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? Our social studies education major that 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 state.

Course Requirements in the Major

• INTRODUCTION TO EDUCATION
• 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 

Economics Option

• INTRODUCTION TO MICROECONOMICS
• INTRODUCTION TO MACROECONOMICS
• STATISTICAL METHODS 
  
• INTERMEDIATE MICROECONOMICS
• INTERMEDIATE MACROECONOMICS
• MONEY AND BANKING
  
• FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING CONCEPTS 
• CAPSTONE: ECONOMIC SYSTEMS

Applied Economic Elective (two courses)

•  POVERTY AND SOCIETY
•  ECONOMETRICS AND BUSINESS FORECASTING 
•  ECONOMICS OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT 
•  STATE AND REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 
•  AMERICAN ECONOMIC HISTORY 
•  LABOR ECONOMICS 

Sectoral Economics Elective (three courses)

•  INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATION 
•  PUBLIC FINANCE II 
•  INTERNATIONAL TRADE 
•  CORPORATE FINANCE 
•  PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING 
•  FINANCIAL MARKETS AND INSTITUTIONS 
•  INTERNATIONAL FINANCE 

History/Political Science Option

• U.S. HISTORY I
• U.S. HISTORY II
• 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)
• History Electives (6 cr)
• Upper-Level History Elective (3 cr)
• Upper-Level Political Science Elective (3 cr)

Human Relations Option

• INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
• PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
• PSYCHOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
• CAPSTONE: HUMAN RELATIONS: ANTHROPOLOGY
• INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY
• STATISTICAL METHODS or  STATISTICS: PSYCHOLOGY
• SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
• INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
• SOCIALIZATION
• SOCIAL RESEARCH
• Upper-Level ANTH, PSY, and SOC Electives (9 cr)
• DEVELOPMENT OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN (PSY) 

Psychology Option

• INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY
• STATISTICS
• DATA ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH WRITING
• EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
• CAPSTONE: PSYCHOLOGY
• SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
• ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
• INTRODUCTION TO BIODIVERSITY
• HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I
• PRECALCULUS
• Second College Level Math Course (3-4 cr)
• Upper-Level PSY Electives (6 cr)

Sociology Option

• INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
• SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY
• SOCIAL RESEARCH
• CAPSTONE: SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS
• Individual in Society (6 cr)
• Inequalities and Social Differences (6 cr)
• Social Institutions (6 cr)

Collateral Areas - courses defined on Degree Completion Forms (24 cr)

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.