Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies Education, Grades 6-12
Department
Department of History and Political Science
College
College of Education and Human Development
Overview of the program
The BA in Social Studies Education prepares students for careers as teachers in middle and high school in the fields of American History, Anthropology, Civics (Political Science), Economics (Free Enterprise), Geography, Sociology, and World History.
The BA in Social Studies Education requires 128-129 credit hours, provides a strong liberal arts base (arts, communication, English, math, science, social science), and includes 61 hours in History, Economics, Geography, Political Science, and Sociology, and 33 hours in Education. Curriculum redesigned and significantly strengthened in accord with the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Teacher Quality.
Students with a primary teaching area in Social Studies Education are not required to have a secondary teaching area. However, Social Studies Education majors may elect to pursue one or more secondary teaching areas in Communication, English, Foreign Language (French, Spanish), Mathematics, or Science (as described under the appropriate departments in the catalogue section for the College of Education and Human Development).
Social Studies Education majors may elect to earn a Double Major in Social Studies Education and History (requires an additional 27 hours), a Double Degree in Social Studies Education and History (requires an additional 30 hours), or a Double Major/Degree in Social Studies Education and Political Science (requires an additional 36 hours).
Social Studies Education majors automatically earn a minor in History and may elect to earn additional minors in any subjects. It may be particularly beneficial for Social Studies Education majors to obtain a minor in English (requires an additional 6 hours in English), Geography (requires an additional 12 hours of Geography), Political Science (requires an additional 6 hours of Political Science), or Sociology requires an additional 12 hours of Sociology). Note that a minor is not the equivalent to a secondary teaching area.
Qualified Social Studies Education majors may elect to pursue the Honors Diploma in Social Studies Education or any of the other Honors Program curriculum paths.
Strengths of the program
- The Department of History and Political Science has 25 full-time faculty members and over 400 majors. Faculty have won awards for excellence in teaching, research, and service; produced a host of scholarly publications, many of which have attracted an international readership; and held important offices in professional organizations.
- The department is closely affiliated with the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies, the Florida Parishes Social Science Research Center, and the Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station.
- The department sponsors the 'Then and Now' Fanfare History and Politics Lecture Series and other events during Fanfare, a month-long celebration of the Arts, Humanities, and Sciences held annually at Southeastern in October, and the Black History and Politics Lecture Series, part of the University's annual observance of Black History Month in February.
- The department co-sponsors Women's History Month in March; the Arts and Sciences Colloquium in April; the Matheny Lectures on Science and Religion in April; the Deep Delta Civil War Symposium in June; and the annual James. H. Morrison Lecture on Politics and Government.
- The department currently administers a $1 million U.S. Department of Education Teaching American History Grant for improving the quality of Social Studies teachers in a fourteen-parish area.
- The department hosts the Region VIII Social Studies Fair in March.
- The passage rate for social studies education majors taking the social studies portion of the PRAXIS II exam has been at or near 100% in recent years.
Preparing for a job in the program
The BA in Social Studies Education teaches students to read intelligently, think analytically, write clearly, accurately assess past trends, rationally predict future developments, and understand the real world. Good preparation at the high-school level should include courses in American history, world history, civics, and geography; four years of English, math, and science; a foreign language; speech communication courses; and as much reading and writing as possible!
Careers in the program
- American history
- Anthropology
- Civics (political science)
- Economics
- Geography
- Sociology
- World history
Starting Salaries after completing the program (estimates only)
$31,000 and above
Campus organizations and activities affiliated with the program
- History Club
- Phi Alpha Theta (History Honor Society)
- Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science Honor Society)
Related fields that might interest you
- Anthropology
- Communication
- Economics
- English
- Foreign languages and literatures
- Geography
- History
- Political science
- Psychology
- Sociology
How do I know this is the degree for me?
Common Strengths and interests of students in the program
Helpful qualities for social studies education majors include the determination to teach middle and high school students; a desire to understand the workings and interrelationships of history, anthropology, economics, geography, political science, and sociology, and how the study of these disciplines relates to present-day concerns; and the love for reading, studying, and watching films about the social studies disciplines.
Notable Alumni
Jose Becerra, Principal, St. Thomas Aquinas High School
Melody Bonnette, 1998 Louisiana Teacher of the Year/Director, St. Tammany Education Access Channel
Gwen Meyers, Principal, Hammond High School
C. Howard Nichols, Professor Emeritus of History, Southeastern Louisiana University
Contact Information
Department of History and Political Science
College of Education and Human Development
SLU 10895
Hammond, LA 70402
On Campus: Fayard Hall, Room 335
Telephone: 985-549-2109
Fax: 985-549-2012
E-mail: hips@selu.edu
