2024-2025 Academic Catalog 
    
    Oct 09, 2024  
2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Social Science Education, BA


Program Description

Students intending to teach secondary-level social studies (Grades 7-12) in the Ohio public school system earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in social science education, a multi-disciplinary major including work in history, economics, political science, and geography.

Admission Requirements

  • Currently admitted to Wright State University

For licensure, candidates must be accepted into and satisfy the requirements of the Adolescence to Young Adult: Integrated Social Studies (AYA: ISS) licensure program through a sequence of courses and field placements offered through the College of Health, Education, and Human Services alongside their Social Science Education (SSE) degree. Upon completion of the academic content and professional teaching requirements, students are eligible to apply for licensure in AYA: Integrated Social Studies from the Ohio Department of Education. Students who are not accepted into the licensure program may still complete the SSE degree without licensure.

Candidates must meet with a College of Health, Education, and Human Services Licensure Advisor early in the bachelor's degree program to learn how to apply for school placements, deadlines, admissions details, and other important information.

The Honors Program in Social Science Education enables superior and highly motivated students to engage in an in-depth study of topics within SSE of interest to them, and to develop their scholarly abilities in this interdisciplinary field. Under the direction of a faculty tutor and with the approval of the Program Director, students in the Honors Program will complete an honors project over two semesters in the senior year that culminates in an honors thesis. For further information on eligibility requirements and enrollment, see the Program Director.

Program Learning Objectives

Students enrolled in the ​Social Science Education program will learn to

  • Be effective writers;
  • Develop strong analytical and critical thinking skills;
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the differences among history, political science, economics, and geography as distinct scholarly disciplines;
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the ways these disciplines integrate together and the utility of that integration;
  • Demonstrate the content knowledge needed to pass the Ohio Assessment for Educators examination for Integrated Social Studies.

Program Learning Outcomes

As a result of their learning experience, graduates of the Social Science Education program can

  • Write effectively;
  • Demonstrate strong analytical and critical thinking skills;
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the differences among history, political science, economics, and geography as distinct scholarly disciplines;
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the ways these disciplines integrate together and the utility of that integration;
  • Demonstrate the content knowledge needed to pass the Ohio Assessment for Educators examination for Integrated Social Studies.

For More Information

Program Requirements:


I. Wright State Core: 41 Hours


Element 1: Communication: 6 Hours


Element 2: Mathematics: 3 Hours


Element 3: Global Traditions: 6 Hours


Element 4: Arts and Humanities: 3 Hours


Element 5: Social Sciences: 6 Hours


Element 6: Natural Sciences: 8 Hours


II. Departmental Requirements: 44 Hours


Introductory Components: 17 Hours


Take all of the following. HST 2110 and HST 2120 should be taken before any upper division History course are attempted.

History Courses (upper division): 12 Hours


Historical methodology and three other 3000 or 4000-level classes. HST 3000 should be taken before any 4000-level classes are attempted.

No more than 2 from any one area (US, European, non-Western);

At least 1 non-Western course

Political Science Courses: 9 Hours


Take PLS 2220 - International Politics, and two more PLS courses from among the following choices.

Geography Courses: 6 Hours


III. College Requirements: 18-22 Hours


Foreign Language: 12-16 Hours


Through 2020 level (1010, 1020, 2010, 2020) of one language:

Arabic, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Latin, Chinese, American Sign Language or other.

IV. Electives: 13-17 Hours


Students intending to apply for licensure will, if admitted to candidacy, take the required courses in the Adolescent to Young Adult: Integrated Social Studies licensure sequence in the College of Health, Education, and Human Services in lieu of Electives.

Total: 120 Hours


Graduation Planning Strategy


The Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS) has been created to illustrate one option to complete degree requirements within a particular time frame. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to adjust this plan based on credit already earned, individual needs or curricular changes that may not be reflected in this year’s catalog. 

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