This course introduces students to education as both a professional pathway and a dynamic social institution. Students will explore the personal, ethical, and professional qualities that define effective educators while examining how cultural, economic, and policy factors shape schooling in diverse societies. Through the lens of the social sciences, students will analyze human behavior, equity, and institutional practices that influence teaching and learning. Emphasis is placed on developing a personal “why” for teaching, fostering culturally responsive mindsets, and understanding how evidence-based instructional models promote access and achievement for all learners.