Social Studies Education

Undergraduate Degree and Certification Programs

The Department of Elementary and Social Studies Education

The Social Studies Program mission is to advance knowledgeable, reflective, and active democratic citizenship for the state of Georgia, the nation, and the world through exemplary and rigorous social studies teacher preparation, scholarship, and service. Our work is framed by commitments to social justice, equity, and democratic principles in education and the world beyond schools.

The Social Studies Program, a unit in the Department of Elementary and Social Studies Education, is responsible for the planning and oversight of programs leading to secondary teacher certification (grades 6-12) in history, geography, economics, and political science. Its programs are planned in cooperation with departments in the College of Arts and Sciences and approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. The Social Studies Program also provides courses in social studies education to the elementary and middle school education programs.

Job Opportunities With a Degree in Social Studies Education

In general, the market for social studies teachers has been more competitive than other high-demand teaching fields, such as science and math education, as the number of social studies teachers supplied exceeds the quantity demanded. However, new social studies teaching openings become available every year. Population growth in Georgia is above the national average; suburban Atlanta is among the fastest growing areas in the United States. Because metropolitan and suburban systems are more attractive to teacher candidates than small town and rural systems, job markets are more competitive in suburban and urban areas. Job opportunities are directly related to a teacher candidate's willingness to move where there are job openings and how a teacher candidate conducts a systematic job search. As with other majors, opportunities in social studies education are related not merely to earning the degree, but to academic performance, general aptitude, character, and personality of those seeking employment. Most of our graduates who want to teach social studies after graduation find positions.

Enrollment in Social Studies Education Courses

The professional sequence of courses in the secondary program is only offered to those who have been admitted to the major. These include ESOC 4350, 4360, 4450L, 5460, and 5560.

ESOC 2450 is a prerequisite for admission to the program (see admission information below) and is designated open enrollment. The department offers two sections of ESOC 2450 each fall and spring semester. Each class has a limited enrollment of 20 students.

All other undergraduate courses in the program, unless otherwise indicated, are open to all undergraduate students.

Application Procedures for Admission to Major

The Social Studies Education major is designated as a high demand major at the University of Georgia. The University identifies high-demand majors as those that receive or expect to receive more applications for major status from fully qualified rising juniors than the program can accommodate without endangering the quality of instruction offered. Space in the major is limited to 50 new students a year. The department reviews applications each semester and admits a maximum of 25 students per semester.

Applicants to the major must:

* Complete core curriculum requirements for Areas A through E and Area F
Area F Requirements: EFND 2030, EPSY 2020, SPED 2000, and 21 hours of social sciences selected from ANTH 1102, ECON 2105, ECON 2106, GEOG 1101, HIST 2111, HIST 2112, POLS 1101, PSYC 1101, SOCI 1101
* Possess an overall grade point average of 2.50
* Earn a passing score on the PRAXIS I exam or meet the requirements for exemption of the PRAXIS I exam
* Satisfactorily complete ESOC 2450L- Initial Field Experiences in Social Studies Education

After completing ESOC 2450L, students wishing to apply to the major are directed to submit:

* An application form
* A written rationale for teaching social studies

Applications are accepted, and admissions decisions are made, in the Fall and Spring semester of every academic year. To apply in the Fall semester, this completed form must be submitted by November 30. To complete the application, the rationale essay is submitted by the end of the Fall semester. To apply in the Spring semester, this completed form must be submitted by April 30. To complete the application, the rationale essay is submitted by the end of the Spring semester.

Social Studies Program faculty review, rate, and rank the applications by academic achievement evidenced by content GPA (60%) in Areas E and F, and by quality of the rationale (40%). Criteria for the rationale are further discussed in ESOC 2450L. The applicants with the top 25 scores will be admitted to the major.

Admitted students must continue to meet the minimum entrance requirements. Students will be dismissed from the program for just cause, including violation of University of Georgia rules or procedures or for committing acts that would make them uncertifiable (e.g. felony crime). Admitted students must meet the professional dispositions expectation for pre-service teachers adopted by the social studies program faculty (see Dispositions Statement).

Social Studies Education is a high demand major. Students are encouraged to have an alternate plan should they not gain acceptance into the major.

For additional information concerning application to the Social Studies Education major, please contact Cooper Allen, Social Studies Program Academic Advisor, Department of Elementary and Social Studies Education. His office is 427 Aderhold Hall. He may also be reached at 706-542-4313 or cooper@uga.edu.

Application forms are available here

Admission to Teacher Education

Formal admission to the status of "Teacher Education" requires a separate application available in 122 Aderhold Hall after passing the Regents' Exam, completing 60 semester hours (including at least 9 semester hours of residence credit), achieving a overall GPA of 2.50, completing EFND 2030 with at least a "C", completing specific core curriculum requirements and demonstrating acceptable speech and communication abilities. A overall GPA of 2.5 must be maintained thereafter for enrolling in ESOC courses including student teaching.

*Admission requirements are subject to change without prior notice.

Application for Student Teaching

At the beginning of the methods/curriculum/practicum semester, students should apply for student teaching. Applications are available in the Office of Student Services, Room 122 Aderhold Hall. Placement preferences listed on this application are only one consideration used in making student teaching placements. Other factors also figure into placement decisions, such as prior practicum placements, experience working with particular cooperating teachers, efforts to build relationships with particular schools and school districts, the capacity of our Field Instructors to make required school visits, etc. Placement recommendations are made by the program in cooperation with the Office of Student Services. Once you have applied to student teach keep the student teaching office (542-1717) informed of any change of plans or change of address.

Application for Graduation

No separate application for graduation is required. The Registrar produces a graduation report similar to the Degree Audit Report System (DARS) print-out you receive each semester. Your advisor reviews and verifies the graduation report.

Application for Certification

Application for teacher certification by qualified students should be made at the time of graduation. Application forms can be obtained from the Office of Student Services, 122 Aderhold. New teachers will undergo criminal background checks in the hiring process, and it is very important that students answer certification and employment questions honestly and accurately. Some people have been refused certification over minor legal matters because they did not answer the questions completely honestly. A passing score on a competency exam in social sciences is required for teacher certification by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. Apply and obtain information about the exam in 122 Aderhold. This exam is not required to graduate. The competency exam is the Praxis II test.

Teacher Certification, Graduate Work, and Undergraduate Academic Performance

If you plan to make a career of teaching you should not only attempt to meet minimum undergraduate academic requirements but also requirements for admission to graduate school. Academic performance in undergraduate course work is heavily weighted in graduate school admission. A 3.00 GPA is expected. Even with high admission test scores, graduate students will not be admitted with less than a 2.60 undergraduate GPA. See the Graduate School Bulletin for details. Consider completing the M.Ed. or M.A. (Ed.) degree before seeking a teaching position.

Regardless of your current plans for the future, you should be concerned about the long-term implications of your academic performance and its relationship to possible future professional career choices, especially graduate school admission.

For information on graduate degree programs in Social Studies Education, contact see http://www.coe.uga.edu/esse/sse/programs/index.html.

Honors Program

If you are eligible you should participate in the honors program. Details of the Honors Program are given in the Bulletin. Course designations ending in "H" may be taken only by honors program students or those otherwise specifically approved.

Independent and Special Study

Prospective teachers may take independent study courses when offered by various departments. Internships, research and other scholarly courses emphasizing independent work can be an important part of the training for prospective teachers. Consider special courses offered through programs at the University funded by outside agencies.

Study Abroad

We also encourage you to consider participating in study abroad programs. The University of Georgia Study Abroad Program regularly offers summer study opportunities in Europe in foreign language, in classical culture, and in other subjects.

Student teaching may be completed abroad by qualified students through the Consortium of Overseas Student Teaching (COST). More information on this opportunity is available from the Educational Field Experiences Office, 122 Aderhold.

A variety of study abroad programs are available through other institutions. Many of these are offered as part of the International Intercultural Studies Program, headquartered at Georgia State University, which serves all institutions under the University System Board of Regents. Be certain that credit may be transferred, however. (404/658-2450; Georgia State University, IISP, University Plaza, Box 653, Atlanta, GA 30303-3083).

Advising

To avoid delay in graduating, plan your total program with Cooper Allen, Social Studies Program Academic Advisor. His office is located in 427 Aderhold Hall. Preregister each semester, and keep your advisor informed of your address and phone number.

You should learn the requirements of the program of study, plan the sequence of courses, and follow the course of study. Friends in other programs are NOT good sources of information. They may be correct about their program requirements, but those may not apply to you. Rumor is equally unreliable.

Use the outline of recommended courses to project a program of study over the four year period. In planning the sequence of courses the following guidelines are helpful:

FRESHMAN AND SOPHOMORE YEARS - Meet core curriculum requirements before taking major courses. Schedule English, literature, and art, music, or drama courses for consecutive semesters, a math or science for consecutive semesters, a history or social science course in each semester, and PEDB for 1 semester.

SOPHOMORE YEAR - EFND 2030, EPSY 2020 and SPED 2000 may be taken the sophomore year.

JUNIOR YEAR - Use the junior year primarily to take history and social science courses.

SENIOR YEAR - Most professional courses are taken during the senior year.

Student Records

Records of all undergraduates in the College of Education are maintained in the Student Services Office, 122 Aderhold. Unofficial records also are maintained in the office of the Undergraduate Advisor in Aderhold Hall. Students can obtain accurate and up-to-date records of their own courses and degree progress by computer through the OASIS system. It will expedite advising if a student comes to an advisor with a complete record of course work and other program plans. Retain Degree Audit Report System print-outs given to you by your advisor (and evaluations of transfer credit if applicable). Check carefully records for transfer of proper credit, especially for the last semester before transferring. Although students are entitled to graduate under program requirements in effect when entering the departmental program, certification requirements can be and have been changed with little prior warning by the State.

Responsibility for Program

Students in the Social Studies Education Program are responsible for taking the course work appropriate to their program and following the necessary procedures for registration, admission to teacher education, enrollment in Social Studies Education courses, and admission to student teaching. The advisor assists students in making program choices and helps them to utilize the services offered by the University. It is not the responsibility of the advisor, however, to inform students of every detailed step they must take.

Students should have copies of the following up-to-date material to consult:

* The University of Georgia Bulletin, Undergraduate Study
* Social Studies Education Undergraduate Degree and Certification Programs
* Individual Approved Program of Study

Preregistration

Preregister for every semester. Follow instructions in the OASIS Schedule of Classes. Any changes that supplement or update this information are provided at the time of preregistration. The department must "clear" each student through the computer before he or she can preregister or late register through the OASIS system.

"POD" is not a call number; "Permission of Department" requires clearance from the department offering the course. "POH" courses require clearance from the Honors Program Office; you must be in that program or have special approval to enroll in honors courses.

BSED Program in Social Studies Education Leading to Single Field Social Studies Certification

General Education

ENGL 1101-1102 6 hrs.

MATH 1101 3 hrs.

MATH/TECH 3 hrs.

ELECTIVES 4 hrs.

HUMANITIES/FINE ARTS 6 hrs.

SCIENCE w/lab 8 hrs.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION 1 hr.

Education Major

EFND 2030 (Social Foundations of Education) 3 hrs.

EPSY 2020 (Learning & Development) 3 hrs.

SPED 2000 (Survey of Special Ed.) 3 hrs.

ESOC 2450 (Initial Field Experience) 3 hrs.

ESOC 4350 (Curriculum) 3 hrs.

ESOC 4450 (Senior Field Experience) 3 hr.

ESOC 4360 (Methods of Teaching) 3 hrs.

ESOC 5460 (Student Teaching) 15 hrs.

ESOC 5560 (Student Teaching Seminar) 3 hrs.

Social Studies Education Major

HIST 2111-2112 3 hrs.

POLS 1101 3 hrs.

ANTH 1102 or PSYC 1101 or SOCI 1101 3 hrs.

Other (select from ANTH, ECON, GEOG(Human) 12 hrs. HIST, POLS, PSYC, and SOCI as approved by social science education advisor) 12 hrs.

Specialization (courses in one subject 24 hrs. selected from ECON, GEOG (Human), HIST or POLS as approved by social science advisor) 24 hrs.

Of the 45 hours in the major a minimum of 24 must be in 3000-4000 level courses. At least 3 hours must be focused on contemporary global issues and 3 hours must be "non-Western World" courses.

Electives 12 hrs.

Specific topic areas for each specialization as required by certification regulations are:

Economics - macro-economics, micro-economics, personal/consumer economics, and U.S. economic institutions.

Geography - human, methodology with emphasis on field study, selected world regions, and economic geography.

History - U.S. (6 hours), world (6 hours), and non-Western (3 hours).

Political Science - U.S. constitutional law, comparative governments, history of political thought, and international relations.

Social Studies Education Major Handbook