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Social Studies Education

The Social Studies Education (SSED) teaching option in the Secondary Education major helps students prepare to be middle- and high-school teachers who are qualified to teach all of the following subjects, grades 7-12:

Student teacher in front of class
  • History
  • Geography
  • Civics & Government (Political Science)
  • Economics
  • Psychology
  • Anthropology
  • Sociology

Major Requirements

The SSED program is a four-year undergraduate degree that requires 129-132 credits and leads to a bachelor of science (B.S.) in Secondary Education.

SSED students typically take general education courses and meet Entrance to Major (ETM) requirements during their first two years and apply to the program during their 4th semester. The program also features approved courses that help meet all requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). Academic content courses required for ETM include Economics 104, Geography 30N, History 20, History 21, Political Science 1, and Psychology 100.

All students in the Secondary Social Studies teaching option take 18 credits of coursework in History, which qualifies for an academic minor. Students also choose a concentration and complete 15 credit of coursework in that area, which can qualify for a second academic minor in the subject.

Concentration Choices

Civics & Government
Economics
Geography
  • PLSC 3
  • PLSC 14
  • PLSC 7N, 10, or 17N
  • 6 cr. of 400-level PLSC
  • ECON 102
  • ECON 302
  • ECON 304
  • 6 cr. of 400-level ECON
  • 9 cr. of GEOG below 400 level 
  • 6 cr. of 400-level GEOG
Qualifies for a minor in Political Science (with PLSC 1 taken for Prescribed Courses)
Qualifies for a minor in Economics (with ECON 104 taken for Prescribed Courses)
Qualifies for a minor in Geography (with GEOG 30N taken for Prescribed Courses)
 
Social Sciences
Classics & Ancient Studies*
Holocaust & Genocide Studies*
  • 9 cr. of any ANTH, PSYCH or SOC below 400 level 
  • 6 cr. of any 400-level ANTH, PSYCH, or SOC
  • CAMS 1, 4, or 5
  • 3 cr. of 100-level CAMS
  • 3 cr. of CAMS below 400 level
  • 6 cr. of 400-level CAMS
  • JST/HIST 121
  • 6 cr. from: JST/HIST 143, 195, JST 128
  • 6 cr. from: JST/HIST 426, 439, JST/PLSC 450H, JST 478, JST 474/HIST 457
Can qualify for a minor in Anthropology (with ANTH 45N taken for Additional Courses), Psychology (with PSYCH 100 taken for Major Prescribed Courses), or Sociology (with SOC 1 taken for Additional Courses)
Can qualify for a minor in Classics & Ancient Mediterranean Studies (see your Academic Advisor)
Qualifies for Holocaust and Genocide Studies Certificate

* Asterisk indicates a new concentration choice. See your Academic Advisor.

Many US states and territories require professional licensure/certification to be employed. If you plan to pursue employment in a licensed profession after completing this program, please visit the Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures by State interactive map.

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