SNHU’s social studies education curriculum pairs classroom knowledge and theory with significant field experience, including student teaching in your senior year. Here you will examine traditional, innovative and research-based approaches to teaching. Our graduates are prepared professionals with the passion and skills to make a difference in today’s secondary schools.
You will gain a broad and integrated liberal arts background and the techniques, knowledge and experience to help middle and junior and senior high school students develop to their highest potential.
Social studies certification covers primary areas of history, governments, economics, and geography, as well as secondary areas of psychology and sociology. The interdisciplinary program prepares you to teach in these areas.
Student Teaching
The program leads to teacher certification and culminates in a 16-week student teaching experience, where you will work full-time with an established teacher. Students apply for student teaching a year in advance and must complete all course requirements, including passing the PRAXIS II exam, before student teaching begins.
Required Core Courses
Education Required Courses
EDU-200: Introduction to Education
This course gives students an overview of American education through analysis of its historical and philosophical roots Contemporary issues in American education are emphasized Non education majors may use this course as a social science elective
EDU-208: Assessment Accountability and Teaching in the Classroom
This basic course for classroom teachers explores various techniques necessary for designing and implementing authentic measures to assess successful student learning
Prerequisites:
EDU-261,
EDU-235: Learning with Technology
This course develops students knowledge and skill with technology with the ultimate aim of using technology to enhance student learning and achievement This course also introduces students to learning target standards outcomes and a general model of curriculum development implementation and assessment Offered every fall and spring
EDU-326: Methods of Teaching Social Studies
This course helps to prepare students to teach history geography economics civics and social science areas in grades 5 through 12 A variety of teaching methods prepare students to write lessons and prepare standards based units that include other disciplines formative and summative assessments and differentiate instruction Students also prepare an action research proposal in this course TCP acceptance is required
Prerequisites:
EDU-318
EDU-490: Student Teaching and Seminar
All teacher education majors seeking certification will participate in 16 weeks of full time practice teaching at nearby schools During the 16 weeks the student teacher receives close and continuous supervision and guidance from teaching personnel at the school and by a member of the Southern New Hampshire University faculty This course also includes seminars at the university TCP acceptance is required
IT-100: Introduction to Information Technology
This is the fundamental computer fluency course required for all Southern New Hampshire University students It is designed to promote a working knowledge and understanding of computer information technology concepts skills and capabilities that support academic and professionally related goals and requirements Students learn about the application and science of information technology Concepts to master include the fundamentals of computer information technologies along with issues that affect people today such as Internet and other network technologies web publishing digital media hardware software file and database management information security viruses and spyware social impact as well as algorithmic thinking and the limits of computation Students develop capabilities such a managing complexity assessing the quality of information collaborating and communicating using IT anticipating technological change and thinking abstractly and critically about IT Students develop computer related skills in support of their college studies and career goals This is accomplished in part by the mastery of word processing spreadsheet presentation and database software
SPED-260: Children with Exceptionalities
This course provides students with deep understanding of children with disabilities and specific characteristics of disabilities and how they impact learning in the general curriculum Students will examine and be prepared to define ways in which such disabilities are diagnosed and possible strategies and techniques to include assistive technology to assist the student in the general classroom to the extent possible Tiered Support Systems will be discussed as a general education initiative that can serve the needs of all students Students will research resources available for families and schools to support the needs of disabled children The role of the family and school as partners will be developed as a critical technique to serve the needs of students as well as facilitating effective meetings and communication efforts that must be part of the role of special educator
Students may take EDU-235 or IT-100.
History Concentration Major Courses
ECO-202: Macroeconomics
This course explores the manner in which the overall levels of output income employment and prices are determined in a capitalist economy The focus is on the forces that act to shape these factors and determine their fluctuations The role of government fiscal and monetary policy in influencing the level of economic activity is also a major area of study The impact of international transactions on the domestic economy also is discussed
Prerequisites:
MAT-130,
ENV-219: Environmental Issues
Students in this course examine major environmental problems to make them aware of current and potential environmental issues from the perspectives of society business and the individual Global marker
GEO-200: World Geography
This course examines the implications of global location and topography for the people of planet Earth Students will explore how geography shapes the dynamics of human societies with an emphasis on the geoenvironmental geopolitical and geosocial phenomena that help to define the modern world Global marker
HIS-109: Western Civilization to 1500
This course offers an overview of the major developments in Western history from antiquity to the discovery of the New World Students will examine the ancient world Greece Rome the European medieval period and the Italian Renaissance Required for majors in history and social studies education with a concentration in history Writing Intensive Course
HIS-110: Western Civilization since 1500
This course traces the growth of Western history from the 16th century and the rise of the nation state through the modern era The ideologies and political developments that shaped modern Europe receive careful study Required for majors in history and social studies education with a concentration in history Writing Intensive Course
HIS-114: United States History II 1865 Present
The second half of the United States history survey course covers the period following the Civil War The economic political and ideological developments that allowed the United States to attain a position of the world leadership are closely examined Required for majors in History and Social Studies Education with a concentration in History
HIS-301: World History and Culture
This course is designed to offer the student a historical and cultural understanding of Africa India China and Japan in their interactions with the western world Offered every year in the fall Recommended for majors in History and Social Studies Education with a concentration in History Global marker
HIS-314: European Conquest of New World
This course will explore the social and intellectual impact of the discovery of the American continents on the European mind and the consequences of colonization and migration in North America 1500 1800 Emphasis will be on British colonies and competing European cultures especially French and Spanish with Native Americans and African Americans Students will focus on three areas cultural exchange economic exchange and hostility conquest Required for majors in social studies education with concentration in history Not available every semester
HIS-319: African American History since the Civil War
This course traces the changes in labor practices politics and living conditions of the millions of African Americans in the South after the Civil War Further the Great Migration the civil rights movement and the black revolutionary movement will be investigated carefully Not available every semester
HIS-321: The Ancient World of Greece and Rome
This course will begin by looking at the heritage of Greek civilization and the thinkers who first struggled with the fundamental issues concerning mankind life love suffering courage endurance and death The course will continue with the immediate inheritors of Greek thought the Romans By assessing Roman achievements of empire building and expansion students will discover a vital civilization that ruled the known world through the force of its armies and the attraction of its culture The course will end with the development of Christianity and the fall of the Classical World Required for majors in social studies education with a concentration in history Not available every semester
HIS-340: Making History
This course is founded upon a fundamental yet complex question what is history The course investigates this question by examining the various kinds of history witnessing the myriad ways of communicating historical stories and arguments ranging from the scholarly monograph to the town square statue to the museum exhibit and learning how historians of all types actually make history through close rational analysis of historical sources In the process students will learn that history is an ever evolving craft central to the life of every society
HIS-357: American Slavery
This course explores the colonial and national experience of Africans and African Americans through 1865 Particular attention is given to a general understanding of African history the trans Atlantic slave trade slave life in the Caribbean and the American South the role of free blacks in both northern and southern colonies and states antebellum abolitionist and proslavery arguments and the consequences of emancipation Also addressed will be the debate over whether Africans African Americans were active agents or passive participants in early American history
PSY-211: Lifespan Development
Students in this course study physical and psychological development from the prenatal period to death Patterns of human development also are considered Offered every year
Prerequisites:
PSY-108
SCI-212: Principles of Physical Science I
Various concepts within the physical sciences are discussed ranging from the teachings of Aristotle to the theories of Einstein Topics include the influence of the scientific method in generating knowledge the contributions of Galileo Copernicus Newton Kepler and others concerning energy forces and motion gravity the solar system and cosmology and relativity
SCI-219: Environmental Issues
This course covers a variety of environmental topics in a manner specifically designed for the non science major It provides a fundamental understanding of the various processes necessary to support life on Earth and examines how human activities and attitudes individual traditional cultural and others generate environmental issues that threaten these processes Topics include ecology populations agriculture desertification and deforestation water and ocean pollution air pollution including ozone depletion solid and hazardous wastes energy including fossil fuels and nuclear power economies and sustainability This course is cross listed as ENV 219
Students may take HIS-319 or HIS-357, as well as, ENV-219 or SCI-219.
University Accreditation
SNHU is a fully accredited university. Access our list of accreditations. More...
