Social Studies/Secondary Education

Department: History

This POE meets the requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Education for Secondary Certification in Social Studies and Secondary Education. It is imperative that students work closely with their advisors to meet all certification requirements. Students must, as well, meet College General Distribution requirements. This normally means 2 Fine Arts classes, Cultural Analysis, and Interdisciplinary Colloquium. (Note, IC 202 may substitute for PS 221).

General Academic Requirements
The POE requires 6 credits of English composition (or equivalent) and literature (or the equivalent) and 2 college level mathematics courses (or the equivalent) prior to being admitted to a certification program.

Mathematics -2 courses (3 credits each). These can be counted toward the (N) or (Q) in the General Education requirements.

English - College Writing Seminar (4 credits) and 1 other English course (3 credits)

Total Mathematics and English credits: 13

Core Education Courses: all of the following for a total of 38 hours

Course Number Title Credits Prerequisites
Dist.
Skills
ED 110 Foundations of Education
3
corequisite ED 111
S
 
ED 111* Foundations of Education Practicum
1
corequisite ED 110
S
 
ED 130 Adolescent Development
3
 
S
 
ED 201 Educational Technology
3
ED 110 & ED 111 and ED 120 & ED 121 or ED 130
S
 
ED 240 Introduction to Students with Exceptionalities
3
ED 110 & ED 111 and ED 120 & ED 121 or ED 130
S
 
ED 314 English Language Learner 2 ED 120 or ED 130
S
 
ED 315 English Language Learner Practicum
1
ED 314
S
 
ED 341* Adaptations for Students with Exceptionalities
4
ED 110, ED 111 & ED 240
S
CW
ED 420* General Secondary Methods
3
ED 341 and permission
S
 
ED 450** Student Teaching
14
ED 420, senior standing & permission, corequisite ED 451
S
 
ED 451** Student Teaching Seminar
1
corequisite ED 450
S
 

*There are field experiences in these courses. Students should take only one of these courses per semester. Allow a two-hour block of time for scheduled field experience twice a week.

**ED 450 & 451 (Student Teaching and Seminar) may be taken only in the FALL semester of the senior year. ED 450 requires students’ full-time participation and no other courses may be taken during this semester without the education advisors' approval.. Students must have reliable transportation.

Social Studies Core Courses: 38 or 39 credits total

History:
Course Number Title Credits Prerequisites Dist. Skills
HS 152 World Civilizations from 1500
3
 
HI
 
HS 115 The United States to 1877
3
 
H
 
HS 116 The United States since 1877
3
 
H
 
Select one of the following courses:
Course Number Title Credits Prerequisites Dist. Skills
HS 109 China & Japan to 1800
3
 
HI
 
HS 201 Samurai Legends and Lives
3
 
HI
CW
HS 363 Southern Africa
3
 
HI
 
HS 367 Women in Africa
3
 
HI
 
Civics and Government:
Course Number Title Credits Prerequisites Dist. Skills
PS 101 Introduction to American Government
4
 
S
 
PS 102 Introduction to International Politics
4
 
SI
 
PS 216 State and Local Government
3
PS 101
S
 
PS 100 or
200
Student Choice of ONE 200 or 300 level Politics Class
3 or 4
     
Economics:
Course Number Title Credits Prerequisites Dist. Skills
EB 105 International Economic Issues
3
 
SI
 
Anthropology:
Course Number Title Credits Prerequisites Dist. Skills
AN 151 Introduction to Anthropology
3
 
SI
 
Psychology:
Course Number Title Credits Prerequisites Dist. Skills
PY 101 Introduction to Psychology
3
 
S
 
Sociology:
Course Number Title Credits Prerequisites Dist. Skills
SO 101 Introduction to Sociology
3
 
S
 

Knowledge In-Depth

Students must take three "Knowledge in-depth courses" from the following list. Many of them have pre-requisites within the Social Studies Core. If you do not have the prerequisite, you may take the course with the permission of the instructor.

Course Number Title
Credits
Prerequisites
Dist.
Skills
HS 302 Crime in European History
3
 
HI
CW
HS 305 The American Revolution
3
HS 115
H
CW
HS 309 Civil War & Reconstruction
3
HS 115 or HS 116
H
CW
HS 272 Early North America
3
HS 116
H
CW
HS 322 Women's Lives - Medieval Europe
3
 
H
CW
HS 299 Global Environment
3
 
 
 
HS 316 WWII Asia and the Pacific
3
 
 
 
HS 262 North American Environmental History
3
HS 116
H
 
HS 312 The New South: 1877-1990
3
HS 116
H
 
HS 325 US Since 1945
3
HS 116
H
 
HS 306 People's Republic of China
3
HS 107
HI
CW
HS 363 Southern Africa
3
 
 
 
HS 326 Modern China
3
 
 
 
HS 367 Women in Africa
3
 
 
 
HS 327 Modern Japan
3
 
 
 
HS 313 Disease, Medicine, and Empire
3
 
 
 
HS 324 Gendering the Raj
3
 
 
 
HS 400 Crimes Against Humanity
4
 
 
 
HS 314 Medieval Medicine
3
 
 
 
PS 313 Congress and the Presidency
3
PS 101
S
CW
PS 332 International Law & Human Rights
3
PS 102
SI
CW
PS 318 Parties, Elections, Campaigns
3
PS 101
S
 
Requirements for Social Studies Secondary Education:
  • Math and English Core:  12 credits
  • Education Core:  38 credits
  • Social Studies Core: 38 or 39 credits
  • Knowledge in Depth: 9 credits
  • Total Certification Credits: 108-109
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