COURSE CURRICULUM

The Middle School Education Social Studies program requires students to complete a comprehensive combination of professional education and social science content courses to prepare for teaching grades 5 through 9. A total of 49 credit hours in professional education courses is required, with a minimum grade of C in all courses, except for Introduction to Education as a Profession, which requires at least a B. These courses provide a strong foundation in educational theory, adolescent development, and effective teaching practices, including specialized techniques for teaching social studies. Students also study the psychology of exceptional learners and strategies for addressing diverse classroom needs. The program includes field experiences and a full student teaching component, allowing students to gain hands-on experience in real classroom environments. Additional coursework in pedagogy, instructional interventions, and content literacy methods ensures that graduates are well-prepared to teach middle and secondary students effectively.In addition to education courses, students must complete 24 credit hours in social science content courses. These courses provide a broad understanding of key areas such as economics, history, political science, geography, and global studies. Students study economic principles, early European civilization, and American history, along with U.S. political systems and global cultural and physical landscapes. Courses in world civilizations further expand their understanding of historical developments and global contexts. This well-rounded curriculum ensures that graduates develop strong subject knowledge alongside practical teaching skills, enabling them to create engaging, informed, and interactive social studies classrooms for middle school students.