Thinking about being a social studies teacher one day? Would you like to introduce students to new cultures? Give them history lessons? Teach them about government? Then our social studies education major might be just right for you. 

As a social studies education major, you take all the necessary education and social studies-related courses to prepare you to lead your own classroom. But, it won’t be all classroom work. You’ll also get a chance to student teach in a middle school or high school class. 

When you graduate, you’ll be prepared to earn your teacher certification. Most of the students in our program seek teacher certification in Pennsylvania or New York.

All courses in the major must be completed with a C- or higher and a 3.0 grade point average must be maintained, in the major and overall.  

Course Requirements in the Major 

• INTRODUCTION TO EDUCATION 
•    INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY 
• SECONDARY METHODS 
• DEVELOPMENT OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN 
• EDUCATING EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN 
• EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY AND MEASUREMENT 
• READING AND WRITING IN THE CONTENT CURRICULUM 
• EDUCATION PRACTICUM I 
• EDUCATION PRACTICUM II 
• EDUCATION PRACTICUM III 
• STUDENT TEACHING 

The following education courses are also required for those students who complete the degree after January of 2013

• ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS 
• SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW 

All social studies education majors must complete the following core content courses 

• U.S. HISTORY I 
• U.S. HISTORY II 

Two courses from the following list: (6 cr) 

• Europe in the 18th Century 
• Europe in the 19th Century 
• Europe in the 20th Century 
• Medieval Europe 
• Renaissance/Reformation Europe
   

• PS course in American Government & Politics (3 cr)
• PS course in Comparative Government & Politics (3 cr)
• PS course in International Politics (3 cr)
• PS course in Political Theory (3 cr)
• CAPSTONE: HISTORY or  CAPSTONE: POLITICAL SCIENCE 

Required Electives
 

• Upper-Level History Elective (3 cr)
• Upper-Level Political Science Elective (3 cr)
• Upper-Level History or Political Science elective (3 cr)
• Math (Second college-level math class required) (3-4 cr)
   

Collateral Areas -  24 credits with at least one course in each area 

• Anthropology (ANTH 3 cr)
   
• Geography (GEOG 3 cr)
   
• Economics (ECON 3 cr)
   
• Psychology (PSY 0101 3 cr)
   
• Sociology (SOC 3 cr)
   
• Two upper-level required collateral electives (6 cr) choose from ANTH, ECON, GEOG, PSY, and SOC.
   

Total Credits for Major: 124 

You must formally apply to be admitted to the teacher certification program after you have completed 60 credits.

Requirements for admission include successfully passing the appropriate PRAXIS I tests, maintaining a 3.0 overall GPA and receiving no lower than a C- in any course. Letters of recommendation as well as a survey are part of the application process. Admission to the program does not guarantee certification but the program is designed to help teacher candidates meet the Pennsylvania Department of Education teacher certification requirements.