Bachelor's Degree in History
Concentration: Social Studies Teaching (BA)
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Social Studies Teaching Concentration Overview
Purdue University Northwest’s bachelor’s degree in history with a concentration in social studies teaching prepares you for a career in secondary education at the middle and high school levels through a partnership with the School of Education and Counseling. Graduates of our program have become excellent, award-winning teachers, changing the lives of students in Indiana and beyond.
Department of History, Philosophy, Politics and Economics
This program is specifically designed to prepare aspiring teachers of social studies. In alignment with Indiana Department of Education standards, you’ll specialize in the teaching of historical perspectives along with two other areas of your choosing.
Our faculty views teaching as a vocation. They seek to help you shape the lives of your students through social studies education.
Social Studies Teaching Concentration Curriculum
As a social studies teaching student, you’ll take a balance of general education courses, College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences core courses and history courses.
Our curriculum is structured to enable you to teach history and at least two of the following areas: government and citizenship, economics, geography, sociology and psychology. You will develop content knowledge, research, writing, and verbal skills each year. You’ll also learn engaging teaching methods from outstanding PNW faculty.
Start your journey with general education requirements, including a first-year experience course. Identify and begin to study within your areas of concentration.
Sample Courses
- ENGL 10400 – English Composition I
- COM 11400 – Fundamentals Of Speech Communication
- HIST 11000 – The Pre-Modern World
Take Research and Writing in History and continue to explore your areas of concentration.
Sample Courses
- EAS 10000 – Planet Earth
- HIST 15200 – United States Since 1877
- HIST 10500 – Survey Of Global History
Conclude courses in your area of concentration while building a foundation for teaching through education courses.
Sample Courses
- EDPS 22000 – Psychology Of Learning
- EDPS 26000 – Introduction To Special Education
- EDPS 28500 – Diversity And Education
In the fall semester, complete your coursework before completing your final supervised teaching in the spring.
Sample Courses
- EDCI 32300 – Educational Technology For Teaching And Learning
- EDCI 34700 – Strategies Of Social Studies Instruction In Senior High, Junior High
Social Studies Teaching Concentration Highlights
Because this program draws from at least four disciplines, you’ll gain the breadth of knowledge, critical thinking skills and expertise in communication that great teachers need.
PNW partners with schools in Northwest Indiana, enabling teachers to apply the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) standards in their classrooms. Through field experience and learned theories and methods, you’ll be poised to deliver exceptional classroom content.
Social Studies Teaching Concentration Outcomes
This degree program enables you to:
- Develop a sound knowledge base, drawing from history and two other disciplines.
- Acquire teaching skills by working closely with School of Education and Counseling faculty.
- Earn a degree fully accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Social Studies Teaching Concentration Career Paths
This degree prepares you for a career as either a middle school or high school social studies teacher.
Social Studies Teaching Concentration Beyond the Classroom
You’ll have many opportunities to get involved in on- and off-campus activities, including:
- Phi Alpha Theta (History Honors Society)
- History Club
Social Studies Teaching Concentration Employers
Graduates of this program are employed in school districts across the region, including:
- School City of Hobart
- Chicago Public Schools
- Valparaiso Community Schools
- School City of Hammond
Social Studies Teaching Concentration Scholarships
In addition to the scholarships available to all PNW applicants, students seeking a social studies teaching concentration may also apply for program-specific scholarship awards, such as:
- Richard Van Orman History Scholarship ($500)
- Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship
- William Crawford Minority Teacher Scholarship
Social Studies Teaching Concentration Accreditation
This program is accredited by the Indiana Department of Education and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.
Meet the Faculty
Associate Professor of History
Kenneth Kincaid is a history supervisor of social studies. He is also a member of the history graduate committee, faculty advisor to Phi Alpha Theta and member of the Center for Global Studies.
Assistant Professor of Education
Patrick Keegan is an assistant professor in the School of Education and Counseling. He teaches courses in elementary social studies methods and multicultural education.
Mary Beth Fraser Connolly, Ph.D.
Continuing Lecturer in History
Mary Beth Fraser Connolly is a continuing lecturer in history and acts as the concurrent enrollment liaison for history. Her research and teaching focus on US, gender, women’s and religious history.
Earn a Bachelor's Degree in History with a Concentration in Social Studies Teaching at PNW
Purdue University Northwest’s social studies teaching concentration is specifically designed to provide preparation for teachers of social studies at the secondary level – in both middle and high schools
To see how a bachelor’s degree in history with a concentration in social studies teaching from PNW opens doors, from classrooms to leadership, take the next step today!
