Social Studies Education
Continue to main contentSocial Studies Education (BSED) Degree Map
Explore the courses you'll need to complete your degree.
Outcomes & Careers
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$62k
High School Teacher
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for a secondary school teacher is $62,360 .
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$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.
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$82k
Geography Postsecondary Teacher
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for a geography postsecondary teacher is $81,920 .
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.
Required Courses:
- Education as a Profession (3)
- EF400 Student Teaching Seminar (1)
- EX390 Psychology and Education of the Exceptional Child (3)
- PY222 Development of the Adolescent (3)
- SE307 Reading/Writing in the Content Area (3)
- SE318 Techniques of Teaching Secondary Social Studies (3)
- SE350 Pedagogy 1: Principles of Effective Teaching (3)
- SE355 Field Experience II (3)
- SE365 Pedagogy 2: Secondary School (4)
- SE380 Advanced Field Experience (3)
- SE385 Pedagogy 3: Middle and Secondary Education Methods of Secondary Teaching (3)
- SE390 Instructional Interventions for Middle and Secondary Students with Special Literacy Needs (3)
- SE465 Student Teaching (12)
Required courses:
- PS103 U.S. Political Systems (3)
- PY101 Introduction to Psychology (3)
- US105 American History I (3)
- US107 American History II (3)
- 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:
- UI446 The Civil Rights Movement (3)
- UI457 African American Slavery (3)
- UI508 African Americans during the Era of Segregation and Jim Crow (3)
- 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 History (3)
- US400 Topics in American History (3)
- US420 African American Slavery (3)
- US440 U.S. in World War II (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 1970s (3)
- US502 America Since 1920 (3)
- US507 Civil War & Reconstruction (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)
- 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)
- EH480 Crusades & Culture Contact (3)
- EH516 History of Modern Germany (3)
- EH518 History of Soviet Russia (3)
- EH550 Castles in Context (3)
- UI418 The European Mind (3)
- UI440 The Holocaust (3)
- WH100 African Civilization (3)
- WH110 Chinese Civilization (3)
- WH125 Islamic Civilization (3)
- WH130 Latin American Civilization (3)
- WH400 Topics in World History (3)
- WH410 Age of Greece (3)
- WH440 Modern Middle East (3)
- WH515 Rise and Fall of the British Empire (3)
- WH524 History of Mexico (3)
- WH525 Cold War in Latin America (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)
- PS335 American Foreign Policy (3)
- PS343 Women and Politics (3)
- PS361 Campaigns & Elections (3)
- PS362 Political Parties & Interest Groups (3)
- PS365 Legislative Process (3)
- PS390 American Judicial System (3)
- PS496 Topics in Political Science (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
Freshman 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)
Milestone: Complete MEP
Sophomore Year
Fall Semester (15 Hours)
- ED280 (3)
- PS103 (3)
- SS200 (3)
- EH150 (3)
- General Education (3)
Spring Semester (15 Hours)
- AN181/OS200/SO101 (3)
- EC101/EC215/EC225 (3)
- PY222 (3)
- WH160 (3)
- General Education (3)
Milestone: Complete 42 hours coursework: ACT or MoGEA; and apply for admission to TPP
Junior Year
Fall Semester (15 Hours)
- EX390 (3)
- GG150/GG180/UI308 (3)
- SE350 (3)
- Political Science Elective (3)
- US History Elective (3)
Spring Semester (16 Hours)
- SE307 (3)
- SE355 (3)
- SE365 (4)
- World History Elective (3)
- General Education (3)
Milestone: Passing score Mo Content Exam
Senior 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.
Become a Redhawk.
Do more than dream about the future. Take the first steps to make it all happen.
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.
Teaching Social Studies with Real-World Impact
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.
Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63701