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Social Studies – Secondary Education

Faculty Coordinating Committee Scott (Economics), Robertson (History), Aspin (Political Science).

The major in social studies – secondary education is an interdepartmental program of the faculties of economics, history, political science, and sociology with the cooperation of the Department of Teacher Education. Successful completion of this program will allow graduates to teach high school economics, United States history, world history, civics or political science, and sociology.

In addition to University requirements, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences requirements, College of Education and Health Sciences requirements, and State of Illinois teacher certification requirements, students must complete 45 semester hours of social studies as described below.

Economics Requirements

  • ECO 100 Introduction to Economics or ECO 221 Principles of Microeconomics 3 hrs.
  • ECO 222 Principles of Macroeconomics 3 hrs.

Economics Elective 3 hrs.

  • Select from ECO 310, 313, 325, 345, 351, 391,444 or other course approved by advisor.

United States History Requirements

  • HIS 203 United States History to 1877 3 hrs.
  • HIS 204 United States History Since 1877 3 hrs.

History Elective 3 hrs.

  • Select from HIS 300 to 313

World History Requirements

  • HIS 103 Russian History or
  • HIS 104 Non-Western Civilization: The Middle East Since Muhammad or
  • HIS 105 Non-Western Civilization: Latin America or
  • HIS 107 Modern Japan 3 hrs.

History Electives 6 hrs.

  • Select two from HIS 314, 320 to 340, 342, 345, 346, 375, 382, 385.
    (One of these two courses must be either HIS 336 or 337.)

Political Science Requirements

  • PLS 105 Introduction to American Government 3 hrs.

Political Science Electives 6 hrs.

  • Select two from PLS 202, 301, 310, 311, 360, 419, 422, 440, 459, 460, 494

Sociology Requirements

  • SOC 100 The Sociological Perspective 3 hrs.

Sociology Electives 6 hrs.

  • Select two from SOC 310 to 314, 332, 341, 342, 343

Note: Social Work courses are not acceptable

Professional Education Requirements

To be certified to teach in the State of Illinois, students must complete the professional education component specified by the Department of Teacher Education in the College of Education and Health Sciences. These requirements include a minimum of 34 semester hours in education courses as follows:

  • ETE 115 Schools and Schooling in American Society 3 hrs.
  • ETE 116 Field Experience 1 hr.
  • ETE 225 Human Development 4 hrs.
  • ETE 280 Exploring Diversity: Learners,Families and Communities 3 hrs.
  • ETE 342 Guiding Learners and Developing Classroom Communities 3 hrs.
  • ETE 360 Teaching Reading in the Content Field 3 hrs.
  • ETE 370 General Secondary Methods I 3 hrs.
  • ETE 371 General Secondary Methods II 3 hrs.
  • ETE 375 Methods of Teaching Secondary Social Studies 3 hrs.
  • ETE 379 Novice Teaching in Secondary School 2 hrs.
  • ETE 490 Student Teaching Professional Portfolio 1 hr.
  • ETE 499 Student Teaching in the Secondary School 10 hrs.