The Department of Education was established in the year 1959. It was then a new subject and Dr. Lakshahira Das, an eminent personality of Assam, shouldered the responsibility of the department as Head of the Department. As a result of her sincere efforts and dedication, the Psychological Laboratory of the Department was set up in the year 1975 with prior permission from Gauhati University. In 1985 Education Department was upgraded into a PG Department. Initially, the seats in the M A class was 20, which was later increased to 40.
Department of Education has an Association, the Cotton College Educational Association, which has the UG (Major) and PG students as members. The Association holds various departmental and inter-departmental competitions, such as essay writing competitions, extempore-speech competitions, debate competitions, quiz competitions, recitation competitions, etc. in accordance with the convenience of all involved. Under the headship of Dr. Gouri Deka, Education department successfully carried out one UGC sponsored Total Literacy Campaign (TLC) under Gauhati University where 34 M.A. Final year students acted as student volunteers. Under the supervision of the faculty members of the department 250 illiterates of the Bhutnath Pitaninagar area of West Guwahati obtained literacy within one year due to the sincere efforts of the student volunteers.
The first wall magazine of the department ANURANAN (means- ECHO) was inaugurated on 10th October 2001. The Departmental Library was started in the year 2001.At present there are more than 900 books in the departmental library.
On 27th August 2003 the GUIDENCE & COUNCELLING CENTER of Cotton College has been inaugurated by the Principal of the college Dr J. Medhi .One half yearly newsletter named EDUCARE was published in December 2003 for the first time.
Education department organizes Educational Excursion and Field Trips almost every year to different places of India. Departmental picnic has been organized every year in the month of December /January where most of the students both UG and PG and the faculty members participate. The Parent- Teacher Meet is also organized by the department from time to time where exchange of views, discussion on problems of the students, suggestions for improvement etc. take place.
The department has introduced a self - financing certificate course named as MONTESSORI TEACHERS’ TRAINING COURSE in 2008. The course is multidisciplinary and approved by the Govt. of Assam and its duration is 6 month. Presently Dr. Meena Kumari Devi is serving as the Head of the Department of Education.