Middle Grades 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 OBJECTIVES

1. To become knowledgeable in subject matter content
2. To become skillful in creating meaningful learning environments
3. To become responsive to the developmental needs of a diverse student population.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. Bachelor’s Degree with at least a 2.67 GPA.
2. Passage of PRAXIS I or a waiver based on an SAT of over 1100(after 1999).
3. General education requirements: 39 total semester credits and five of the following six fields: English, Math, Science, Social Science, Fine Arts, and Foreign Language.
4. U.S. History course covering at least 50 years.
5. Two references attesting to suitability for teaching and ability to do graduate work.
6. Personal essay of 350 words addressing reasons for seeking a teaching career and personal attributes that support that aspiration.
7. History and Social Science Content for 4-8, one of the following:
   • Major in History, Political Science, Economics, Geography, Anthropology, Sociology, or Social Science. or
   • Interdisciplinary major in humanities, history/ social science. or
   • Twenty four credits in history, political science, economics, geography, anthropology, sociology and 15 additional credits in one subject.

FIELDWORK AND STUDENT TEACHING

There are two levels of field work: prior to student teaching and student teaching.
Prior to student teaching a student would either serve under the Internship program in a school during the year of study for the degree or serve at least 75 hours in a school of the student’s choosing as an observer, assistance to a teacher, assistance in other instructional related activity. A portfolio is produced that centers on the program objectives listed above.
The student 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 credits in foundations: History/Philosophy of Education, Special Education, and Human Growth and Development.
2. Twelve credits in Middle School-focused courses: Human Growth and Development(counts for foundations and Middle school); Reading and Writing in the Content Areas, History/Social Studies Methods course, Interdisciplinary Teaching, Middle School Reading.
3. One credit in State Statue requirements.
4. Two credits in computer.
5. At least three credits in field experience.
6. Electives to reach the 33 credits for the Master’s Degree.
7. Final degree option ( PRAXIS II or credit-bearing project).
8. Student teaching (six credits not counting towards the Master’s Degree)