Broadfield Social Studies Education (Grades 4-12) Major: Sociology Concentration - BS

Sociology is the study of human groups and how the group influences social behavior. The field is both a science and a philosophy, seeking to answer questions about human behavior through the use of scientific methods. Sociology gives us new and important knowledge about the social world. The focus of the sociology major is to prepare students with the methodological background and analytical skills necessary for working in today’s world, while allowing students to gain a basic understanding of a variety of areas within sociology such as social stratification, criminology, social psychology and comparative sociology.

Students in the broadfield social studies education major: sociology concentration can be licensed to teach through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI). 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.

Every broadfield social studies education: sociology concentration student completes a senior project in one of our three senior capstone courses SOC 405 Quantitative Social Research Seminar, SOC 410 Sociology Honors Project (3 cr.), or SOC 416 Qualitative Explorations. Working closely with faculty, each student designs and completes a semester-long investigation of a sociology-related topic. The senior capstone course provides students with firsthand experience and analytical skills that are valuable in the work world and in graduate study.

Completion of the Social Studies Education: Sociology Concentration 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 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): sociology concentration 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: Sociology Concentration Program is aligned with the Wisconsin Teacher Standards (WTS) and the National Council for Social Studies (NCSS) Standards.

Program requirement courses that may also fulfill Core General Education Requirements (CGER) (18 credits)

EDS 203Foundations of Education 1, 23
EDS 206Society and Schools 1, 33
EDS 309Global Perspectives in Education 43
GEO 110World Cultural Regions 4, 53
GEO 200Conservation of Global Environments 6, 73
HIS 110World History 5, 83
Total Credits18
1

Satisfies an SOE core requirement.

2

May also satisfy CGER - Social & Behavioral Science: Social & Behavioral Studies (CGER SBS-BS).

3

May also satisfy CGER - Civics & Perspectives: Communities of the United States (CGER CP-CU).

4

May also satisfy CGER - Civics & Perspectives: The Cultures of Our World (CGER CP-CW).

5

Satisfies a social studies major content requirement.

6

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

7

May also satisfy CGER - Natural Science & Wellness: Mind, Body, & Planet (CGER NSW-MBP).

8

May also satisfy CGER - Humanities & Arts: Pasts that Define Us (CGER HA-PDU).

Social studies education requirements (30 credits)

Courses not requiring admission to the School of Education
HIS 403Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment in Social Studies Education 13
PSY 212Lifespan Development 1, 53
SPE 200Foundations of Special Education 13
Courses requiring admission to the School of Education 1
HIS 304Schools and Learning in Social Studies and Field Experience I2
HIS 402Content Area Literacy for Secondary Social Studies3
HIS 419Teaching and Learning Social Studies in the Secondary School and Field Experience II4
Student teaching semester
Demonstrate content knowledge through benchmark assessment prior to student teaching 9
EDS 492Student Teaching Seminar 11
One of the following: 111
Student Teaching: Middle/High School Education (4-12)
Teaching Internship
Total Credits30

Social studies major content requirements (9 credits)

Additional content areas
SOC 110Introduction to Sociology3
Select one of the following: 63
Microeconomics and Public Policy
Global Macroeconomics
Select one of the following:3
American National Government
State and Local Government
Total Credits9

Sociology concentration requirements (33 credits)

Foundational content
SOC 200Foundations of Social Analysis3
SOC 250Methods of Social Research I3
SOC 350Methods of Social Research II3
SOC 390Sociological Theory3
Advanced content
Select six courses (18 credits) of electives from course offerings in sociology. At least nine credits must be at the 300/400-level.18
Capstone
Select one of the following:3
Quantitative Social Research Seminar
Sociology Honors Project
Qualitative Explorations
Total Credits33
9

Must complete all course requirements and other benchmarks prior to student teaching. See SOE's benchmark assessments website for information about these assessments. For more information on student teaching, please see the Student Teaching and Internship Policy.

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

All students must complete the general education, college core, major/minor, and university degree requirements to qualify for a degree. All enrolled students have access to a degree audit to track all of these requirements. 

Baccalaureate degree requirements

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

  1. Fulfill the Core General Education Requirements (CGER).
  2. Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
  3. Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
  4. 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.
  5. Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
  6. A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
  7. Submit an application for graduation via the "Submit Intent to Graduate" 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 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 their degree audit and work closely with their advisor(s) and college dean's office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.

Core General Education Program

The Core General Education Requirement (CGER) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include CGER placeholders to ensure completion of the core general education requirements. The CGER category listed in parentheses indicated the recommended course to help complete CGER and the program requirements. Transferred courses may alter the plan. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. CGER 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 Core 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 less than 12 credits earned are required to take The Eagle Advantage for College Success (UWL 100, 2 cr.) or 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
SOC 1103SOC 2163
CST 110 (CGER CL-SL Communication & Literacy: Spoken Literacy)3EDS 206 (CGER CP-CU Civics & Perspective: Communities of the United States)3
GEO 200 (CGER NSW-MBP Natural Science & Wellness: Mind, Body, & Planet)3ENG 110 (CGER CL-WL Communication & Literacy: Written Literacy)3
EDS 203 (CGER SBS-BS Social & Behavioral Science: Social & Behavioral Studies)3HIS 110 (CGER HA-PDU Humanities & Arts: Pasts that Define Us)3
UWL 100 or FYS 100 (CGER SBS-FS Social & Behavioral Science: Social Foundation for Success)2CGER MQR-QR Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning: Quantitative Reasoning3
 14 15
Year 2
FallCreditsSpringCredits
SOC 2003SOC 2503
EDS 3093SOC Elective (300/400 level)3
POL 101 or 1023GEO 110 (CGER CP-CW Civics & Perspective: Cultures of Our World )3
University Elective 3ECO 110 or 1203
University Elective3CGER NSWL-ES Natural Science & Wellness: Experiential Science4
 15 16
Year 3
FallCreditsSpringCredits
SOC 3503SOC 3903
SOC Elective (300/400 level)3SOC Elective (any level)3
HIS 4033HIS 3042
PSY 2123HIS 4023
CGER HA-AA Humanities & Arts: Arts & Aesthetics2SPE 2003
CGER CL-SWT Communication & Literacy: Stories We Tell3Apply for Field Experience II2 
Apply for admission to SOE1 Apply for Student Teaching3 
Apply for Field Experience I2  
 17 14
Year 4
FallCreditsSpringCredits
SOC 405, 410, or 4163All course requirements and other benchmarks must be completed prior to student teaching.4 
SOC Elective (any level)3EDS 4921
SOC Elective (300/400 level)3EDS 49611
HIS 4194University Elective3
CGER HA-AA Humanities & Arts: Arts & Aesthetics1 
 14 15
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