COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Arts in Education (BAED) in History, Government and Social Studies (Secondary Education) requires a minimum of 120 credit hours and prepares students for licensure as social studies teachers for grades 6–12. Students must maintain a minimum overall GPA of 2.50 and a 2.50 GPA in major content coursework while completing the requirements of the WSU General Education Program and the College of Education. The program combines broad general education, extensive social studies content preparation, and professional teacher education training to develop strong interdisciplinary teaching skills. General education requirements include foundational coursework alongside Introduction to the Education Profession, which introduces students to teaching careers and classroom environments. The major coursework provides in-depth study of history, political science, geography, economics, anthropology, sociology, and environmental studies. Students complete courses such as World Civilization (to 1500 and since 1500), U.S. history (colonial to present), Kansas history, historical research and writing, American politics, international relations, comparative politics, world geography, economics in education, intercultural relations, world cultures, and social inequality. This broad academic foundation prepares students to teach multiple areas within social studies, including history, civics, geography, and social sciences. The teacher education component is structured into four progressive cores. Core I focuses on diversity, exceptionalities, teaching foundations, and early field experiences. Core II includes content-specific methods in history and government, educational assessment, philosophy of education, and practicum experiences. Core III provides a teaching internship in secondary history/government along with literacy strategies and advanced instructional methods. Core IV culminates in a full teaching internship with extensive classroom responsibility in real school settings. Students must complete all teacher education courses with a minimum grade of B-. Licensure requirements include the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) exam, the Praxis II History/Government Content Knowledge Test, and the Teacher Licensure Capstone course. Through the support of the College of Education and Wichita State University, graduates gain strong subject knowledge, instructional skills, and extensive classroom experience needed for successful careers as secondary social studies educators in public, private, and charter schools.