History B.A./B.S. - Emphasis in Social Studies 4-8, Teaching Certification

Students seeking teacher certification in grades four through eight in social studies must take the courses required for this major. In addition they must take required support courses designed to broaden their content knowledge in order to help them team plan with middle school teachers in other disciplines.

The purpose of this bachelor's degree is for students to become trained in the discipline of history. The objectives of this program are to acquaint students with the human past; to provide insight into the nature of the historic process; and to teach students to analyze and think critically about historical works and issues, and express their judgments clearly in writing. At the conclusion of this program students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of historiography, that is, a familiarity with a range of historical methods, theories, and schools of interpretation. They will also be able to research and write thesis-driven papers on historical topics, using appropriate sources.

This particular emphasis is designed for students to become certified to teach middle school social studies, which includes the fields of history, government, geography, and economics.

Core Curriculum Courses
See the Core Curriculum Requirements42
Required courses in the major
HIST 303GLB/Historical Geography3
HIST 305GLB/World History to 17th Century3
HIST 306GLB/The Modern World3
HIST 400Teaching and Learning in History and Social Studies3
HIST 445Advanced Studies in Texas History3
HIST 492Senior Research Seminar3
Choose 3 sh from the following:3
HIST 342Colonial North America to 1763
HIST 343Revolutionary America, 1763-1789
HIST 344Early National United States, 1789-1850
HIST 345Civil War and Reconstruction
HIST 346Modern United States 1850-1920
HIST 347The Twentieth-Century United States
Choose 3 sh from the following:3
HIST 440Modern Civil Rights Movements
HIST 443History of the American West
HIST 450African American History
HIST 457Themes in United States History
HIST 479Women, Gender, and Sexuality in United States History
Choose 3 sh from the following:3
HIST 332Ancient and Medieval Europe
HIST 337Europe in the Age of Enlightenment and Revolution, 1648-1848
HIST 338Modern Europe, 1848-1991
HIST 433A Feudal Society
HIST 434The European Reformations
HIST 436Russia and the Soviet Union from Peter to Putin
HIST 473Women and Gender in European History
Choose 3 sh from the following:3
Modern East Asia
Modern India
Modern Middle East
Colonial Latin America
Latin America in the Modern Period
GLB/Themes in World History
Mapping Our World: An Introduction to Cartography
GLB/Food in World History
GLB/Global Enviro History
History of the Ottoman Empire
Themes in Asian or Middle East History
History of Modern Mexico
Political Science (choose 3 sh from the following)3
American Presidency
Amer Pol Par/Electoral Po
Public Opinion
Intro to Public Policy
Required support courses
PSY 300Learning Processes and Development3
RDG 380Comprehension and Vocabulary in Middle and High Schools3
RDG 450Middle School Reading: Theory & Practice3
MLED 314Young Adolescent Development3
MLED 435Integrating Instruction: Science, Mathematics, and Technology3
MLED 402Best Practices in Pedagogy and Assessment3
MLED 403Organization, Motivation, and Management in Middle Level Classrooms3
MLED 410Fostering School, Family, and Community Relationships3
MATH 1350Mathematics for Teachers I3
MATH 1351Mathematics for Teachers II3
SPED 346Survey of Exceptionalities3
ELED 452Student Teaching in Field-Based Teacher Education Programs6
Plus 3 sh from:
ELED 300Introduction To Teaching3
or SED 300 Teaching Profession
Plus 3 sh from:
ELED 1301GLB/Education in Global Societ3
or SED 1301 GLB/Edu in a Global Society
Total Hours120

Other Requirements

Any HIST 497 may be applied by the undergraduate advisor to the degree plan in the category according to the topic of the course. 

A grade of “C” or higher must be earned in all History and Political Science courses required for this major. Fifteen semester hours of the major must be taken at Texas A&M University-Commerce.

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