This program leads to New York State Initial or Professional Certification to teach social studies, grades 7-12. The length of the program depends on the individual's prior preparation. The profession of teacher education is licensed by the New York State Education Department. Therefore, program requirements are subject to change. All students should consult with the Department of Secondary Education for the current requirements.
Applicants must offer a distribution approved by the social studies program coordinator of at least 21 credits in upper division undergraduate or graduate courses in one or more of the following: economics, geography, history, sociology, and/or political science, including 15 credits in history.
(a) New York State Initial Certification in teaching social studies for grades 7¬12; or courses in education that meet the New York State standards for the pedagogical core. These courses include study of the following: history of education and philosophy of education or principles of education or educational sociology; educational psychology or developmental psychology or psychology of adolescence or adolescent development; classroom management; teaching students with special needs and English language learners; 6 credits in literacy and language acquisition; curriculum development and methods of assessing student learning; uses of technology in the classroom; methods of teaching social studies in grades 7-12; 100 hours of fieldwork; 40 full days or 300 hours of student teaching of social studies in grades 7-12 or one year of full-time teaching of social studies in grades 7-12; and passage of edTPA.
(b) An undergraduate degree with an appropriate major or appropriate course work in the appropriate subject areas.