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Social Studies Area with Teacher Certification (Secondary) – Bachelor of Arts

The Social Studies Area with Teacher Certification (secondary) prepares students for teacher certification at the secondary level (grades 8 through 12) in at least four social studies teaching fields. There is no non-teaching program. This program aligns with trends in teacher certification that foster streamlining of certification requirements and procedures. A minimum of nine semester hours in a teaching field is required for certification in Kentucky. This program consists of 60 hours of credit in history and related social sciences. Students should work closely with an advisor to receive approval for the exact content of their program of study in this program area.

Program Competencies

Students are expected to possess:

  1. The capacity to teach at the secondary level in at least three social studies disciplines, including history.
  2. Awareness of the social, political and economic systems that comprise contemporary societies as well as the growing interdependencies between societies as mediated by a global economy and shared concern for the physical environment.
  3. The ability to integrate and synthesize knowledge across disciplinary boundaries in order to accumulate realistic understanding of global, national and local issues.
  4. The ability to recognize and value the varied nature of the human condition across individuals and culture groups through the practice of social/historical analysis.
  5. The ability to express methods of social science investigation, conduct original studies and present findings of those investigations in written and oral format.
  6. The ability to assess and use electronic databases, information sites and various online resources, and to use various instructional and presentation programs.

Assessment

  1. National Teachers Examination (PRAXIS)
  2. Performance during professional semester
  3. Capstone Course

TEP Admission Requirements

Candidates must meet the following requirements before applying to the Teacher Education Program (TEP):
  1. GPA and course requirements
    1. Active enrollment at MSU - In pursuit of completing a program leading to teacher certification
    2. Completion of minimum semester hours
      • 30 hours for P-5, Middle Grades or Special Education
      • 45 hours for secondary, 5-12 or P-12 programs
    3. Minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale - All college courses attempted must be part of the applicant's MSU transcript. All transfer courses, as well as MSU credit, are used in calculating GPA. There is no rounding up.
    4. Completion of the following five core courses with grades of "C" or better
  2. Testing Requirements - Students applying for the TEP at MSU must obtain the following scores on the PRAXIS pre-professional skills (PPST) assessments:
    1. Pre-Professional Skills Test: Mathematics - 174 AND
    2. Pre-Professional SKills Test: Reading - 176 AND
    3. Pre-Professional Skills Test: Writing - 174
  3. Field Experience Requirement
    1. For P-5 program candidates only, completion of 24 external field experience hours.

Program Requirements

General Education

EDF 211Human Growth and Development (SBS2)

3
EDSE 499DTeaching Social Studies*

3
Total Credit Hours:36

EDSE 499D: Offered fall semesters only and must be completed prior to professional semester.

Refer to the General Education section for a complete listing of general education requirements for the University.

Area Core Requirements

ECON 101Introduction to Economics

3
EDSE 451Curriculum and Instruction for Social Studies*

3
GEO 103Physical Geography

3
GEO 201Map Interpretation and Analysis

3
GEO 300World Geography

3
POLS 140United States Government

3
HST 260American History to 1865

3
HST 261American History since 1865

3
HST 271World History since 1500

3
HST 300Practicing History

3
Total Credit Hours:30

Area Electives

Economics

Choose one of the following:
ECON 201Principles of Macroeconomics

3
ECON 202Principles of Microeconomics

3
Total Credit Hours:3

History

HST 301-306 or HST 351 or HST 352(choose one)

3
HST 311-320 or HST 372(choose one)

3
HST 321-326 or HST 311 or HST 375(choose one)

3
HST 340-350(choose one)

3
Total Credit Hours:12

Geography

GEO electivesChoose 3 hours from GEO

3
Total Credit Hours:3

Political Science

Choose one of the following:
POLS 110Introduction to Political Theory

3
POLS 230Introduction to Comparative Politics

3
POLS 242State and Local Government

3
Total Credit Hours:3
Choose one of the following:
POLS 311Politics, Justice and the Good Life

3
POLS 312Western Political Thought

3
POLS 314American Political Thought

3
POLS 316Political Ideologies

3
POLS 317Feminist Political Thought

3
POLS 318Contemporary Political Thought

3
POLS 319Islamic Political Thought

3
POLS 321Constitutional Law: Governmental Powers

3
POLS 322Courts and Civil Liberties

3
POLS 324Environmental Law and Policy

3
POLS 328Law, Government and Privacy in the Internet Age

3
POLS 329Comparative Constitutional Law and Politics

3
POLS 330European Parliamentary Democracies

3
POLS 331Politics of the Middle East and North Africa

3
POLS 332Politics of Latin America and the Caribbean

3
POLS 333Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa

3
POLS 334Politics of Russia and Eastern Europe

3
POLS 335Politics of Development and Democratization

3
POLS 336North American Politics: United States and Canada

3
POLS 337Politics of Asia

3
POLS 338Politics of Transition

3
POLS 342The American Presidency

3
POLS 343Political Parties and Elections

3
POLS 344Kentucky Government

3
POLS 350Political Behavior

3
POLS 352American Public Policy

3
POLS 354African-American Politics

3
POLS 388Comparative Foreign Policy

3
Total Credit Hours:3
Choose one of the following:
POLS 360International Relations

3
POLS 362Current World Problems

3
POLS 365United Nations and World Organizations

3
POLS 367Politics of International Economic Relations

3
POLS 368Human Rights and Global Justice

3
Total Credit Hours:3

Professional Education Requirements

EDF 207Foundations of Education

3
EDF 211Human Growth and Development

3
EDF 311Learning Theories, Assessment and Diversity*

3
EDSE 312Educational Methods and Technology*

3
EDSE 483Classroom Organization and Management for Secondary Teachers*

3
EDSP 230Education of Exceptional Children

3
EDSE 416Clinical Practice*

12
EDUC 476Content Area Literacy*

3
Total Credit Hours:30

Note: Refer to the College of Education for information on application to the Teacher Education Program and application for Clinical Practice.

Total Credit Hours: 123