Admission to the social studies teaching program is limited. Preference for admission to the program is given to students who have a 3.0 grade point average and who have had significant global, multicultural, civic, and community service experience. Students are encouraged to work closely with the social studies coordinator to prepare for admission to the program. Consequently, the program prepares students to teach all of the areas of the social studies with a concentration in one discipline. The program requires a minimum of 64 semester credits in social sciences and history.
Students take a set of courses that provides a broad base for teaching social studies.
Students select one of the seven disciplines in which they will concentrate their study. This set of courses offers the student greater depth and breadth of study in one discipline. Students enrolled in Sost 200 are introduced to secondary social studies teaching and begin the development of a professional portfolio. Students in Sost 450 learn about and practice methods of social studies teaching and curriculum development. In addition, students must complete 30 credits through the College of Education in education foundations, curriculum and instruction, student teaching and human relations.