Students who wish to pursue P-12 teacher certification in Social Studies must apply to and be admitted to the Teacher Education Program. Once admitted, students will be matriculated into the B.A. in Secondary Education program as a second major.
Please visit the Teacher Education Program website for the required professional sequence of courses and other important Program requirements, guidelines, and procedures. Because Praxis exams in this area are heavily weighted towards history, we STRONGLY advise students to include History (as a second major ideally) as a primary component of their program. Students also are strongly advised to review the Teacher Education Program Handbook. The course SASE 401 is the departmental requirement.
The social studies teacher is expected to have a broad understanding of the cultural and environmental factors which shape the individual and society. To meet the approved program for certification in social studies, course work is required in each of the following:
- Anthropology, Psychology or Sociology
- Economics
- Geography
- History
- Political Science
A detailed description of the requirements is available in the office of the Social Studies Teacher Education Coordinator in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
120 credits of coursework is required for the baccalaureate degree with a minimum 3.0 overall GPA. Major GPA requirements differ depending on field of study. Consult the Teacher Education Handbook for more information.
Degree Requirements Overview
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| New Student Seminar | 1 | |
| SEEDS General Education Requirements | 18-21 | |
| Major Requirements | 40 | |
| Social Studies Support Courses for Teacher Education | 21 | |
| Teacher Education Program Requirements | 36 | |
| Free Electives | 4-1 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| SOCI 201 | Foundations of Sociological Inquiry | 4 |
| SOCI 240 | Statistics for Social Research | 4 |
| SOCI 301 | Sociological Research Methods I | 4 |
| SOCI 313 | Sociological Theory: A Critical Analysis | 3 |
| SOCI 400 | Senior Project | 4 |
| Major Electives | ||
| Complete a total of 21 credits from the list below. | 21 | |
| Total Credits | 40 | |
Major Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Level Electives | ||
| Complete 12-21 credits from the following: | ||
| SOCI 302 | Interviews and Focus Groups | 3 |
| SOCI 303 | Large Scale Organizations | 3 |
| SOCI 304 | Sociology of Work and Professions | 3 |
| SOCI 309 | Sociology of Health and Illness | 3 |
| SOCI 310 | Directed Independent Research | 3-9 |
| SOCI 312 | Environmental Sociology | 3 |
| SOCI 314 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
| SOCI 315 | Social Inequality | 3 |
| SOCI 316 | Sociology of Education | 3 |
| SOCI 318 | Sociology of Population | 3 |
| SOCI 330 | Political Sociology | 3 |
| SOCI 336 | Sociology and Social Work | 3 |
| SOCI 340 | Social Change in a Global World | 3 |
| SOCI 350 | Special Topics in Social Issues | 3 |
| SOCI 364 | Religion, Culture, and Society | 3 |
| SOCI 401 | Sociology of Emotions | 3 |
| SOCI 405 | Deviance and Social Control | 3 |
| SOCI 407 | Sociology of the Mass Media | 3 |
| SOCI 408 | Social Movements | 3 |
| SOCI 420 | Sociology of Law | 3 |
| SOCI 426 | Sociology of Sexuality | 3 |
| SOCI 430 | Sociology of Gender | 3 |
| Lower Level Electives | ||
| 0-9 credits may be taken from the following: | ||
| SOCI 100 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| SOCI 102 | Racial and Ethnic Relations | 3 |
| SOCI 104 | Sociology of the Family | 3 |
| SOCI 106 | Individual and Society | 3 |
| SOCI 113 | Social Problems | 3 |
| SOCI 208 | Men and Masculinities | 3 |
| SOCI 212 | Sociology of Technology | 3 |
| SOCI 215 | Sociology of Sports | 3 |
| SOCI 219 | Sociology of Aging | 3 |
| SOCI 220 | Sociology of Rich and Poor Nations | 3 |
| SOCI 230 | Sociology of Conflict and Violence | 3 |
| SOCI 250 | Special Topics in Current Sociology Issues | 3 |
| SOCI 290 | Cooperative Education in Sociology | 3-4 |
Social Studies Support Courses for Teacher Education
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 101 | Applied Macroeconomics | 3 |
| or ECON 102 | Applied Microeconomics | |
| HIST 103 | Gods, Empires, Crusades Plague | 3 |
| HIST 114 | Early Latin American History | 3 |
| HIST 117 | Foundations of America | 3 |
| HIST 118 | Emergence of the Modern United States | 3 |
| HIST 141 | Emergence of the Modern World | 3 |
| EAES 170 | World Geography | 3 |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
Co-Major in Secondary Education
New Student Seminar
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students in the Adult Learner program must take GNED 100. | ||
| Complete one course from the following. Some courses may be restricted by major. Consult with an academic advisor. | 1 | |
| Pathways to Success | ||
| Freshman Seminar in Chemistry | ||
| First Year Seminar | ||
| Adult Academic Success Seminar | ||
| New Student Seminar | ||
| Freshman Seminar in Health and Physical Education | ||
| Pathways to Adult Learning | ||
| New Student Seminar | ||
| New Student Experience for Mathematical Sciences | ||
| Freshman Seminar for Music Majors | ||
| Introduction to Nursing | ||
| Freshman Seminar in Political Science and Law | ||
SEEDS General Education Requirements
Click here for a list of courses that fulfill the SEEDS requirements.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations | ||
| Effective Writing I | ||
| Complete one Effective Writing I course. | 3 | |
| Effective Writing II | ||
| Complete one Effective Writing II course. | 3 | |
| Interactive Communication | ||
| Complete one Interactive Communication course. | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| Fulfilled by SOCI 240 in the major. | ||
| Political and Civic Life | ||
| Fulfilled by SASE 210 in the Teacher Education requirements. | ||
| World Language | ||
| Complete two sequential classes in one World Language when starting at the Beginner I or Beginner II level. Complete one class when starting at the Intermediate/Advanced Level. | 3-6 | |
| Exploration | ||
| Complete one course from four different Exploration categories. | 6 | |
| Analyzing Cultures and Societies | ||
| Fulfilled by HIST 114 or HIST 141 in the Related Social Science requirements. | ||
| Creative Expression | ||
| Ethical Inquiry | ||
| Historical Thinking | ||
| Fulfilled by HIST 103, HIST 117, or HIST 118 in the Related Social Science requirements. | ||
| Literary and Artistic Analysis | ||
| Scientific Reasoning | ||
| Total Credits | 18-21 | |