Secondary Social Studies (BS Ed)

Degree and Certification

This degree is a bachelor of science in education in secondary education with an emphasis in social studies.

Additionally, upon successfully completing the initial teacher-certification process, the state grants you certification in secondary social studies (grades 9 through 12).

Program of Study

This program encompasses three areas of study:

Phase I: Freshman – Sophomore Year

Course work

The majority of your time in Phase I is spent completing your general-education requirements. Additionally, you start social studies content courses like political science or western civilizations.

Coursework through the College of Education focuses on facilitating learning at all levels of development. Consideration is given to the influences of cultural, political, historical and economic factors on students, teachers and schools.

Field Experiences

Field experiences in Phase I include:

  • Sixteen hours in a classroom environment tutoring and working with students in small groups under teacher supervision.
  • Twenty hours in a service-learning environment serving in community organizations (e.g., Big Brothers Big Sisters, Granny’s House).

Phase II: Junior Year – First Semester Senior year

You must apply for admittance into Phase II in the spring of your sophomore year. For more information about the application process, please consult your adviser.

Course Work

Course work consists of learning the methods of teaching social studies. This includes understanding the nature of social studies, strategies for assessing social studies learning and pathways for developing into a social studies teacher. Inquiry courses focus on how problems of schools, family, community and society affect educators, classroom management and special needs learners.

Field Experiences:

You will spend approximately 24 hours per semester in learning labs or social studies classrooms.

Phase III: Second Semester Senior Year

You are assigned to a high school social studies classroom for a 16-week, full-time internship under the mentorship of an experienced high school social studies teacher.