Elementary Certification Teaching Major - Social Studies
Help young learners understand the social forces that shape our society. From the study of history to understanding how our government works, social studies curriculum is essential for young citizens.
This program will train you in the latest strategies for teaching students about the important cultural, economic, geographic, political and social dimensions of human society, with an emphasis on evidence-based lessons and creative projects that enhance learning.
A bachelor’s degree in social studies with elementary teacher certification will prepare you to teach all subjects in grades K-5 with the option to become certified to teach social studies subjects in grades 6-8 upon meeting endorsement requirements. Plus, with successful completion of the program, you’ll earn both a bachelor’s degree and faculty recommendation for the Michigan Elementary Standard Certificate.
Major Requirements
A minimum of 36 semester hours from the following:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| EXPS 282 | History & Civics Elem Schools | 3 |
| EXPS 283 | Geography & Econ Elem Schools | 3 |
| HIST 101 | The World to 1500 CE | 3 |
| HIST 103 | The World Since 1500 CE | 3 |
| HIST 112 | The American Past II | 3 |
| HIST 3601 | Michigan History | 3 |
| POL 101 | American Politics | 3 |
| POL 371 | Problems in Intl Politics | 3 |
| or POL 471 | American Foreign Policy I | |
| or POL 472 | American Foreign Policy II | |
| URS 300 | Urban and Regional Studies | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
300 Level GEOG Elective | ||
| ECON 201 | Prin: Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 202 | Prin: Microeconomics | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 36 | |
Major Notes:
- 12 semester hours required at UM-Dearborn.
- 9 semester hours at 300 level or above required.
Program Notes:
- Minimum GPA's are required for program completion: 2.75 cumulative, 2.75 in major, 2.75 in optional minor(s), and 2.75 in Professional Studies.
- Advising Policy: The student is responsible for complying with requirements described in the Undergraduate Catalog as well as on the Four Phase Checklist. Students are expected to meet with their College of Education, Health, and Human Services advisor at least once per year and in the term prior to graduation.
- Courses taken on a PASS/FAIL basis will NOT be accepted toward program completion.
- The minimum number of semester hours required to graduate is 128.
- CEHHS recommends successful program completers for State of Michigan Certification, however, it is ultimately up to the State of Michigan to issue certificates. Certain offenses on a criminal record can keep individuals from obtaining teacher certification. Please refer to The Revised School Code, Act 451 of 1976, section 380.1539b.
- Students must meet Dearborn Discovery Core requirements.
Professional Requirements
The professional sequence of education courses consists of a minimum of 43 semester hours of credit. This concentration of study represents the core of your professional preparation. At least one practicum is required prior to student teaching. The semester hours are distributed as follows:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations | ||
| EDA 340 | Foundations of American Ed | 3 |
| or EDA 306 | Foundations of Professionalism in Education | |
| Multicultural Education | ||
| EXPS 410 | Multicult in School and Soc | 3 |
Not Required for Early Childhood Majors | ||
| Psychology | ||
| EDC 300 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| EDC 412 | Social Devl/Pos Guidnce Techn (required for Early Childhood majors) | 3 |
| or EDC 417 | Mgmt of Classroom Behavior | |
| EDC 460 | Educating the Exceptional Chld | 3 |
Not Required for Early Childhood Majors | ||
| Methodologies (See Note #1 below) | ||
| EDD 452 | Methods of Teaching Math K-8 | 3 |
| EDD 468 | Teach Read/Lang Arts- Elem Grd 1 | 3 |
| EDD 467 | Practicum in Reading Instruct 1 | 1 |
| EDD 471 | Reading Instr: Models and Meth 1 | 3 |
| EDD 485 | Teach Science in the Elem Grd | 3 |
| EDD 495 | Elementary Social Studies Methods | 3 |
| Professional Semester (See Notes #3 & #5 below) | ||
| EDD 435 | Dir Teaching: Elementary Sch | 10 |
| EDD 437 | Seminar: Teaching Elementary Grades | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours | 43 | |
Notes:
- Enrollment in all the required EDD courses is open only to those who are officially admitted to and in good academic standing in the Teacher Certification Program at UM-Dearborn. See Four-Phase Checklist for more information.
- Eligibility for directed teaching requires meeting all the requirements listed on the Four-Phase Checklist.
- Recommendations for teacher certification and additional endorsements require passing scores on the MTTC Elementary Education (#103) exam and other MTTC subject area tests.
- Minimum number of hours to graduate is 128 semester hours.