Nov 07, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

History Major, B.A. with Secondary Social Studies Teacher Licensure Concentration


Department of History  

College of Letters, Arts and Sciences  

  Available Program Format(s): In-Person  

About the Program


This program combines a History Education Major with a concentration in Secondary Social Studies licensure. It prepares teacher candidates to teach Social Studies subjects in diverse secondary schools with some additional training in culturally and linguistically diverse teaching.

Student Outcomes


  • Locate sources– Demonstrate the ability to locate sources when information is needed, and to evaluate the authenticity, validity, and reliability of resources applied to a specific purpose.
  • Communicate in writing– Communicate in writing with an awareness of audience, by using language conventions appropriate to the occasion and task.
  • Employ historical knowledge– Demonstrate historical knowledge of the United States, the world, and major regions of the world.
  • Understand context– Demonstrate, using historical sources, how context and contingency influence change over time.
  • Interpret evidence– Develop an effective historical interpretation and marshal primary and/or secondary source evidence to support it.
  • Demonstrate mastery of pedagogical strategies in Social Studies for secondary school teaching.
  • Connect Literacy and Math-Utilize literacy, including Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD), strategies as well as mathematics when teaching Social Studies.
  • Create Inclusive Teaching Environment-Create a safe, inclusive and respectful learning environment that facilitates Social Studies learning for diverse populations, including CLD students.
  • Plan and deliver effective instruction in History, Civics, and Geography.
  • Demonstrate professionalism as a teacher candidate through ethical conduct, reflection, and leadership.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of first and second language acquisition and teaching strategies for CLD students.

General Studies Requirements: 33 credits


Students should consult the General Studies Requirements  for a list of courses that fulfill the General Studies Requirements for degree completion.  Courses recommended below will satisfy both General Studies and Major or Concentration requirements.

 

** Students will fulfill the global diversity requirement by taking an approved course within one of the following categories: arts and humanities; historical; natural and physical sciences; or social and behavioral sciences. 

Ethnic Studies & Social Justice Requirement: 0 or 3 credits


  • Students should consult the Ethnic Studies & Social Justice Graduation Requirement  for a list of courses that fulfill the ESSJ Requirement for degree completion.  
  • Many programs include courses that meet this requirement. Students should consult with their advisor to determine what program courses may fulfill this requirement. 

History Major: 42 credits


The History Major requires thirty-nine (39) credits of History courses beyond the Historical General Studies requirement. A grade of “C-” or better is required for each course in this program to count toward licensure. Note that students can register strategically to apply their General Studies Global Diversity course requirement and the ESSJ course requirement toward History Major requirements below. All students should check with a departmental adviser to plan their selection of courses in the Major.

History Education Major Core: 12 credits


Students should complete four (4) introductory courses in History from the list below, one of which will also count for the Historical General Studies requirement. The department recommends that students choose at least TWO American History courses for the degree program to prepare for teaching at the secondary level.

Upper-Division History Electives: 18 credits


Students need at least eighteen (18) upper-division elective credits for the History Major. These are 3000 and 4000 level History courses. Nine of these upper-division credits should focus on these specific regions. Note that course number ranges correspond to designated regions:

  • At least one upper-division course in American History (HIS 3400-3699)
  • At least one upper-division course in European History (HIS 3100-3399)
  • At least one upper-division course in World History (HIS 3700-3799)

Also recommended as upper-division History Electives are:

Broad History Electives: 9 credits


Nine (9) additional elective credits are needed for the History Major. These can be taken at the lower-division (HIS 1000-1999) or upper-division level (HIS 3000-3999).

There are some one-credit courses that can count toward this nine-credit elective requirement in the Major. These are:

Major Capstone Course: 3 credits


The three-credit Social Studies methods course is typically taken along with HIS 4020 Field Experience in Teaching Social Studies in Secondary Schools.

Additional Requirements for the Concentration in Secondary Social Studies Licensure: 52 credits


Social Science Courses: 21 credits


All students must complete twenty-one (21) credits in the following Social Science disciplines to prepare to teach secondary Social Studies. Note that six credits below can also satisfy the General Studies Social and Behavioral Sciences requirement. Additionally, GEG 1100 can satisfy three credits of the General Studies Natural and Physical Science requirement. So the subtotal of credits required for this section could drop to twelve if students also complete the recommended General Studies courses.

Foundations and Strategies for Secondary Teaching: 31 credits


This Secondary Education Licensure Program prepares candidates to teach Social Studies courses in grades 6-12. With the courses and field experiences below, candidates satisfy the Colorado Department of Education Teacher Quality Standards for licensure in Secondary Education.

Senior Experience: 12 credits


Student Teaching offers an essential conclusion to this degree program. Typically, students should register for 12 credits of EDS 4290 in their final semester. Students who register for only 6 credits of EDS 4290 should also register for 6 credits of CLD 4590 Culturally and Linguistically Diverse: ESL Student Teaching and Seminar.

Summary of Requirements


General Studies Requirements 33 credits
ESSJ Requirement 0-3 credits
History Major Core 42 credits
Social Science Courses 21 credits
Foundations and Strategies for Secondary Teaching 31 credits
Senior Experience 12 credits
Total Credits for History Major, B.A. with Concentration in Secondary Social Studies Licensure 124 credits

Required courses for the major may also count for General Studies and ESSJ requirements, so the total credits listed may be greater than the number required to complete the degree. Therefore, it is important that you work with your advisor to make sure you are meeting requirements for your degree.

Up to 15 of the 33 General Studies credits in this program may be fulfilled through requirements for the degree.