Human Service Specialists
- Guidance, Career, and Academic Counselors
- High School Spanish Teachers
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
- Teaching Assistants
- Elementary School Teachers
- Registered Nurses
- Tutors, Teachers, and Instructors
- Assistant Managers
- Curriculum Developers
Skills
Common
- Research
- Mathematics
- Teaching
- Leadership
- Sales
- English Language
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Customer Service
Specific
- Lesson Planning
- Social Justice
- Marketing
- Classroom Management
- Special Education
- Instructional Design
- Preschool Education
- Academic Integrity
- Pedagogy
- Community Outreach