Broadfield Social Studies Education (Grades 4-12) Major - Bachelor of Science (BS)

The broadfield social studies education major allows students to complete coursework in a broad range of social studies fields across campus, while still accumulating credits in one central department. The BFSS program is a very clever solution to the problem of academic over-specialization: it allows future teachers to graduate without pigeon-holing them into a single specialty. Instead, they can take a wide variety of courses in many social science disciplines, thus preparing them for the varied and diverse teaching requirements of secondary education.

This major prepares students to earn a WI teaching license that allows them to teach grades 4-12 in all of the six subject areas of social studies: economics, geography, history, psychology, political science, and sociology.

Teacher preparation in history

The History Department works closely with other divisions on campus to provide a background in history for future teachers.

Wherever possible, the History Department works to respond to the needs of future educators, while preparing them with current knowledge and methods from the historical profession. A variety of programs in the department -- National History DayPhi Alpha Theta, and preparation for the PRAXIS exams -- respond to the unique needs of future educators.

Completion of the Social Studies Education Program and associated benchmark assessments will lead to endorsement for the following Wisconsin teaching license:

  • Middle and High School Social Studies, grades 4-12 (2700).

Students in all teacher education programs must satisfy the School of Education (SOE) core requirements.

Students in all teacher education programs must be admitted to the School of Education in order to complete their program requirements and be eligible for endorsement for the appropriate teaching license(s). Students majoring in social studies education (grades 4-12) must meet specific program admission criteria.

Retention and advancement

Teacher candidates may be retained in their teacher education program provided they fulfill the conditions described in the SOE Retention Policy. Students must complete all course requirements and other benchmarks prior to student teaching as described in the Student Teaching and Internship Policy. Additional SOE program requirements, including the culminating assessment of pedagogical knowledge, are described on the SOE catalog page.

Curriculum

The Social Studies Education Program is aligned with InTASC Teacher Standards and the National Council for Social Studies (NCSS) Standards.

Required general education courses (12 credits)

Besides the courses specified below, social studies education majors must satisfy additional general education requirements. The General Education Program requires a total of 42 credits.

EDS 203School, Society, and Teachers 1, 53
EDS 206Multicultural Education 2, 53
HIS 110World History 3, 63
GEO 200Conservation of Global Environments 4, 73
Total Credits12
1

Counts toward General Education Program requirement: Self and Society (GE Category 6).

2

Counts toward General Education Program requirement: Minority Cultures or Multiracial Women's Studies (GE Category 3).

3

Counts toward General Education Program requirement: International and Multicultural Studies, World History (GE Category 4-1).

4

Counts toward General Education Program requirement: International and Multicultural Studies, Global and Multicultural Studies (GE Category 4-2).

Social studies education requirements (33 credits)

Courses not requiring admission to the School of Education
EDS 309Teaching Global Perspectives Across the Curriculum3
HIS 403Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment in Social Studies Education 53
PSY 212Lifespan Development 5, 63
SPE 200Foundations of Special Education 53
Courses requiring admission to the School of Education
HIS 304Schools and Learning in Social Studies and Field Experience I 52
HIS 402Secondary Content Methods for Teaching English Language Learners 53
HIS 419Teaching and Learning Social Studies in the Secondary School and Field Experience II 54
Student teaching semester 8
EDS 492Student Teaching Seminar 51
One of the following: 511
Student Teaching: Middle/High School Education (4-12)
Teaching Internship
Total Credits33

Social studies major content requirements (12 credits)

World geography
GEO 110World Cultural Regions3
Additional content areas
Select one of the following: 73
Microeconomics and Public Policy
Global Macroeconomics
Select one of the following:3
American National Government
State and Local Government
Select one of the following:3
Introduction to Sociology
Society and Schools
Total Credits12

Additional requirements (30 credits)

Select a first minor from the following social studies content areas: 915-18
Economics
Geography
History
Political Science
Psychology
Sociology
Select a second minor OR complete elective credits from courses in one of the following social studies content areas: 915-18
Economics
Geography
History
Political Science
Psychology
Sociology
Total Credits30-36
5

Also satisfies an SOE core requirement.

6

Also satisfies a social studies major content requirement.

7

Also satisfies a WI statutory requirement for a teaching license in Social Studies (2700).

8

Must complete all course requirements and other benchmarks prior to student teaching. For more information, please see the Student Teaching and Internship Policy.

9

HIS 304, HIS 402, HIS 403, and HIS 419 cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.

Additional teacher education requirements are listed on the School of Education catalog page.

All teacher education students must complete the general education, School of Education, major/minor, and university degree requirements in order to qualify for a degree. The easiest way to track all of these requirements is to refer to the Advisement Report (AR) found in the Student Information System (WINGS) Student Center. All enrolled students have access to the AR.

Baccalaureate degree requirements

Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:

  1. Fulfill the general education requirements.
  2. Complete at least one ethnic studies (diversity) course.
  3. Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
  4. Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
  5. At least 40 credits must be earned in 300/400 level courses. Transfer courses earned or transferred at the 300/400 level apply to this requirement.
  6. Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
  7. A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
  8. Submit an application for graduation via the "Apply for Graduation" link in the WINGS Student Center as soon as the student has registered for his or her final semester or summer term in residence. December and winter intersession graduates should apply by May 1. May and summer graduates should apply by December 1.
1

Grade point average requirements for some programs will be considerably higher than 2.00. Re-entering students may be required to earn credits in excess of the 120 needed for graduation in any curriculum in order to replace credits earned in courses in which the content has changed substantially in recent years. Each case will be judged on its own merit.

2

The grade point average recorded at the time the degree is awarded will not be affected by future enrollment.

No degree will be awarded unless all requirements are fulfilled and recorded within 30 days after the official ending date of each term.

Below is a sample degree plan that can be used as a guide to identify courses required to fulfill the major and other requirements needed for degree completion. A student's actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Also, this sample plan assumes readiness for each course and/or major plan, and some courses may not be offered every term. Review the course descriptions or the class timetable for course offering information.

The sample degree plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UWL in the fall term. Students should use the Advisement Report (AR) in WINGS and work closely with their faculty advisor(s) and college dean’s office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.

General Education Program
The general education curriculum (Gen Ed) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include Gen Ed placeholders to ensure completion of the general education requirements. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. Gen Ed courses may be taken during winter term (January between the semesters) and summer to reduce the course load during regular terms (fall and spring). Students should consult with their advisor and/or the college academic services director in their college/school for assistance with course and schedule planning. Refer to the general education requirements for more specific details.

At least 40 credits of the 120 credits required must be earned at the 300/400-level. 

Note: New students and transfer students with 15 or fewer credits earned are required to take FYS 100 First-Year Seminar (3 cr.) during one of their first two semesters at UWL.

This sample degree plan does not establish a contractual agreement. It identifies the minimum requirements a student must successfully complete, to qualify for a degree, in a format intended to assist the student in planning their academic career. Actual degree plans may differ.

Year 1
FallCreditsSpringCredits
EDS 203 (Gen Ed Minority Cultures)3EDS 206 (Gen Ed Self & Society)3
FYS 100 (Gen Ed First-Year Seminar)3ENG 110 or 112 (Gen Ed Literacy-Written)3
CST 110 (Gen Ed Literacy-Oral)3GEO 110 (Gen Ed Global Studies)3
HIS 110 (Gen Ed World History)3Gen Ed Math4
SOC 110 or 2163Minor course3
 15 16
Year 2
FallCreditsSpringCredits
EDS 3093PSY 2123
POL 101 or 1023ECO 110 or 1203
Minor course3Minor course3
Gen Ed Humanistic Studies3Minor course or social studies content area elective3
Gen Ed Math/Logical Systems3Gen Ed Natural Lab Science4
 15 16
Year 3
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Gen Ed Arts2-3HIS 3042
HIS 4033HIS 4023
GEO 200 (Gen Ed Global Studies)3SPE 2003
Minor course3Minor course3
Minor course or social studies content area elective3Minor course or social studies content area elective3
Minor course or social studies content area elective3Apply for Field Experience II2 
Apply for admission to SOE1 Apply for Student Teaching3 
Apply for Field Experience I2  
 17 14
Year 4
FallCreditsSpringCredits
HIS 4194All course requirements and other benchmarks must be completed prior to student teaching.4 
University Elective3EDS 4921
Gen Ed Health & Well-Being3EDS 49611
Minor course or social studies content area elective3 
Gen Ed Arts2-3 
 15 12
Total Credits: 120
1

See the SOE admissions website for complete admission and application details. Students will be required to complete a criminal background check at the time of application for admission.

2

Students applying for field and student teaching placements will be asked to disclose any criminal charges.

3

Students must apply for student teaching through the Office of Field Experience one year prior to the student teaching semester.

4

For more information, please see the Student Teaching and Internship Policy.