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About SESP
About SESP

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About the School of Education and Social Policy (SESP)

Welcome!

SESP Video, 2002 Discover what's at the heart of Northwestern University's School of Education and Social Policy. See how inquiry, innovation and involvement are the key ingredients in the School's way of "doing things differently," which encompasses learning beyond the classroom and throughout lives.
[View video]
Learning For Tomorrow Learning Today For Tomorrow
"The School of Education and Social Policy doesn't just prepare teachers; its professors and researchers are studying and changing the way people learn at every stage of life."
[Link to article appearing in the Northwestern, Spring 2006 issue. 654kb PDF]

Mission
To understand and improve human learning and development throughout the life span and in multiple contexts - in classrooms and schools as well as within families, in communities, in the workplace, and in elective learning environments.


Dean
Penelope L. Peterson, Eleanor R. Baldwin Professor of Education


History

SESP became a separate School of Education in 1926 after starting as a department in the College of Liberal Arts. In 1986 "Social Policy" was added to the School's name to reflect its mission of improving education and lives through studying and influencing policy. SESP is the smallest school at Northwestern University with 300 undergraduates, 300 graduate students and 23 faculty.


National Ranking
SESP consistently ranks among the top graduate  schools of education in the nation. The most recent ranking by U.S. News & World Report places SESP at 12th nationwide.


Degrees

BS

Education and Social Policy
MA Learning Sciences
MS Education and Social Policy; Learning and Organizational Change
PhD Learning Sciences; Human Development and Social Policy


Undergraduate Concentrations
Undergraduate students major in Human Development and Psychological Services; Learning and Organizational Change; Secondary Teaching; or Social Policy.

Projects | Research

Faculty in the School of Education and Social Policy conduct research that investigates how people learn and develop over the course of the life span. Research themes focus on individual development, families and communities, pedagogical and technological innovations, teacher development and school improvement. The results of such research become powerful tools to shape education and social programs that make a difference in schools and communities and change the lives of children and families. Projects may be searched by title, keyword, program or principal investigator.

Research Affiliates
Institute for Policy Research
Center for Talent Development
Joint Center for Poverty Research

Faculty

Faculty members pursue Interdisciplinary research, teaching and outreach; many have joint appointments in psychology and computer sciences. Annual faculty research awards total more than $10 million.


Students

SESP draws its master's, doctoral and undergraduate students from many different schools within Northwestern and from many countries around the world, making for a very diverse population. As the smallest school at Northwestern, we emphasize closeness and community.


Alumni

SESP alumni number over 10,000, with more than 4,000 in the Chicago area. While many are educators, others are heads of Fortune 500 companies, university presidents, government policy makers, mayors, ambassadors, lawyers and professional athletes.


Staff

SESP maintains a support staff of more than 100, drawn from academic and industry backgrounds.


Facilities

Walter B. Annenberg Hall just west of Lake Michigan opened in 1993. It contains faculty offices, "smart" classrooms and the George W. and Edwina S. Tarry Center for Teaching and Learning, which includes two 1,500-square-foot classrooms equipped with extensive multimedia software systems.


Funding Partners

Faculty research is supported by corporations and foundations, among them the Aon Corporation, The Foley Foundation, The Joyce Foundation, Lucent Technologies Foundation, The MacArthur Foundation, The James S. McDonnell Foundation, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, The Quaker Oats Company, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and The Spencer Foundation

News and Events
Sophomore Meeting
Monday, May 12

Required for SESP sophomores
3:30 p.m., Career Services Building


Sophomore Meeting
Tuesday, May 13

Required meeting for SESP sophomores
noon, Career Services Building


Preregistration Pizza Dinner for SESP Undergraduates
Tuesday, May 13

Talk about the upcoming quarter and classes.
5 p.m., Student Affairs Office, Annenberg Hall


Sophomore Meeting
Thursday, May 15

Required Meeting for Sophomores
9 a.m., Career Services Building




Send Us Your News
Please send us your news of new projects or recent achievements, awards or media mentions. Click here to access our news submission form.


Last Updated: 2008-04-07 10:24:14


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