Program Overview
Built with flexibility in mind, this multidisciplinary major embraces the notion that learning and helping professions are not limited to traditional classrooms. ESHR is the perfect major for those wanting to create change on an individual or systemic level.
The 30 required credits include 15 core courses that include a diversity/multiculturalism course and 15 elective credits.
Subprograms
You can choose between two subprograms to help meet your educational and career goals. You can also opt to not pick a subprogram and take a variety of interesting courses across different disciplines.

Education Studies
The Education Studies subprogram is for students interested in pursuing careers in learning technologies, school district support roles, education policy, assessment and evaluation, among other options.
It also prepares students for future graduate study in educational measurement, learning sciences, educational psychology, higher education and student affairs, and other related areas.

Human Relations
The Human Relations subprogram is for students interested in careers in helping fields that rely on interpersonal communication and personal problem solving.
It also prepares students for future graduate study in professional counseling, health-service psychology, couple and family therapy, community relationship, and related fields.
Informal Concentration Areas (ICA)
ESHR provides a number of Informal Concentration Areas (ICA). ICAs are meant to be fluid over time to best reflect trends and issues in the field of education and helping professions. In addition, students may create their own concentration focus that will meet their own career trajectory.
Couple and Family
The Couple and Family ICA will help you understand the nature of interpersonal and intimate relationships, the inner workings of family systems, individual and family development, how the family fits into the larger society, how to help families under stress or in crisis, and how to advocate and support all families.
Diversity Education
The Diversity Education ICA will help you develop awareness of your own cultural worldview and potential biases, knowledge of other cultural worldviews, learn the ways structural oppression can impact marginalized groups, and gain skills for more effectively serving a diverse society.
K-12 Student Interventions
The K-12 Student Interventions ICA will help you understand the needs that children have as they cope with trauma, loss, family concerns, and common developmental challenges. Opportunities exist to support students during their K-12 education and build partnerships with community resources.
Learning, Design, and Media
The Learning, Design, and Media ICA will help you better understand how people learn and use that understanding to design, implement, and evaluate formal and informal learning environments, using an iterative process that includes selecting, using, and creating media when appropriate.
Learning and Development
The Learning and Development ICA will help you understand the process of learning; how to engage with different populations in their development of knowledge, skills, and abilities; and learning in different areas such as literacy or science.
Sports, Society, and Inclusion
The Sports, Society, and Inclusion ICA will help you prepare for careers in the broad fields and industries surrounding sports, which include administration, coaching, consulting, and advocacy.
Supporting College Students
Trauma Informed Advocacy
The Trauma-informed Advocacy ICA will help you better understand the challenges that individuals who have experienced trauma may face, learn how to advocate and support people who have had these challenging experiences, and promote their success.
Faculty
The ESHR faculty represent every program in the College of Education and have expertise in learning, teaching, measurement, counseling and helping professions, and the social, historical, and policy foundations of education. Learning from faculty across the college will help you to tailor your learning to your interests and career goals.
To see the Curriculum Advisory Committee, please visit: Committee Listing.
Admissions and Application
For additional information about the admission and application process, please visit the university's:
Students may be admitted to the Education Studies and Human Relations major through Direct Admission, Regular Admission, or Transfer Admission.
Direct Admission is designed for first-year students applying to Iowa for the fall semester. Applicants who present an ACT composite score of 21 or higher (waived for fall 2022) and a final high school GPA of at least 3.0 are eligible for Direct Admission into the Education Studies and Human Relations major. First-year students who do not meet requirements for admission to the major may declare Education Studies and Human Relations Interest in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and apply later for Regular Admission to the major.
Regular Admission is available to students who have completed a minimum of 12 s.h. of graded course work at the University of Iowa or another accredited institution of higher education, including community colleges, and who have a UI cumulative GPA of at least 2.50.
Transfer Admission is available to students who have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50 on a minimum of 24 s.h. of acceptable graded credit earned after high school graduation.
News
Contact Us!
General inquiries can be addressed to coe-eshr@uiowa.edu or the Director of Education Studies and Human Relations, Kathy Schuh.
Current students interested in changing majors or adding the ESHR major should contact Kathy Mossman, Academic Advisor.