Degree Programs
S3ITE - Secondary Social Studies Information About Teaching Education
Social Studies Education
Graduate Study in Social Studies Education: Master’s Degrees
Social Studies Education Graduate Application Form
Theses, Applied Projects, and Comprehensive Examinations
The Social Studies Education Program offers three degree programs at the master's level: a Master of Arts degree (MA); a Master of Education degree (MEd); and a Master of Arts in Teaching degree (MAT). The first two degree programs are described here; neither the MA nor the MEd degree leads to certification. Individuals who are seeking initial certification should see the Master of Arts in Teaching degree program.
The Master of Arts (MA) degree culminates with a thesis and an oral comprehensive exam; the Master of Education (MEd) degree culminates with either a written comprehensive examination or an oral comprehensive examination and an applied project (see below). Individuals who plan to pursue graduate work beyond the master's degree, particularly the doctorate, and who enjoy independent research activities are encouraged to consider the Master of Arts program. The Master of Education (MEd) degree is intended for those who intend to teach, or to continue to teach, social studies in K-12 schools. Individuals holding an MEd degree may also pursue further graduate work, including the doctorate, at some later time, but engage in less independent research for the MEd degree than those pursuing the MA degree.
The two programs are further distinguished by the amount of coursework required for each. The MA degree program requires 30 semester hours including a thesis (ESOC 7300). The MEd program requires 36 semester hours and a written comprehensive examination. Alternatively, MEd students may include a 3 semester hour Applied Project (ESOC 7650) in their program and conclude with an oral comprehensive examination.
Both master’s degree programs offer students flexibility in designing programs of study according to course availability and individual interest.
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All applications are due by the third Friday in January.
Prospective candidates for the Master of Arts and Master of Education degree programs must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. An applicant's cumulative grade point for all undergraduate courses must be 2.8 or above on a four-point scale. Before admission, applicants must have taken either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) with a minimum score of 850 total and at least 400 verbal and 400 quantitative, or the Miller Analogies Test with a minimum score of 402.
Applicants must submit to the Graduate School:
- The Graduate School application form
- Application fee
- Two official copies of transcripts from all institutions attended
- Official scores from GRE or Miller Analogies Test
- For international students, official TOEFL scores
The application form, information regarding the GRE and Miller Analogies Test and other important information are all available at http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/admissions/requirements.html
The department requires three letters of recommendation from individuals acquainted with the applicant's academic abilities or potential as a teacher. Names of referees must be included in the Graduate School application form, page 3. Letters will be solicited by the Graduate School and are submitted on-line.
Applicants must also submit the Social Studies Graduate Application Form directly to the Social Studies Program, Department of Elementary and Social Studies Education, 629 Aderhold Hall, University of Georgia, Athens GA 30602.
All MA and MEd students are initially assigned an interim faculty advisor who will help the student select courses to take in the first semester. During the first semester, students select their Graduate Advisor who will work with them for the remainder of their degree program. Within the first year of study, students, with the assistance of their Graduate Advisor, will select two more faculty members to constitute their Master’s Committee; the Graduate Advisor will serve as chair of the committee. The committee will approve a program of study and a thesis or applied project topic, will administer the comprehensive examination, and will judge the acceptability of the thesis or project, as appropriate.
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The courses of study in the Social Studies master’s degree programs are designed to give students maximum flexibility. Students are urged to determine their areas of greatest interest as well as their areas of greatest need and design a program of study that builds on both areas. The final program of study must include one course chosen from an array of foundational courses and three required courses. The remainder of the program of study may be chosen from electives in curriculum and instruction and from content-area courses from the academic departments whose disciplines form the core of the social studies – history, political science, economics, geography, and related social sciences disciplines.
Program Summary
| MA degree | MEd degree | |
| Educational Foundations | 3 credit hours minimum | 3 credit hours minimum |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 6 credit hours | 6 credit hours |
| Research | 3 credit hours minimum | 3 credit hours |
| Applied Project (optional) | ||
| Thesis | 3 credit hours | |
| Electives | 15 credit hours | 21-24 credit hours |
| Total | 30 credit hours | 36 credit hours |
Educational Foundations
ESPY or EFND elective, 6000-level or above, 3 credit hours minimum
Curriculum and Instruction
ESOC 7050 Problems of Teaching Secondary Social Studies (3 credit hours)
ESOC 7080 Curriculum Planning in Social Sciences (3 credit hours)
Research
ESOC 6990 Research Seminar in Social Studies Education (3 credit hours minimum)
Or approved substitute course in research
Electives
ESOC and subject-area electives, 6000-level or above, as approved by advisement
Thesis
ESOC 7300 Master’s Thesis (3 credits minimum, repeatable). For MA degree only.
Applied Project
ESOC 7650 Applied Project in Social Science Education (3 credits). MEd degree, optional.
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Theses, Applied Projects, and Comprehensive Examinations
Students in the MA program produce a thesis. A thesis is an independent research effort that meets scholarly criteria for publication. All MA students are required to submit a written prospectus of their thesis plan and obtain approval from their Master’s Committee. If students use human subjects in their thesis research, they must have their research cleared by the Institutional Review Board. After the thesis has been accepted by the Master’s Committee, the thesis must be submitted to the Graduate School and must follow the Graduate School’s guide to thesis preparation and processing (see http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/academics/thesis.html). Students register for ESOC 7300 while working on the thesis. The Department encourages students to use the APA (5th ed.) style manual for thesis preparation except when the academic discipline employed in the thesis typically follows an alternative style manual.
Students in the MEd program have the option to produce an applied project. An applied project is usually carried out in a typical classroom or school setting. The project may, for example, involve a quasi-experimental trial of a teaching approach advocated in education literature. Students planning an applied project must submit a brief prospectus and obtain approval from their Master’s Committee prior to implementing the project. If students use human subjects in their project, they must have their research plan cleared by the Institutional Review Board. The format and contents of applied projects vary considerably as advised by each student’s Master’s Committee; the project is not submitted to the Graduate School. Students register for ESOC 7650 while working on the applied project. The Department encourages students to use the APA (5th ed.) style manual for the preparation of applied projects except when the academic discipline employed in the thesis typically follows an alternative style manual.
Students who opt for an applied project complete their degree program with an oral comprehensive examination. The oral comprehensive examination addresses questions about the applied project and the program of study.
MEd students who do not opt for the applied project must successfully complete a written comprehensive examination. The comprehensive examination is typically a take-home examination requiring essay responses to questions regarding social studies research and social studies curriculum and instruction. During the final semester of their coursework students are responsible for scheduling the comprehensive examination with the Social Studies Program Coordinator or Graduate Secretary. The examination is offered every fall, spring, and summer. Students must schedule to take the examination by the following dates: for fall semester, October 10; for spring semester, March 1; for summer sessions, July 1.
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