The Social Studies Program is available for students who plan to teach social studies at the high school level. Social Studies Program students develop their content knowledge through history and social studies courses in the College of Arts and Sciences, learn teaching and assessment skills through certification courses in the College of Education, and gain real world experience in the classroom through internship and practicums at area schools. Students who satisfactorily complete the program requirements also meet the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education teacher certification requirements for secondary social studies. Future employment can be found in public schools and private schools.
Students who already have a Bachelor's degree in one of the social studies content areas and are interested in becoming licensed teachers may earn post-baccalaureate teacher certification in Secondary Social Studies.
To review this program’s national accreditation, please follow this link to review our AAQEP accreditation report.
To determine if this program meets the reciprocity requirements for like state educational certification programs outside the state of Missouri, follow this link for further contact information and resources.
The Bachelor’s of Science in Secondary Education degree prepares students to teach in secondary school settings, grades 9-12. This program requires the selection and completion of required coursework in a specific content area.
B.S.Ed. degree candidates must complete the following General Education requirements and Graduation requirements of the University as outlined in this Bulletin.
The courses listed below fulfill General Education requirements and best prepare students for advanced education coursework and licensure exams.
Core Areas: | ||
First Year Writing | ||
ENGL 1100 | First-Year Writing (MOTR ENGL 200) | 3 |
Communication Proficiency | ||
EDUC 2222 | Interpretation: Connecting Audiences and Meaning | 3 |
or COMM 1040 | Introduction to Public Speaking (MOTR COMM 110) | |
Math Proficiency | ||
MATH 1020 | Contemporary Mathematics (MOTR MATH 120) | 3 |
or MATH 1030 | College Algebra (MOTR MATH 130) | |
Information Literacy | ||
ED TECH 2230 | Information Literacy | 3 |
American History or Government | ||
POL SCI 1100 | Introduction to American Politics (MOTR POSC 101) | 3 |
or HIST 1001 | American Civilization to 1865 (MOTR HIST 101) | |
Humanities and Fine Arts | ||
Choose any 9 hours from approved fields. | 9 | |
Social Science | ||
Choose any 9 hours. At least one course must meet the cultural diversity requirement | 9 | |
Math and Life/Natural Sciences | ||
Choose any 9 hours. | 9 | |
Junior Level Writing | ||
ENGL 3100 | Junior-Level Writing | 3 |
Total Hours | 45 |
All students in the B.S.Ed. in Secondary Education program are required to take the following Teacher Education courses. Each student must also select a content area and complete the required courses and certification assessments for that area as specified by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Professional Education courses must be completed with a grade of C or better (courses completed with a grade of C- or below must be retaken).
Beginning with those students graduating in May 2017 who will also receive teaching certification, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requires a 3.0 GPA in professional education courses, a 3.0 GPA in the teaching content field, and a 2.75 overall GPA.
Students must pass the required DESE certification assessments to receive the B.S.Ed. degree.
The following courses must be completed prior to applying for admission to the teacher education program:
TCH ED 1000 | Building Community, Culture, and Learning in Education | 1 |
TCH ED 1001 | Early Clinical Experience: Community Agency | 1 |
TCH ED 2000 | Becoming a Professional Educator | 1 |
TCH ED 2001 | Early Clinical Experience: Schools | 1 |
TCH ED 2209 | Foundations of Teaching in American Schools | 2 |
ED PSY 2212 | Child and Adolescent Development | 3 |
Total Hours | 9 |
The following courses are completed after acceptance into the teacher education program:
TCH ED 3001 | Mid-Level Clinical Experience: Diverse Learners | 1 |
ED PSY 3312 | Psychology of Learning, Instruction, and Assessment | 3 |
TCH ED 3310 | Introduction to Methods of Teaching | 3 |
SPEC ED 3318 | Inclusive Classrooms | 3 |
TCH ED 4391 | Literacy for Adolescent Learners in Content Areas | 3 |
SEC ED 4880 | Writing for Teachers 1 | 3 |
Total Hours | 16 |
SEC ED 4880 is not required for foreign language emphasis areas.
In addition to the above courses, students must complete 30-50 hours of required coursework in one specific content area (English , French K-12, Spanish K-12, mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, or social studies), as well as the appropriate methods course:
SEC ED 4011 | The Curriculum And Methods Of Teaching History And Social Studies | 3 |
SEC ED 4240 | Curriculum and Methods of Teaching Physical Sciences | 3 |
SEC ED 4589 | Curriculum and Methods of Teaching Foreign Languages | 3 |
SEC ED 4646 | The Curriculum And Methods Of Teaching Math | 3 |
SEC ED 4885 | The Curriculum And Methods Of Teaching English | 3 |
SEC ED 4985 | Curriculum and Methods of Teaching Life Sciences | 3 |
The program will culminate in the following practicum courses:
SEC ED 4989 | Practicum I: Site-Based Experience | 3 |
SEC ED 4990 | Practicum II: Site-Based Experience | 12 |
Total Credit Hours: 120 Minimum
Certification students must complete a major or an equivalent in hours in one of the following disciplines: anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, or sociology. They must meet these minimum social science requirements: