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.
TEP Admission Requirements
Students seeking teacher certification must apply for and be admitted to the Teacher Education Program (TEP). Additionally, to enroll in the clinical practice and meet state certification requirements, students must maintain a GPA of 2.75 overall (in all course work), as well as in professional education courses, with no grade lower than a "C" in professional education courses.
Courses marked with an asterisk (*) require admission to the Teacher Education Program.
Program Requirements
- Admission to MSU with an assigned academic advisor.
- Pursuance of program completion leading to teacher certification.
- Completion of at least 30 credit hours.
- Minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale; or a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on the last thirty (30) credit hours. All college courses attempted must be a part of the applicant's MSU transcript. Transcripts must reflect all transfer coursework completed to date. All transfer courses, as well as MSU credit, are used in calculating the GPA.
- Completion of the following five core courses with grades of “C” or better:
- ENG 100 – Writing I
- Mathematics General Education Requirement, as required by program
- COMS 108 – Fundamentals of Speech Communication
- EDF 207 – Foundations of Education (CTE and Agriculture Teaching candidates may substitute CTE 207) or UTCH 100 (MSUTeach programs)
- EDF 211 – Human Growth and Development (IECE candidates may substitute EDEC 253) or UTCH 150 (MSUTeach programs)
Testing Requirements
TEP candidates must obtain the following scores on the ACT exam:
- Composite score of 22 or the corresponding minimum scores: Reading (20), English (18), and Mathematics (19),
OR, the following scores on the Praxis I Core Skills for Educators exam:
- Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators: Combined 5752 Computer OR
- Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators: Mathematics 5733 Computer (Minimum score 150) and
- Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators: Reading 5713 Computer (Minimum score 156) and
- Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators: Writing 5723 Computer (Minimum score 162)
An applicant may use a combination of ACT and Praxis I minimum scores to meet testing requirements. If an applicant is within five points of one or more of the corresponding minimum scores of the Praxis I assessments, the candidate may be admitted if the candidate has a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. For information about the Praxis exams and to register for the test, please visit the Praxis website at https://praxis.ets.org/.
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
Program Requirements
General Education
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