About this program
Program accreditation
This program is accredited by the Minnesota Professional Education and Licensing Standards Board (PELSB) to meet the content standards associated with teaching licensure in this subject area.
Why Social Studies for Teaching?
The Social Studies for Teaching Major (BS) is ideal for students who wish to become a social studies teacher (grades 5-12). The major is designed to provide students with both a strong foundation in social science disciplines and the intellectual skills necessary for excellence as a social studies teacher, grades 5 through 12.
The Social Studies for Teaching major is committed to the following principles; that effective social studies teachers:
- share with other liberally educated people the ability to think critically and communicate
- care deeply about their subject and are able to convey that passion and interest to their students.
- 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.
- have developed a sociological imagination: they are able to link personal experience with larger socioeconomic forces and help their students do the same.
- 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.
- are empowered; they are able to think realistically and hopefully about ways citizens can act positively to change their communities.
- have acquired the passion and tools for lifelong learning.
What will I do in the major?
Social Studies for Teaching (BS) majors must take a structured course sequence—both lower and upper division—to ensure they have met state board standards in the following areas of study:
- History
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Anthropology
- Geography
- Economics
- Ethnic Studies
What can I do with the degree?
Completing the Social Studies for Teaching (BS) prepares students to be a social studies teacher (5-12). In order to become a licensed teacher, however, students must complete a licensure program approved by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB), formerly known as the Minnesota Board of Teaching. For more information and for a complete list of all licensure programs in Minnesota, visit PELSB's website.
Student outcomes
The learning outcomes for this major provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities to enter the 21st-century teacher to:
- know and understand the essential concepts of social studies
- comprehend the historical foundations, theoretical paradigms, and research methods of social studies - to develop higher order thinking skills by analyzing and interpreting social studies literature;
- write analytically in a style that is informed, well-reasoned, and literate;
- recognize and understand differences of gender and sexual orientation, race and ethnicity, religion, and social class;
- understand and utilize a global perspective; and
- become advocates and leaders in their communities as future teachers