About the Program
History and Social Studies Education Department
Cassety Hall 302
(716) 878-5412
https://history.buffalostate.edu/
Accredited: Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) (formerly NCATE)
Professional Licensure: This program leads to a recommendation for NYS certification; please check for certification requirements in all other states.
The social studies education (7–12; 5–6 extension) postbaccalaureate certification-only program prepares persons with existing undergraduate degrees who have a history or social science major to meet the disciplinary content and educational requirements leading to New York State’s Initial Certificate in adolescence education required to teach social studies in grades 5–12. The program supplies the background knowledge necessary for teachers to implement the NYS Social Studies Framework for social studies in grades 5–12. It also meets the standards set by national professional organizations such as the Council for the Accreditation Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Candidates should consult the Teacher Certification website for current seminars and workshops.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must have an existing undergraduate degree with a 36-credit concentration in history and/or social science courses, as well as a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA; a minimum 3.0 GPA in all history and social sciences courses.
Students complete a minimum of 30–35 clock hours of field experience in each of three courses: SSE 200, SSE 303, and SSE 309. Another course, SSE 488/HIS 488, will be used by students to complete the additional 50 clock hours in field experience required for the 5-6 extension. The department has established relationships with several high-need urban and suburban school districts where field experiences are held. All majors will have study and experiences that together provide a solid foundation for teaching in high-need schools.
Learning Outcomes
1. The Learner and Learning Candidates will use understanding of adolescent development, individual differences and diverse cultures to ensure inclusive, student-centered learning environments that enable each learner to meet high standards.
2. The Content Candidates will demonstrate understanding of central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of disciplines to be taught and be able to connect concepts to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity and collaborative problem solving related to authentic issues.
3. The Teacher and Teaching Candidates will use multiple methods of assessment, plan instruction that supports every student in meeting rigorous learning goals and use varied an innovative instructional strategy to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of content.
4. The Profession and Professional Dispositions Candidates will engage in ongoing professional learning, use evidence to reflect on their own practice, seek appropriate leadership roles and collaborate with families, colleagues, and the community to advance the profession.
Program Requirements
Prerequisites for Student Teaching
Prerequisite
See prerequisites for SSE 409 and SSE 410.
Students should contact the department for additional information.
The social studies content core constitutes a 42-credit major in social studies that consists of study in economics, government, and a minimum of 30 credit hours of study in the history and geography of the United States and the world (see total required credit hours in social studies, below). All program majors are required to complete a minimum of 100 clock hours of field experience related to coursework prior to student teaching. These field experiences consist of observations, individual tutoring, and the teaching of small groups of students under the supervision of certified teachers. These experiences are an integral component of the pedagogical core courses specified in the previous section, with learning outcomes specified and their achievement evaluated by course instructors. Students complete a minimum of 30–35 clock hours of field experience in each of three courses: SSE 200, SSE 303, and SSE 309. Another course, SSE 488/HIS 488, is available and will be used by transfer students and others who may have a deficiency in field experience. The department has established relationships with several "high-need" urban and suburban school districts where field experiences are held. All majors will have study and experiences that together provide a solid foundation for teaching in high-need schools.
To student teach, students are required to have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and a minimum GPA of 2.75 in the social studies major, as well as obtain a minimum grade of C in SSE 303 and SSE 309. All majors meeting these requirements must enroll in two practicum courses following completion of all other coursework and satisfaction of English and math competency requirements. Placements for these practica include urban and suburban settings. The urban placements may be in high-need districts that provide opportunities for student teachers to work with students from diverse backgrounds, including socio-economically disadvantaged students, students with disabilities, and students who are English-language learners. Experiences include individual and group instruction, daily and long-view planning, unit teaching, classroom management and routine procedures, use of audiovisual aids, community resources, record-keeping, evaluation procedures, and participation in the total school program.
Candidates should consult the Teacher Certification website for current seminars and workshops. https://teachercertification.buffalostate.edu/seminars-and-workshops.
Program Requirements
Completion requirement
History of the Western Hemisphere - Required (12 credit hours)
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
HIS106 HISTORY OF AMERICAN LIFE I | 3 - Credit Hours
HIS107 HISTORY OF AMERICAN LIFE II | 3 - Credit Hours
HIS314 MODERN LATIN AMERICA | 3 - Credit Hours
HIS415 HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT OF NEW YORK STATE | 3 - Credit Hours
History of the Western Hemisphere - Options (3 Credit Hours)
Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:
HIS308 HISTORY OF EARLY CANADA | 3 - Credit Hours
HIS316 HISTORY OF MODERN CANADA | 3 - Credit Hours
HIS326 HISTORY OF THE GREAT LAKES REGION | 3 - Credit Hours
History of the Eastern Hemisphere - Required (3 credit hours)
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
HIS230 WORLD CIVILIZATIONS I | 3 - Credit Hours
History of the Eastern Hemisphere - Options (6 credit hours)
Complete at least 2 of the following Courses:
HIS115 FOUNDATIONS OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION | 3 - Credit Hours
HIS116 EUROPE SINCE 1500 | 3 - Credit Hours
HIS117 TWENTIETH-CENTURY EUROPE | 3 - Credit Hours
Geography - Required (3 credit hours)
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
GEG300 WORLD REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY | 3 - Credit Hours
Geography - Options (3 Credit Hours)
Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:
GEG102 HUMAN GEOGRAPHY | 3 - Credit Hours
GEG206 GEOGRAPHY OF NEW YORK STATE | 3 - Credit Hours
GEG309 URBAN GEOGRAPHY | 3 - Credit Hours
GEG360 GEOGRAPHY OF ASIA | 3 - Credit Hours
GEG362 GEOGRAPHY OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA | 3 - Credit Hours
Political Science (3 credit hours)
Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:
PSC102 INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC320 U.S. CIVIL LIBERTIES | 3 - Credit Hours
Economics (3 credit hours)
Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:
ECO101 THE ECONOMIC SYSTEM | 3 - Credit Hours
ECO201 PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS | 3 - Credit Hours
ECO202 PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS | 3 - Credit Hours
Cultural Diversity (3 credit hours)
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
SSE363 AMERICAN IDENTITY IN TRANSITION: DIVERSITY AND PLURALISM IN THE UNITED STATES | 3 - Credit Hours
History/Social Science Elective (11 credit hours)
Complete 11 Credit Hours
Professional Education Requirements (30 credit hours)
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
EDU416 TEACHING LITERACY IN MIDDLE AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS | 3 - Credit Hours
ENG309 TEACHING AND EVALUATING WRITING | 3 - Credit Hours
OR EDU417 ADOLESCENT LITERACY | 3 - Credit Hours
EXE100 NATURE AND NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY357 ADOLESCENT AND YOUNG ADULT DEVELOPMENT | 3 - Credit Hours
SPF303 EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY: MIDDLE AND SECONDARY EDUCATION | 3 - Credit Hours
SSE200 INTRODUCTION TO SECONDARY TEACHING | 3 - Credit Hours
SSE303 METHODS AND MATERIALS IN TEACHING MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES | 3 - Credit Hours
SSE309 METHODS AND MATERIALS IN TEACHING HIGH SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES | 3 - Credit Hours
SSE370 COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY IN THE SOCIAL STUDIES CLASSROOM | 3 - Credit Hours
SSE402 HISTORICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF SOCIAL EDUCATION | 3 - Credit Hours
OR SSE407 THE TEACHING OF HISTORY | 3 - Credit Hours
Student Teaching Requirements (15 credit hours)
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
SSE409 STUDENT TEACHING OF SOCIAL STUDIES IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6 - Credit Hours
SSE410 STUDENT TEACHING OF SOCIAL STUDIES IN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 6 - Credit Hours
SSE488 INTERNSHIP | 1 - 12 Credit Hours
95 Total Credit Hours