This major is designed for students interested in teaching history, political science (government), economics, or social science in high school or middle school. The following course work satisfies San José State University's requirements for a BA in Social Science. In addition, this program is approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) as subject matter preparation for a single subject credential in social science.
Minimum grade point average (GPA) criteria may be required for verification of subject matter competency. Completion of the program will not guarantee admission to the credential program. Like all other applicants, students must meet credential program standards and undergo screening for admission. See "Teaching: How to Become a Teacher in California" (see index) for information on application and admission to credential programs.
The San José State University College of Social Science Subject Matter Preparation Program is a 45 unit major.
Students are required to take 6 units of lower division World History and 6 units of lower division United States History and Government. These courses provide our majors with a broad foundation in the history and political science content they will need to teach Social Studies in the middle and high school. Upper division history courses consist of 3 units of World History, 6 of U.S. History and 3 units of California History. In addition, students take three courses (9 units) that are especially designed for teacher preparation majors in the fields of Political Science, Geography and Economics. An additional course in Geography provides depth in global topics.
Three Social Science courses (SOCS 177, 185, 195) emphasize the social science of education theory, exemplary studies in the field of education, diversity, practice in using technology in the classroom, modeling of varied teaching experiences, field work in the public schools and formative and summative assessment. Collectively these courses compliment the core by providing the student with the opportunity to read and discuss issues relating to creating and maintaining an effective environment for student learning, engaging and supporting all students in learning, organizing subject matter for student learning and the role of teachers as leaders and advocates beyond the classroom.
| Course Requirements | |||
| General Education Requirements | 39-48 | ||
| Of the 51 units required by the university, 3-12 may be satisfied by specified major and support requirements. Consult major advisor for details. | |||
| American Institutions | (6) | ||
| Of the 6 units required by the university, all may be satisfied within general education requirements as specified in the schedule of classes. | |||
| Physical Education | 2 | ||
| Requirements in the Major | 42 | ||
| Lower Division | 12 | ||
| HIST 001A and HIST 001B (6); select one sequence of U.S. History and Government courses from the following: HIST 15A and HIST 15B; AFAM 2A and AFAM 2B; MAS 10A and MAS 10B, or AAS 33A and AAS 33B (6) | |||
| Upper Division | 30 | ||
| SOCS 195 (6); SOCS 177, SOCS 195, GEOG 101 and HIST 189B (12); HIST 155 and two upper division U.S. History courses (9); ECON 109, GEOG 123 and MAS 185 (9) | |||
| Electives | 28-37 | ||
| Total Units: | 120 | ||
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