Social Studies Secondary Education, B.A., with Second Major in History

A dual major in Social Studies Secondary Education and in History is offered by the Middle/Secondary Education Program in the School of Education and Social Work and by the Department of History and Politics in the School of Arts and Letters. This is an outcome-based B.A. degree program approved by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board. It provides eligibility for Social Studies licensure for grades 5-12. The program requires the completion and assessment of outcomes in the social sciences (anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, sociology); the integration of these disciplines; and experiential teacher education. All Social Studies Secondary Education majors earn a double major in History by completing the 32 History credits that are required for teaching licensure in Social Studies. The double major designates that the Social Studies Secondary Education curriculum provides History content equivalent to the stand-alone History major in the School of Arts and Letters (which requires 36 credits in History but no Education courses). The dual-major program provides both the in-depth subject-matter content and the pedagogical practice (field experience) that are equally necessary for effective Social Studies teaching. Graduates of the program are very well prepared for teaching careers.

Contact Information

historypolitics@css.edu

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of a Social Studies Middle/Secondary Education degree, students will:

1. Practice critical reflection in the analysis and improvement of their teaching.
2. Demonstrate a sound foundation of content knowledge in the subject areas they teach.
3. Understand and implement best practices in their teaching.
4. Demonstrate the dispositions critical to effective teaching.
5. Practice responsive teaching that meets the diverse needs of all students in their classrooms.
6. Collaborate effectively with stakeholders (e.g. parents, K-12 administrators, community members) to enhance student learning.

Requirements 

Students must achieve the following program requirements for all courses listed under Program Requirements and Program Required Courses for the Social Studies Secondary Education major with a second major in History.

Program Requirements

Major Credits: 100-101
Major Residency Credits: 16
Minimum GPA: 2.8
Minimum Grade: C

Program Required Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
History Core Courses
HIS 1101	World History I	4
or HIS 1104	World History II: Since 1492
HIS 1110	History of the United States I	4
HIS 1111	History of the United States II	4
HIS 2201	American Indian History I	4
or NAS 2201	American Indian History I
HIS 3210	Historical and Cultural Theory	4
HIS 3214	The World Since 1945	4
HIS 3327	U.S. Economic History	4
History Electives/Seminar 1
HIS 4777	Topics in History (History Seminar)	4
or HIS 4999	Independent Study
Additional Core Content
GSJ 2231	Cultural Anthropology	4
HUM 1174	Introduction to Geography	4
POL 2001	Introduction to Political Science	4
or POL 3331	American Government
PSY 1105	General Psychology	4
SOC 1125	General Sociology	4
Methods Course(s)
EDU 3343	Secondary Social Studies Educa	4
Secondary Education Courses 2		44-45
Total Credits		100-101

¹

Students can choose to complete any HIS 3000-level or 4000-level course not already completed in the History Core Courses to meet this requirement. Students who select a 3000-level course will register for it as HIS 4999 Independent Study with program director assistance. The chosen 3000-level course will be enhanced to include an additional research paper.

²

Social Studies Secondary Education and History students should also review the Middle/Secondary and K-12 Education Licensure Program requirements published by the Education Department for required coursework in education.

Degree Requirements

To graduate from The College of St. Scholastica, baccalaureate students must meet the following minimum degree requirements.

Total Credits: 120
Upper Division Credits: 40
Residency Requirement: 30
Minimum GPA: 2.0