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:
- The capacity to teach at the secondary level in at least three social studies disciplines, including history.
- 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.
- The ability to integrate and synthesize knowledge across disciplinary boundaries in order to accumulate realistic understanding of global, national and local issues.
- 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.
- The ability to express methods of social science investigation, conduct original studies and present findings of those investigations in written and oral format.
- The ability to assess and use electronic databases, information sites and various online resources, and to use various instructional and presentation programs.
Assessment
- National Teachers Examination (PRAXIS)
- Performance during professional semester
- Capstone Course
TEP Admission Requirements
Candidates must meet the following requirements before applying to the Teacher Education Program (TEP):
- GPA and course requirements
- Active enrollment at MSU - In pursuit of completing a program leading to teacher certification
- 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
- 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.
- Completion of the following five core courses with grades of "C" or better
- ENG 100 - Writing I
- COMS 108 - Fundamentals of Speech Communication
- MATH General Education Core Course
- EDF 207 - Foundations of Education
- EDF 211 - Human Growth and Development
- Testing Requirements - Students applying for the TEP at MSU must obtain the following scores on the PRAXIS pre-professional skills (PPST) assessments:
- Pre-Professional Skills Test: Mathematics - 174 AND
- Pre-Professional Skills Test: Reading - 176 AND
- Pre-Professional Skills Test: Writing - 174
- Field Experience Requirement
- For P-5 program candidates only, completion of 24 external field experience hours.
Program Requirements
General Education
Refer to the General Education section for a complete listing of general education requirements for the University. Program requirements that are also general education requirements will count in both places (as applicable). Students must earn a "C" or better in ENG 100, COMS 108, and the GNED Math core. View the TEP Handbook at www.moreheadstate.edu/TEP for additional information.
Area Core Requirements
EDSE 499D: Offered fall semesters only and must be completed prior to professional semester.
Area Electives
Economics
History
Geography
Political Science
Choose one of the following:
| POLS 110 | Introduction to Political Theory | 3 |
| POLS 230 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
| POLS 242 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Choose one of the following:
| POLS 311 | Politics, Justice and the Good Life | 3 |
| POLS 312 | Classical and Medieval Political Thought | 3 |
| POLS 314 | American Political Thought | 3 |
| POLS 316 | Modern Political Thought | 3 |
| POLS 317 | Feminist Political Thought | 3 |
| POLS 318 | Contemporary Political Thought | 3 |
| POLS 319 | Islamic Political Thought | 3 |
| POLS 321 | Constitutional Law: Governmental Powers | 3 |
| POLS 322 | Courts and Civil Liberties | 3 |
| POLS 324 | Environmental Law and Policy | 3 |
| POLS 328 | Law, Government and Privacy in the Internet Age | 3 |
| POLS 329 | Comparative Constitutional Law and Politics | 3 |
| POLS 330 | European Parliamentary Democracies | 3 |
| POLS 331 | Politics of the Middle East and North Africa | 3 |
| POLS 332 | Politics of Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 |
| POLS 333 | Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa | 3 |
| POLS 334 | Politics of Russia and Eastern Europe | 3 |
| POLS 335 | Politics of Development and Democratization | 3 |
| POLS 336 | North American Politics: United States and Canada | 3 |
| POLS 337 | Politics of Asia | 3 |
| POLS 338 | Politics of Transition | 3 |
| POLS 342 | The American Presidency | 3 |
| POLS 343 | Political Parties and Elections | 3 |
| POLS 344 | Kentucky Government | 3 |
| POLS 350 | Political Behavior | 3 |
| POLS 352 | American Public Policy | 3 |
| POLS 354 | African-American Politics | 3 |
| POLS 388 | Comparative Foreign Policy | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Choose one of the following:
| POLS 360 | International Relations | 3 |
| POLS 362 | Current World Problems | 3 |
| POLS 365 | United Nations and World Organizations | 3 |
| POLS 367 | Politics of International Economic Relations | 3 |
| POLS 368 | Human Rights and Global Justice | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Professional Education Requirements
| EDF 207 | Foundations of Education | 3 |
| EDF 211 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| EDF 311 | Learning Theories, Assessment and Diversity* | 3 |
| EDSE 312 | Educational Methods and Technology* | 3 |
| EDSE 483 | Classroom Organization and Management for Secondary Teachers* | 3 |
| EDSP 230 | Education of Exceptional Children | 3 |
| EDSE 416 | Clinical Practice* | 12 |
| EDUC 476 | Content Area Literacy* | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 33 |
Note: Refer to the College of Education for information on application to the Teacher Education Program and application for Clinical Practice.
Free Electives
Total Credit Hours: 120