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Specialization in History and Social Studies

Middle School History and Social Studies (4-8)

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

This program offers experiences that prepare individuals to become successful teachers in the fields of History and Social Studies. Courses provide the range of understandings that support teaching-learning connections, that illuminate issues relating to student diversity, that provide for meaningful exploration of content.

Certification for the State of Connecticut to teach grades 4-8 History/Social Studies is offered as part of a Master’s degree. All of the education requirements for courses are built into the Master’s study. The student teacher requirement is completed subsequent to the degree.
Students may choose to combine the program with the Internship or take the program on a tuition-paying basis.

Advisors for both the academic program and the field work components guide each student.

Program Goals:
  1. The passionate, professional educator is knowledgeable about subject matter.
  2. The passionate, professional educator is committed to inquiry.
  3. The passionate, professional educator is responsive to diversity. 

Admission Requirements: 

  1. Bachelor’s Degree with at least a B- cumulative GPA;
  2. Passage of Praxis I or a waiver based on a combined Math and Verbal SAT score of over 1100 (Prior to March 1995, combined SAT scores of 1000 and after April 1995, combined SAT scores of 1100),  appropriate ACT and GRE scores may qualify;
  3. General education requirements: appropriate undergraduate major and one course in the  following areas: English, Math, Science, Social Sciences, and Fine Arts or Foreign Language;
  4. U.S. History survey course covering at least 50 years;
  5. Two reference letters attesting to suitability for teaching, ability to do graduate work, and dispositions to be a lifelong learner;
  6. Personal essay of approximately 350 words addressing reasons for seeking a teaching career and personal attributes that support that aspiration.
Fieldwork and Resident Teaching:

Each student must complete fieldwork and Resident Teaching experiences. Fieldwork occurs concurrent with enrollment in coursework and may take one of two forms: either a district-paid internship or a self-paid field experience in local schools. Both experiences award six semester hours of credit. Interns work at a school in a  district selected by the Director of the Intern Program. Interns spend an entire school year following the schedule of the selected school district. Tuition for University of Bridgeport course work is fully paid resulting in a tuition free degree/certification experience in academically related course work. Alternatively, each traditional student may choose to complete fieldwork in a school of the student's choice as an observer, assistant to a teacher, or assistant in other instructional related activity. As a culminating project, students (both intern and traditional) produce portfolios centering on the program objectives.

The Resident Teaching experience is a full 60 days of teaching in a school under the direction of a trained Cooperating Teacher. The arrangement for the placements are made through the School of Education and are also supervised by University staff.

Course Requirements:
  1. Nine credit hours in foundations of education coursework (differentiated instruction, educational psychology, and special education).
  2. Twenty-four hours of professional education requirements (curriculum and methods of teaching, statutory state requirements, and field experiences).
  3. Sixty-day (twelve-week) Resident Teaching experience (six credit hours)