Social Science Education, BA

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Program Description

Students intending to teach secondary-level social studies (Grades 7-12) in the Ohio public school system earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in social science education, a multi-disciplinary major including work in history, economics, political science, and geography.

Admission to the major requires a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.5.  In addition, candidates must also, separately, be accepted into and satisfy the requirements of the Adolescence to Young Adult: Integrated Social Studies (AYA: ISS) licensure program through a sequence of courses and field placements offered through the College of Health, Education, and Human Services alongside their Social Science Education (SSE) degree. Upon completion of the academic content and professional teaching requirements, students are eligible to apply for licensure in AYA: Integrated Social Studies from the Ohio Department of Education. Students who are not accepted into the licensure program may still complete the SSE degree without licensure.

Candidates must meet with a College of Health, Education, and Human Services Licensure Advisor early in the bachelor’s degree program to learn how to apply for school placements, deadlines, admissions details, and other important information.

The Honors Program in Social Science Education enables superior and highly motivated students to engage in an in-depth study of topics within SSE of interest to them, and to develop their scholarly abilities in this interdisciplinary field. Under the direction of a faculty tutor and with the approval of the Program Director, students in the Honors Program will complete an honors project over two semesters in the senior year that culminates in an honors thesis. For further information on eligibility requirements and enrollment, see the Program Director. 

Program Learning Outcomes

Social Science Education graduates will be able to:

• Be effective writers;
• Have strong analytical and critical thinking skills;
• Demonstrate knowledge of the differences among history, political science, economics, and geography as distinct scholarly disciplines;
• Demonstrate knowledge of the ways these disciplines integrate together and the utility of that integration;
• Acquire the content knowledge needed to pass the Ohio Assessment for Educators examination for Integrated Social Studies.

For more information visit:

• Social Science Education, BA
• Social Science Education Program
• College of Liberal Arts

Program Requirements:

I. Wright State Core: 38 Hours

ELEMENT 1: COMMUNICATION: 6 HOURS

ELEMENT 2: MATHEMATICS: 3 HOURS

ELEMENT 3: GLOBAL TRADITIONS: 6 HOURS

• HST 1100 - Western Civilizations to 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3

ELEMENT 4: ARTS AND HUMANITIES: 3 HOURS

ELEMENT 5: SOCIAL SCIENCES: 6 HOURS

Required:

• EC 2040 - Principles of Microeconomics Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 2120 - American National Government Credit Hour(s): 3

ELEMENT 6: NATURAL SCIENCES: 8 HOURS

ADDITIONAL CORE COURSES: 6 HOURS

Required:

• EC 2050 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credit Hour(s): 3
• HST 1200 - The West and the World since 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3

II. Departmental Requirements: 44 Hours

INTRODUCTORY COMPONENTS: 17 HOURS

Take all of the following. HST 2110 and HST 2120 should be taken before any upper division History course are attempted.

• ED 2600 - Introduction to Education Credit Hour(s): 3
• ED 2650 - Early Field Experience I: Introduction to the Education Profession Credit Hour(s): 1
• ED 2700 - Introduction to Educational Psychology Credit Hour(s): 3
• ED 2750 - Early Field Experience II: Introduction to Educational Psychology Credit Hour(s): 1
• EDS 2900 - Individuals with Exceptionalities Credit Hour(s): 3
• HST 2110 - American History to 1877 Credit Hour(s): 3
• HST 2120 - American History Since 1877 Credit Hour(s): 3

HISTORY COURSES (UPPER DIVISION): 12 HOURS

Historical methodology and three other 3000 or 4000-level classes. HST 3000 should be taken before any 4000-level classes are attempted.

No more than 2 from any one area (US, European, non-Western);

At least 1 non-Western course

• HST 3000 - Introduction to Historical Analysis Credit Hour(s): 3

POLITICAL SCIENCE COURSES: 9 HOURS

Take PLS 2220 - International Politics, and two more PLS courses from among the following choices.

• PLS 2220 - International Politics Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 3310 - Political Parties Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 3350 - The American Presidency Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 3420 - Civil Liberties I: First Amendment Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 3430 - Civil Liberties II: Due Process Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 4260 - Supreme Court in American Politics Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 4300 - American Government Seminar Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 4400 - Constitutional Law Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 4730 - American Foreign Policy Credit Hour(s): 3

GEOGRAPHY COURSES: 6 HOURS

• GEO 2100 - Physical Geography Credit Hour(s): 3
• GEO 2200 - Human Geography Credit Hour(s): 3

III. College Requirements: 18-22 Hours

FOREIGN LANGUAGE: 12-16 HOURS

Through 2020 level (1010, 1020, 2010, 2020) of one language:

Greek, Latin, Arabic, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, American Sign Language, or other.

METHODS OF INQUIRY: 6 HOURS

• PHL 3000 - Critical Thinking Credit Hour(s): 3
• ED 4600 - Adolescent and Young Adult and Multi-Age Assessment and Measurement in Education Credit Hour(s): 3

IV. Electives: 16-20 Hours

Students intending to apply for licensure will, if admitted to candidacy, take the required courses in the Adolescent to Young Adult: Integrated Social Studies licensure sequence in the College of Health, Education, and Human Services in lieu of Electives.

Total: 120 Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

The Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS) has been created to illustrate one option to complete degree requirements within a particular time frame. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to adjust this plan based on credit already earned, individual needs or curricular changes that may not be reflected in this year’s catalog. 

• Social Science Education (GPS)