Social Science

 

A. 56-Credit Composite Teaching Major

The basic objective of this teaching major is to provide the undergraduate student with the preparation that leads to teaching social studies in the public schools. To obtain a social studies endorsement in the state of Idaho, a student must pass the Praxis II exam in both social studies content knowledge and in one of the other areas listed below (Economics, Geography, History, or Political Science) where they have a minimum of 20 credits of coursework. This will result in a student being endorsed to teach in any of the subject areas included in the composite major.

Idaho's federal representatives have approved the Social Studies endorsement as meeting "Highly Qualified" status for all four of the related core content areas; history, geography, economics, and government.

It is important to note that the converse is not true. If a teacher has an endorsement in one or more of the core social studies areas, but does NOT hold the full Social Studies endorsement, they cannot be considered "Highly Qualified" to teach in any area other than those for which they hold the specific endorsement.

Students need to choose one area (History, Economics, Geography, or Political Science) for an endorsement which includes 20 credit hours, and complete 12 credits in each of the other remaining content areas (History, Economics, Geography, or Political Science).

History
HIST 101World History I3
HIST 102World History II3
HIST 111United States History I3
HIST 112United States History II3
Select one US, Latin American, or African History elective3
Select one Ancient, European, or Asian History elective3
Economics
ECON 201Principles of Macroeconomics3
ECON 202Principles of Microeconomics3
Select 6 credits of Economic electives from the following:6
Introduction to Financial Accounting
Teaching Economics and Personal Finance
Business and Marketing Education Methods
Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis
Intermediate Microeconomic Analysis
Personal and Family Finance and Management
Consumer Economic Issues
Geography
GEOG 100Introduction to Planet Earth3
GEOG 385Foundations of GIS3
Select 6 credits of Geography electives from the following:6
Human Geography
World Cultures and Globalization
Global Climate Change
Urban Geography
Global Economic Geography
Sustainability of Global Development
Population Dynamics and Distribution
Geopolitics and Conflict
Cartographic Design & Geovisualization
Climatology
Land, Resources, and Environment
Political Science
POLS 101American National Government3
Select one of the following:3
POLS 275
American Political Parties and Elections
American Congress
American Political Culture
American Foreign Policy
Select 6 credits of Polictical Science electives from the following:6
Introduction to Comparative Politics
Introduction to International Politics
European Politics
International Organizations and International Law
World Politics and War
POLS Elective numbered 100-499
In addition, the following special methods sequence is also required:
EDCI 432Secondary Social Studies Methods3
EDCI 442Secondary Social Studies Methods Practicum1
Total Hours58

B. 45- OR 60-Credit Teaching Major Through American Studies

American studies majors follow the credit distributions and recommended courses as stated above for economics, geography, history, political science, and sociology/anthropology.