Social Studies - B.S. and Social Studies Education - B.S.
Purpose
The Social Studies major is offered by the Department of History and Political Science. The Social Studies major serves primarily as preparation toward teaching social studies in the senior high/junior high/middle schools and also serves as preparation for research and graduate study. Students desiring certified teaching credentials need to declare a Social Studies Education (SSE) major. (See also the Education section of the catalog.) A major in Social Studies Education (SSE) with a minor in Psychology is an excellent combination for those desiring to take a master's degree in counseling and guidance in order to become guidance counselors in the secondary schools. Social Studies Education (SSE) majors often earn a second major in Economics, History, International Relations, or Political Science.
The Social Studies (SOS) major may be taken without teaching requirements by students who desire a broad exposure to the different fields of social science. This major often serves as a companion double major with Economics, History, International Relations and Political Science.
General Education Competencies
Completed in consultation with the School of Teacher Education (if SSE) and in reference to the general education requirements and competencies section under the Division of Social Sciences.
Major Requirements
The Social Studies Education (SSE) major is 51-57 credit hours and the non-teaching Social Studies (SOS) major is 48 credit hours. The major includes required and elective courses in six social science disciplines: History, Geography, Government, Economics, Psychology and Sociology. Students majoring in either of these programs must complete one year of world history survey (rather than HST 180), one year of regional history survey, and three credit hours of upper-level history electives; American Government, Comparative Politics or World Politics, and six credit hours of political science electives, at least three credit hours of which must be upper-level. Students majoring in SOS will take nine credit hours in one of the following areas: Economics, Sociology, or Psychology as listed below. In order to meet teacher certification requirements, students majoring in SSE will follow a three-discipline or four discipline plan as listed in the Education section of the catalog. SSE majors are required to take an upper-division scholarship quality elective under both the Historical Perspective requirement (or HST290 may meet this requirement) and the Government requirement. Both the HST and POL upper-division scholarship quality courses will be determined by the SSE content supervisor in coordination with the School of Teacher Education.
Requirements for the Social Studies (non-education) major (48 credits)
Foundation Course (3 credits)
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| General Education | 52 |
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| Social Studies Courses | 36 |
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| Social Studies Electives | 12 |
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| Electives | 24 |
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| TOTAL: | 124 |
Electives
Depending on program configuration, take 3-4 upper-division classes from chosen disciplines.
Required (27 credits)
Historical Perspectives (12 credits)
| HST-185 | Foundations of Civilization to 1648 | 3 |
| HST-190 | The West and the World after 1648 | 3 |
| HST-290 | Making History: Historians, Historical Techniques and Historiography | 3 |
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| HST Elective (300 or 400 level) | 3 |
Choose any two of the following four courses:
| HST-211 | American Civilization to 1865 | 3 |
| HST-212 | American Civilization after 1865 | 3 |
| HST-230 | Colonial Latin America | 3 |
| HST-231 | National Latin America | 3 |
Government (12 credits)
| POL-100 | American Government | 3 |
| POL-232 | Comparative Politics | 3 |
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| or | |
| POL-230 | World Politics | 3 |
| POL-322 | Research Design and Methods in Political Science and Economics | 3 |
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| or | |
| ECO-322 | Research Design and Methods in Political Science and Economics | 3 |
POL-
| Elective | 3 |
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| POL Elective (300 or 400 level) | 3 |
Geography (3 credits)
| GEO-202 | Political and Cultural Geography | 3 |
Choose ONE of the following (Economics, Sociology, or Psychology) (9 credits):
Economics (9 credits)
| ECO-212 | Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECO-213 | Macroeconomics | 3 |
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| ECO Elective (300 or 400 level) | 3 |
Sociology (9 credits)
| SOC-150 | Principles of Sociology | 3 |
| SOC-210 | Minority Group Relations | 3 |
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| SOC Elective | 3 |
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| SOC Elective | 3 |
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| SOC Elective (300 or 400 level) | 3 |
Psychology (9 credits)
| PSY-150 | General Psychology | 3 |
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| PSY Elective | 3 |
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| PSY Elective | 3 |
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| PSY Elective (300 or 400 level) | 3 |
Declaring and Maintaining a Social Studies Major
In order to pursue a non-teaching Social Studies (SOS) major, students need to consult with the coordinator of the Department of History and Political Science and then declare a Social Studies (SOS) major in the Registrar's Office. Students majoring in Social Studies must maintain no less than a 2.25 GPA.
Declaring and Maintaining a Social Studies Education Major
Students desiring certification to teach social studies in the senior high/junior high/middle schools (grades 5-12) must take a Social Studies Education (SSE) major. In order to pursue a Social Studies Education (SSE) major, students need to consult with the coordinator of the Department of History and Political Science and with the director of secondary education in the School of Teacher Education and then declare a Social Studies Education (SSE) major in the Registrar's Office. Students majoring in Social Studies Education (SSE) must maintain no less than a 2.75 cumulative GPA and no less than a 3.00 major GPA in social studies education.
See the Education section of the catalog for a list of specific courses required for the Social Studies Education Major.
