History and Social Studies Adolescence Education (SSE) Major

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Description

This single certification major prepares students for initial certification as a Social Studies teacher for grades 7-12 with an extension to teach Social Studies in grades 5 and 6. Students interested in a dual certification as a Social Studies and Students with Disabilities (SWD) Generalist teacher should enroll in the History and Social Studies Adolescence Inclusive Education (SSI) major. 

The study of History promotes the knowledge, breadth of perspective, intellectual growth, and skills essential to achieving career success, leading a purposeful life, and exercising responsible citizenship. Social Studies majors develop strong critical thinking, research, communication and problem-solving skills alongside the pedagogical skills that are vital for classroom teachers.

The History and Adolescence Social Studies Education(SSE) Major consists of required core courses, course choices within required categories, and one History elective. That elective can be any upper division (300 and 400-level) History course including History internship, study abroad, digital and oral history, and professional development courses. Students who plan well and take courses that count for general education as well as major or teacher certification requirements may be able to fit in a minor or a semester abroad. Students may have the opportunity to student teach in Alaska or abroad.

Admission to the Program

Students entering the college must meet SUNY System Board of Trustees additional requirements for admission to teacher preparation programs by one of the following pathways:

First Year Students Criteria

  • High School GPA of a B or better or
  • High School Rank in top 30% or
  • SAT (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing+Math) > 1140 or
  • ACT > 24 or
  • Brockport GPA > 3.0 based on at least 12 credits

Transfer Students Criteria

  • High School GPA of a B or better or
  • High School Rank in top 30% or
  • SAT (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing+Math) > 1140 or
  • ACT > 24 or
  • Transfer GPA > 3.0 based on at least 12 credits or
  • Brockport GPA > 3.0 based on at least 12 credits

Program Requirements

Students in the History and Adolescence Social Studies Education (SSE) major pursue either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree and must complete the corresponding degree's requirements.

Students must also meet NYSED requirements for minimum acceptable grades during completion of the program, including grades of C or above for all History and pedagogical core coursework. Students must re-take courses where grades have not met this minimum acceptable grade standard.

Additionally, students must have an approved Plan of Study filed with the Professional Education Unit prior to beginning their pedagogy fieldwork. Plans of Study should be filed no later than March 1 or October 1 of the semester prior to starting Phase I. Students must work with the Adolescent Education Advisement Coordinator to complete all steps necessary for creating a plan of study.

General Education Requirements (20-35 credits)

Social Studies Education majors will fulfill their Humanities (6), Social Science (6), Contemporary Issues (3), Perspectives on Gender (3), Oral Communication (3), Diversity or Other World Civilizations (3), and Foreign Language (3) general education requirements through required courses for the major, thus reducing their General Education credit count to 20.

History Coursework Requirements (36 credits)

Students pursuing certification as Adolescence Social Studies Education teachers must complete the following history courses and may count only one 100-level history course towards their degree program. Only courses in which a student earns a grade of "C" or higher will fulfill these requirements, and 18 of the following history credits must be completed at Brockport. Students entering the College as transfers should talk to their advisor regarding appropriate course credit if they took Western Civilization courses at another institution. All other requirements are the same for transfer students.

*Students may apply to substitute one of the required 200-level seminars with a 100-level survey as follows: HST 110 Survey in Early America (Can replace HST 211); HST 120 Survey in Modern America (Can replace HST 212); HST 130 World History Survey I (Can replace HST 201); HST 140 World History Survey II (Can replace HST 202). Students wishing to do so should see their advisor.

**Students must complete three of the following four course (HST 201, HST 202, HST 211, and HST 212) with a C or better prior to taking HST 390.  Students must complete HST 390 with a C or better prior to taking their Advanced American History Course.

Pedagogical and Professional Coursework (55 credits)

Pre-Professional Courses

  • Beginning Language I from Degree Audit list (3 credits)
  • Beginning Language II from Degree Audit list (3 credits)
  • ESC 102 Elements of Geography (3 credits)
  • PLS 113 American Political Systems* (3 credits)

Pre- or Co-Phase courses

These courses can be taken prior to Phase I, or in Phase I or II.

  • EDI 409 Teaching Students with Special Needs Across the Curriculum (3 credits)
  • EDI 430 Education and Society (3 credits)
  • EDI 431 Teaching Literacy in Middle & High School Content Areas I (3 credits)
  • EDI 432 Teaching Literacy in Middle & High School Content Areas II (3 credits)
  • EDI 459 Adolescent Development and Learning (3 credits)
  • PRO 370 Health and Drug Education for Teacher Candidates (1 credit)

Phase 1 Courses

  • EDI 448 Inclusive Middle Level Teaching in Social Studies (corequisite PRO 430)(3 credits)
  • PRO 430 EHD Adolescence Field Experience I (corequisite EDI 448) (1 credit)

Phase 2 Courses

  • EDI 331 Adolescence Classroom Management I (can be taken Phase I or II) (1 credit)
  • EDI 468 Teaching Social Studies Inclusively (prerequisite EDI 448; corequisite PRO 431)(3 credits)
  • PRO 431 EHD Adolescence Field Experience II (corequisite EDI 468) (1 credit)

Phase 3 (Student Teaching)

  • EDI 464 Seminar in Adolescence Inclusive Education (corequisite PRO 433)(3 credits)
  • PRO 433 Practicum in Adolescence Inclusive Education (corequisite EDI 464)(9 credits)

Electives (0-9 credits)

Total Credits (120 credits)

 Continuation Requirements  

  • Maintain ≥ 2.0 cumulative Brockport GPA
  • Earn ≥ C in all content core, EDI, PRO, and modern languages courses 
  • Complete prerequisite course(s) before moving to the next program phase 
  • Minimum grade levels apply to transfer courses. Community college advising guides are available here 
  • Demonstrate the dispositions necessary in the teaching profession
  • Acquire and maintain an acceptable level of professional performance 
  • A ≥ 2.5 cumulative Brockport GPA is required to student teach

Continuation in the program may be denied to any teacher candidate whose level of performance and/or dispositions do not adequately meet academic or professional standards. Decisions with respect to retention or dismissal of a teacher candidate are made by the faculty and staff of the Department of Education and Human Development, in consultation with the faculty in the Department of History, and not by any one person. 
 
Students should note that admission into most graduate education programs in New York State will require a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. 

Workshops

Students must complete the following workshops and trainings for program completion:

Additional Degree Requirements

  • Completion of all college-wide degree requirements

Certification

College Endorsement

Students must complete this program and submit the College Recommendation Request Form to be eligible for the College's recommendation for New York State certification. Students should consult the Brockport Certification Office for the full list of New York state requirements for certification.

New York State Initial Teacher Certification Exams

Prospective Adolescence Inclusive Generalist Education Teacher candidates must pass the following New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE) to obtain initial certification in the State of New York:

Certification Exams

  • Educating All Students (EAS)
  • Content Specialty Test (CST)
  • edTPA

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

  1. Articulate a thesis in response to a historical problem
  2. Advance in logical sequence principal arguments in defense of a historical thesis.
  3. Provide relevant evidence in defense of a historical thesis.
  4. Evaluate the significance of a historical thesis by relating it to a broader field of historical knowledge.
  5. Express themselves clearly in writing that forwards a historical analysis.
  6. Use disciplinary standards (Chicago Style) of documentation when referencing historical sources