Social Science for Secondary Education

Undergraduate Major - 95-108 Credit Hours
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Take the next step in education with the University that has produced more teachers than any other private college in Iowa. This program will provide you with in-depth knowledge of the social sciences and prepare you to be a high quality educator.

Program Description:

Students completing the social science for secondary education program must declare an area of emphasis in one of the identified licensure fields, which include history, political science, psychology or sociology, and complete support work in the other identified fields. The program will provide you with extensive and varied field experience opportunities and the knowledge and skills needed to be a high quality middle or high school teacher. The social science for secondary education major will enable you to:

  • Gain a solid foundation in the field of education
  • Receive in-depth preparation a chosen social science area of emphasis
  • Receive all social science 5-12 teacher certification by the State of Iowa
Locations 
  • Council Bluffs
  • Emmetsburg
  • Estherville
  • Fort Dodge
  • Marshalltown
  • Mason City
  • Ottumwa
  • Spencer
  • Spirit Lake
Courses 

Major in Social Science for Secondary Education - Education Courses

  • EDCO 241 Human Development: Adolescents
  • EDCO 246 Learning and Motivation: Adolescents
  • EDCO 255 Professional Seminar I and Field Experience: Learning and Motivation
  • EDCO 280 History of American Education
  • EDCO 290/291 Professional Seminar II and Field Experience: Human Relations
  • EDCO 301 Introduction to Exceptional Learners
  • EDCO 303 Differentiated Instruction for Diverse Learners
  • EDCO 390 Instructional Technology and Innovative Teaching
  • SEDU 310 Curriculum Design I: Standards, Assessment and Instruction for Engaged Learning
  • SEDU 365 Methods of Reading in the Content Areas
  • SEDU 410 Curriculum Design II: Conceptual Unit Design**
  • SEDU 441 Methods of Teaching Secondary Social Science and Field Experience
  • TEAC 410 Professional Seminar III: Student Teaching in Secondary Social Sciences (5-8)
  • TEAC 420 Professional Seminar III: Student Teaching in Secondary Social Sciences(9-12)

A student must have passed through the Teacher Education Program Checkpoint I in order to enroll in EDCO 303, EDCO 390, SEDU 310 and SEDU 365.

A student must have passed through the Teacher Education Program Checkpoint II in order to enroll in EDCO 290/291, SEDU 410 and SEDU 441.

A student must have passed through the Teacher Education Program Checkpoint III in order to enroll in student teaching.

Major in Social Science for Secondary Education - Disciplinary Courses (OSG)

Each student must declare an area of emphasis (which would require more in-depth study) in one of the identified Licensure fields (History, Political Science, Psychology) and complete support work in the other five identified fields. All Social Science majors will take the following six hours of support work in Economics and six hours in Geography.

  • ECON 200 Economics Foundation
  • ECON 100-400 Any additional Economics classes
  • GEOG 200 World Regional Geography of the Developed World
  • GEOG 300 Human and Cultural Geography

Emphasis in History

Students with an emphasis in History must take:

  • At least 9 hours history at the 100-level
  • At least 6 hours history at the 200-level
  • At least 6 hours history at the 300-400 level
  • 3 hours of history elective
  • Courses must be evenly distributed between US and World designation in order to receive licensure to teach both American and World history.

    Support work in Political Science must include:

    • PSCN 110 Introduction to American Government
    • PSCN 115 Introduction to Politics
    • PSCN 315 International Relations (or an appropriate 200-400 level political science course)

    Support work in Psychology must include:

    • PSYC 100 General Psychology
    • PSYC 291 Learning and Memory (or an appropriate 200-400 level psychology elective)

    Support work in Sociology must include:

    • SOCI 101 Introduction to Sociology
    • SOCI 203 Social Psychology (or appropriate 200-400 sociology elective)

    Emphasis in Political Science

    Students with an emphasis in Political Science must take:

    • PSCN 110 Introduction to American Government
    • PSCN 115 Introduction to Politics
    • PSCN 205 Introduction to Political Philosophy
    • PSCN 310 Comparative Politics or PSCN 315 International Relations
    • PSCN 460 Constitutional Law
    • PSPA 360 Introduction to Public Affairs
    • Any 2 PSCN or PSPA courses at the 300-level or above

    Support work in History must include:

    • 18 credit hours evenly split between American and World history for licensure in Iowa in both American and World History
    • At least 9 hours must be taken at the 200-400 level

      Support work in Psychology must include:

      • PSYC 100 General Psychology
      • PSYC 291 Learning and Memory (or an appropriate 200-400 level psychology elective)

      Support work in Sociology must include:

      • SOCI 101 Introduction to Sociology
      • SOCI 203 Social Psychology (or appropriate 200-400 sociology elective)

      Emphasis in Psychology

      Students with an emphasis in Psychology must take:

      • PSYC 100 General Psychology
      • PSYC 291 Learning and Memory
      • Any 2 PSYC courses at the 200-level
      • Any 2 PSYC courses at the 300-level
      • Any additional Psychology elective

      Support work in History must include:

      • 18 credit hours evenly split between American and World history for licensure in Iowa in both American and World History
      • At least 9 hours must be taken at the 200-400 level

        Support work in Political Science must include:

        • PSCN 110 Introduction to American Government
        • PSCN 115 Introduction to Politics
        • PSCN 315 International Relations (or an appropriate 200-400 level political science course)

        Support work in Sociology must include:

        • SOCI 101 Introduction to Sociology
        • SOCI 203 Social Psychology (or appropriate 200-400 sociology elective)

        Other Support Work

        As the Intellectual Explorations and Intellectual Foundations of the university are met, the following must be selected for support work:

        • 3 credit hours of biological science
        • COMM 100 Fundamentals of Communication
        • 3 credit hours of physical science
        Admissions criteria for the Social Science for Secondary Education program

        BVU's degree completion programs are classified as junior-senior level. Persons who have completed an associate degree or 60 credit hours from a regionally accredited institution qualify for admission. College level examination program credits (CLEP) and life experience credit may be available as described in the academic section. 

        Admissions process for the Social Science for Secondary Education program
        • Although personal interviews are not required, applicants are urged to confer with an advisor.
        • Request that official transcript(s) from each college or university previously attended be sent to BVU. Without official transcripts and records, a student will not be allowed to register beyond the initial semester.
        • Complete the BVU Degree Completion Application
        • If you will be applying for financial assistance including student loans, complete the Free Application for Federal Financial Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov.
        • Students who have previously earned a B.A. or B.S. degree may be eligible to earn a second bachelor’s degree from Buena Vista University.

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        The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides up to $4,000 per year in grants for graduate and undergraduate students who intend to teach full-time in high-need subject areas for at least four years at schools that serve students from low-income families. Students must meet all eligibility requirements.

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