Southeast Missouri State University 1873

Social Studies Education Degree

BSED On-Campus Main Campus

DEGREE TYPE

Bachelor's Degree

PROGRAM TYPE

Undergraduate

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Prepare you to transform the lives of your future students. Your fearless starts here.

As a social studies education major at SEMO provides a supportive climate to meet the rigor of teacher education. Wondering what you can do with a social studies education degree? The program at SEMO will allow you to receive grades 9-12 teaching certification and be prepared to teach social studies content courses including history geography, civics, and economics.

What to Expect in Social Studies Education

As a social studies education major at SEMO, you’ll have three field experiences in secondary schools with mentor teachers.

  • Work with award-winning faculty in both our College of Humanities and Social Sciences and our College of Education, Health and Human Studies.
  • Get extensive opportunities to study classroom organization and management.
  • Learn best practices in instructional strategies, curriculum planning, and techniques. 

What Can You Do with a Social Studies Education Degree?

Your education is just one piece to launching an extraordinary career. Once you’ve mastered the material, you still have to find the job you want, make the right connections, sell your knowledge and experience—and if all this is giving you anxiety, don’t panic. SEMO’s Career Services office is here to help you with the next step. We provide the expertise and support you need, so you’re landing your dream job in no time. 

Practicum Experiences and Employment Opportunities of Recent Social Studies Education Graduates

Student teaching placements for Social Studies education students are designed to provide:

  • Extensive opportunities to study classroom organization and management
  • Best practices in instructional strategies, curriculum planning, and techniques for teaching social studies
  • Experience in teaching practices and procedures under the mentorship of accomplished cooperating teachers

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Social Studies Education (BSED) Degree Map

Explore the courses you'll need to complete your degree.

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Social Studies Education Outcomes & Careers

  • $64k

    High School Teacher

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for a secondary school teacher is $64,580.

  • $62k

    Elementary & Middle School Teacher

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for an elementary or middle school teacher is $62,310.

  • $84k

    Geography Postsecondary Teacher

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for a geography postsecondary teacher is $83,980.

What You'll Study

As a social studies education major, you’ll prepare to lead your own classroom, gaining subject area knowledge as well as expertise in all areas of education. You’ll complete a minimum of 120 credit hours to complete this degree, including the general education requirements and at least 39 senior division hours. A minor is required.

Course Rotation

Education Courses- 47 Hours Required

A grade of ‘C’ or better is required in education courses, with the exception of ED280, which requires a grade of ‘B’ or better.
  • ED280 Introduction to Education as a Profession (3)
  • EF400 Student Teaching Seminar (1)
  • EX390 Psychology & Education of Children with Exceptionalities (3)
  • PY222 Psychological Development in Adolescence (3)
  • SE307 Content Literacy Methods for Middle & High School (3)
  • SE318 Techniques of Teaching Middle and Secondary Social Studies (3)
  • SE350 Pedagogy I: Principles of Effective Teaching in Middle &Secondary Schools (3)
  • SE355 Field Experience II (3)
  • SE365 Pedagogy 2: Secondary School (4)
  • SE380 Advanced Field Experience (3)
  • SE385 Pedagogy III: Advanced Methods of Middle & Secondary Teaching (3)
  • SE390 Instructional Interventions for Middle & High School Students with Special Literacy Needs (3)
  • SE465 Student Teaching (12)

SOCIAL STUDIES EDUCATION


39 hour major – No minor required

(A grade of ‘C’ or better is required in all courses within the major.)
Required courses:
  • PS103 U.S. Political Systems (3)
  • PY101 Introduction to Psychology (3)
  • US105 American History I (3)
  • US107 American History II (3)
Choose 3 hours:
  • WH150 Ancient World Civilizations (3)
  • WH160 Modern World Civilizations (3)
Choose 3 hours of Behavioral Science:
  • AN181 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (3)
  • OS200 Survey of Social Sciences (3)
  • SO101 Introduction to Sociology (3)
Choose 3 hours of Economics:
  • EC101 Economic Problems and Policies (3)
  • EC215 Principles of Microeconomics (3)
  • EC225 Principles of Macroeconomics (3)
Choose 3 hours from Geography:
  • GG150 Peoples and Places of the World (3)
  • GG180 Cultural Geography (3)
  • UI308 Cultural & Physical Landscapes of the World (3)
Choose 6 hours of History – United States:
  • US302 Missouri History (3)
  • US350 Colonial America (3)
  • US352 New American Republic: 1789-1840 (3)
  • US356 Progressive America (3)
  • US360 Women in American History (3)
  • US380 Sport and American History (3)
  • US400 Topics in American History (3)
  • US420 African American Slavery (3)
  • US440 U.S. in World War II (3)
  • US446 The Civil Rights Movement (3)
  • US450 U.S. as a World Power (3)
  • US452 Cold War America (3)
  • US460 The 1960’s in America (3)
  • US470 America in the 1970’s (3)
  • US507 Civil War & Reconstruction (3)
  • US508 African Americans during the Era of Segregation and Jim Crow (3)
  • US509 American West (3)
  • US524 Rural American Society and Culture (3)
  • US525 American Urban History (3)
  • US530 The African American Experience (3)
Choose 6 hours from World History:
  • EH101 Early European Civilization (3)
  • EH103 Modern European Civilization (3)
  • EH115 Ancient Greece & Rome (3)
  • EH362 Medieval History (3)
  • EH364 Early Modern Europe (3)
  • EH368 19th Century Europe (3)
  • EH366 Age of the French Revolution and Napoleon: 1700-1815 (3)
  • EH370 Europe in the Twentieth Century, 1914-Present (3)
  • EH400 Topics in European History (3)
  • EH412 Age of Rome (3)
  • EH416 British History to 1688 (3)
  • EH418 Modern Britain (3)
  • EH440 The Holocaust (3)
  • EH516 History of Modern Germany (3)
  • EH518 History of Soviet Russia (3)
  • WH100 African Civilization (3)
  • WH110 Chinese Civilization (3)
  • WH125 Islamic Civilization (3)
  • WH130 Latin American Civilization (3)
  • WH150 Ancient World Civilizations (3)*
  • WH160 Modern World Civilizations (3)*
  • WH400 Topics in World History (3)
  • WH410 Age of Greece (3)
  • WH435 Rise and Fall of the British Empire (3)
  • WH440 Modern Middle East (3)
  • WH550 Atlantic World (3)
Choose 3 hours from Political Science:
  • PS104 Comparative Political Systems (3)
  • PS230 American Public Policy (3)
  • PS280 Introduction to Global Issues (3)
  • PS310 Government & Politics of the American States (3)
  • PS331 The American Executive (3)
  • PS335 American Foreign Policy (3)
  • PS343 Women and Politics (3)
  • PS357 Early American Political Thought (3)
  • PS361 Campaigns & Elections (3)
  • PS362 Political Parties & Interest Groups (3)
  • PS365 Legislative Process (3)
  • PS390 American Judicial System (3)
  • PS490 Constitutional Law (3)
Additional requirement:
  • SS200 Introduction to Teaching Social Studies in the Secondary Schools (3)

Some requirements may be fulfilled by coursework in major program.

  • Social and Behavioral Sciences – 6 hours
  • Constitution Requirement – 3 hours
  • Written Communication – 6 hours
  • Oral Communication – 3 hours
  • Natural Sciences – 7 hours (from two disciplines, one to include a lab)
  • Mathematics – 3 hours
  • Humanities & Fine Arts – 9 hours (from at least two disciplines)
  • Additional requirements – 5 hours (to include UI100 for native students)
  • Civics examination

To be eligible for enrollment in the majority of courses offered by the Teacher Preparation Program
and required for a teaching degree (BSE, BSFCSE, BME), students must be admitted to the Teacher
Preparation Program (TPP). Students should apply for admission to the TPP upon having met the following entrance criteria:

  • 42 hours of coursework completed;
  • One of the following:
    • Composite/Superscore of 20 or higher on the ACT exam
    • Composite Score of 1040 or higher on SAT exam
    • Score of 220 or higher on the Paraprofessional exam
    • Passing score on the Missouri General Education Assessment (MoGEA)*
    • Have a previous 4-year degree from an accredited college/university
  • The following course requirements met:
    • A minimum grade of 'C' in CF/PY120 The Child (Elementary, Early, and Exceptional) or PY222 Development of the Adolescent (Middle and Secondary)
    • A minimum grade of 'B' in ED280 Introduction to Education as a Profession or ME222 Principles of Teaching Music.
  • International Students must also meet the following requirements:
    • C1 (CEFR) level
    • IELTS minimum score of 7.0 or TOEFL minimum score of 95
    • Note: This policy is for non-United States citizens who are not native English
      speakers. Students from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New
      Zealand are exempt from English proficiency verification

*Students already admitted to the University should take the MoGEA instead of re-taking the
ACT

First Year    

Fall Semester (16 Hours)     
  • UI100 (1)
  • EN100 (3)
  • US105 (3)
  • General Education (3)
  • General Education (3)
  • General Education (3)
Spring Semester (15 Hours)     
  • PY101 (3)
  • US107 (3)
  • General Education (3)
  • General Education (3)
  • General Education (3)

Second Year    

Fall Semester (15 Hours)  
  • ED280 (3) 
  • SS200 (3)
  • WH150 or WH160 (3)
  • General Education (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
Spring Semester (14 Hours)    
  •  PY222 (3)
  • Behavioral Science Elective (3)
  • Economics Elective (3)
  • World History Elective (3)
  • Elective (2)

Milestone: Complete 42 hours coursework and apply for admission to TPP

Third Year    

Fall Semester (15 Hours)   
  • EX390 (3)
  • PS103 (3)
  • SE350 (3)
  • Geography Elective (3) 
  • World History Elective (3)
Spring Semester (16 Hours)     
  • SE307 (3) 
  • SE355 (3)
  • SE365 (4)
  • Political Science Elective (3)
  • US History Elective (3)

Milestone: Passing score Mo Content Exam

Fourth Year

Fall Semester (15 Hours)     
  • SE318 (3)
  • SE380 (3)
  • SE385 (3)
  • SE390 (3)
  • US History Elective (3)
Spring Semester (13 Hours)  
  • EF400 (1)
  • SE465 (12)

Milestone: Passing score Mo Content Exam, passing score on MEES, 3.0 GPA in Education and content courses

A “Milestone” signifies a significant stage for a student in the completion of a degree.

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Get Funding for Your Education

Missouri’s opened the door to a more educated workforce. We want to help you walk through it. If you’re an adult learner and a Missouri resident returning to college, learn about the Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant. It’s a statewide financial aid program that can be used to pursue a certificate, degree or industry-recognized credential in a high need area in Missouri. This major is eligible for the Fast Track grant.
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Additional Resources

Office of Admissions
Cost
Student Organizations & Teams
Department of History and Anthropology
College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Out of State Certification

Completion of this program allows you to be eligible to apply for an education certification in the state of Missouri through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). It is not certain if it leads to certification in other states. The U.S. Department of Education has contact information available for each state's licensure agencies.
State Contacts

Related Programs

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Program Details Degree Map

DEGREE TYPE

Bachelor's Degree

PROGRAM TYPE

Undergraduate

LOCATION

Main Campus - Cape

Regional Campus - Kennett

Regional Campus - Sikeston

History & Anthropology

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Location

Office Location

Carnahan Hall 311E

Mailing Location

One University Plaza, MS 2960
Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63701
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