Students in SNHU’s history and social studies education double major complete requirements for a history degree as well as the social studies teacher education degree, with only nine more credits required for a single major.
We pair 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
History 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,
FAS-202: Introduction to Humanities II
This course offers vocabulary understanding and appreciation of the visual arts in their cultural contexts in history religion literature music and ideas It focuses on the cultural periods of the Baroque the Enlightenment Romanticism and Early Modernism while also exploring related issues in non European cultures May be taken independently of FAS 201
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
HIS-460: History Research Seminar
This capstone course requires each student to design and craft his her own written research project In close consultation with the instructor each student will select a topic discover relevant primary and secondary sources evaluate and analyze those sources and develop an argument based paper as a result of that process Class limit 15 students
Prerequisites:
HIS-340
LIT-201: World Lit I Foundations of Culture
This course explores both early European classical and medieval cultures as well as the great non European cultures of Asia Africa and the Americas The material covered will vary but readings will focus on a major theme such as the hero the role of women ethical values views of nature or focus on an important common genre such as epic or lyric poetry Not available every semester Global marker
Prerequisites:
ENG-120
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
Students may select HIS-319 or HIS-357.
FAS ELE - Students may select one Fine Arts elective.
HIS ELE - Students may select one History elective.
Social Studies Certification 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-271: Methods of Teaching Secondary Education
This course teaches students how to develop effective strategies for delivering content knowledge consistent with standards based learning Strategies and delivery methods include constructivism differentiation peer group learning cross curricular lesson planning and writing across the curriculum Students will promote literacy in the content areas by developing lesson plans that incorporate cognitive strategies for reading writing speaking and viewing
EDU-312: Writing Workshop for Educators
This class is designed to help future teachers to fine tune their own writing while they learn ways to incorporate writing into their teaching The course inspires future teachers to enjoy the possibilities of writing in their classrooms so their students will also An examination of a wide array of useful classroom approaches will promote better reading and learning and support differentiation Well designed writing assessments promote critical thinking as well as higher levels of literacy Topics will include prewriting techniques using art and music to promote writing unlocking the secret to assigning interesting and useful journals techniques for painless peer editing practices that streamline grading of papers and how to find and incorporate excellent models for writing
Prerequisites:
EDU-200
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
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
University Accreditation
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