Social Studies Teaching Major BS
(Social Studies Licensure Grades 5-12 )
The BS in Social Studies Teaching Option is designed to provide students with both a strong foundation in social science disciplines and the intellectual skills necessary for excellence as an urban school teacher, grades 5 through 12. The major meets the Minnesota Board of Teaching standards for social studies and combined with the program offered through the university's Urban Education Program, provides a path to licensure as a social studies teacher, grades 5-12.
The Social Studies Major (Urban Teacher Program) begins with several basic assumptions about the attributes of an effective social science teacher:
- Effective social studies teachers share with other liberally educated people the ability to think critically and communicate fluently.
- Effective social studies teachers care deeply about their subject and are able to convey that passion and interest to their students.
- Effective social studies teachers are interdisciplinary; they can synthesize and apply core concepts from a variety of social science fields to enhance their own and their students understanding of a topic or subject area.
- Effective social studies teachers have developed a sociological imagination: they are able to link personal experience with larger socioeconomic forces and help their students do the same.
- Effective social studies teachers are culturally reflective and aware; they are willing to engage in an ongoing process of reflection and analysis of the social and cultural roots of their own values, behaviors and beliefs, and those of the students and community they will be working with.
- Effective social studies teachers are empowered; they are able to think realistically and hopefully about ways citizens can act positively to change their communities.
- Effective social studies teachers have acquired the passion and tools for life long learning.
Acceptance to the Program
To be eligible for acceptance to the Social Studies Teaching major (Grades 5-12), students must submit a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Program Declaration Form when they have completed all of the requirements from the Guide to Admission in the Urban Teacher Program.
Major Requirements (43-46 total credits)
Foundation Courses (21-22 credits)
Students are required to complete 9 credits from at least two disciplines in the foundation area for admission to the Urban Teacher Program. The following three courses are required:
- GEOG 201 Introduction to Geography
- POL 101 Introduction to American Government and Politics
- SSCI 100 Introduction to Social Science
Choose three of the following history courses:
- HIST 101 The American Past: To 1865
- HIST 102 The American Past: From 1865
- HIST 103 World History I: Patterns of Civilization to 1500
- HIST 104 World History II: The Modern World, 1500 to the Present
Choose one of the following courses:
Core Courses (18-20 credits)
Choose one of the following courses:
Choose one of the following courses:
- ETHS 302 Immigration and the New World
- ETHS 309 Race and Public Policy
- ETHS 311 Understanding Racial and Ethnic Groups in the United States
Choose one of the following courses:
Both of the following courses are required:
Note: Students should complete at least two lower division history courses before taking HIST 301.
Capstone Course (4 credits)
Students are required to complete at least 30 credits in the major before taking the following required course:
Teaching Licensure Grades 5-12
Students completing the teaching major who wish to earn Minnesota Teaching Licensure for secondary education (grades 5-12) can do so by completing additional course work and student teaching through the university's Urban Teacher Program. Please note that the university's Education Department has the primary responsibility for recommending students for licensure. For more information, visit the Grades 5-12 licensure for Urban Secondary Education page in the catalog.
