Social Studies Education

Overview

Prospective social studies teachers gain knowledge of the social sciences as disciplines. This includes ways of structuring knowledge and curriculum, typesof analytical questions, methods of advancing knowledge, major competing theories, the changing nature of fields, and ways of keeping current with developments in the fields. Prospective teachers learn how to integrate and apply this knowledge to the development and evaluation of curriculum and instructional materials and to their own work in the classroom.

The purpose of teaching social studies in the secondary school is threefold: (1) to give secondary students a useful selection from what is known, facts and generalizations, about human social experience, interaction, and behavior; (2) to give secondary students a foundation for social studies perspectives which will assist them in understanding self and others; and, (3) to give secondary students a foundation for appreciating and critically evaluating claims of knowledge about human social experience, interaction, and behavior.

Requirements for the Major

Approval for a major in Social Studies Education is part of the application for acceptance into the Teacher Education Program. An interview for program planning is required. Inquire at the Education Department office.

(a) The minimum requirements for the primary core of study in each of the five participating departments are as follows:

Economics:

Economics 261 and 262, plus three Economic Analysis Courses. Statistics 263 required.

History:

History 201 and another course in European history; Hist ory 205 and 206; at least one course from African, Asian or Latin American history.

Political Science: Political Science 111 or 116; 113 or 121; 118; 232 or 384; 259 or 260.

Psychology:

Psychology 121 and 388; one of 235, 236 or 237; one of 241 or 242; one of 249 or 264; one of 371, 372, 375, 385, 389, 391 or 392.

Sociology/Anthropology:

Sociology/Anthropology 121, 128, 247, plus two electives from Level II or III; highly recommended are Sociology/Anthropology 235, 236, and 259.

(b) The three-course secondary core is in one of the remaining four disciplines and, with the exception of History and Psychology, is unspecified. However, certain courses may not be acceptable. See department liaison officials for details. In History the core requires: History 205 and 206, and one course in African, Asian, European or Latin American history. In Psychology, the core requires Psychology 121, 241, and 388.

(c) The supporting core consists of five courses: Geography 232; Education 384; three courses, one each from Economics, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology/Anthropology except the areas already chosen for the primary and secondary cores of study. Also, strongly recommended: American Racial and Multicultural Studies 121.

Courses