Academics
Graduate Programs
Graduate Programs
Social Studies Education (7-12), Postbaccalaureate Teacher Certification
About the Program
The social studies education (7–12) postbaccalaureate certification-only program prepares persons with undergraduate degrees in history or social science, or with a 36-credit concentration in history and/or social science courses, to meet the disciplinary content and educational requirements leading to New York’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 Learning Standards for social studies in grades 5–12. It also meets the standards set by national professional organizations such as the National Council for the Social Studies and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.
About the History and Social Studies Department
C205 Classroom Building
1300 Elmwood Ave
Buffalo, NY 14222
Phone: (716) 878-5412
Fax: (716) 878-4009
www.buffalostate.edu/history/
Contact Faculty and Staff in the History and Social Studies Department
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 2.75 cumulative GPA; a minimum 2.75 GPA in all history and social science courses; and achieve acceptable evaluations on the PRAXIS II: Subject Assessment in Social Studies Content Knowledge exam. An interview with the program coordinator, department chair, or other designated official is mandatory, and formal acceptance into the program is necessary.
Students complete a minimum of 30–35 clock hours of field experience in each of three courses: SSE 200, SSE 303, and SSE 309. 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 meet NCATE certification requirements, the total social studies subject matter coursework must include no less than 40 percent of a total four-year program, with an area of concentration of at least 18 semester hours in one academic discipline. The program of study must include economics, government, and a minimum of 30 semester hours of study in the history and geography of the United States and the world. All students’ history/social science coursework must include the following or the equivalent of the following:
Program Requirements
Total Required Credit Hours in Content Area Courses 50 cr
A. Basic U.S. History (9 cr)
HIS 106 American Life I
HIS 107 American Life II
HIS 415 History and Government of New York State
B. Basic World History (9 cr)
HIS 230 World Civilizations
Select two courses from the following:
HIS 115 Foundations of Western Civilization
HIS 116 Europe Since 1500
HIS 117 Twentieth-Century Europe
C. Other World History (6 cr)
Two Asian, Middle-Eastern, or African history courses
D. Geography (6 cr)
GEG 300 World Regional Geography
Select one course from the following:
GEG 102 Human Geography
GEG 206 Geography of New York State
GEG 309 Introduction to Urban Geography
GEG 320 Historical Geography of the United States
GEG 360 Geography of Asia
GEG 362 Geography of the United States and Canada
GEG 364 Geography of Europe
E. Political Science (3 cr)
Select one course from the following:
PSC 102 Introduction to American Government
PSC 220 Development of American Constitutional Law
PSC 320 U.S. Constitution/Civil Liberties
F. Economics (3 cr)
Select one course from the following:
ECO 101 The Economic System
ECO 201 Principles of Macroeconomics
ECO 202 Principles of Microeconomics
G. Cultural Diversity (3 cr)
SSE/HIS 363 American Identity in Transition: Diversity and Pluralism in the United States
H. History/Social Science Electives (11 cr)
Total Required Credit Hours in Professional Education 30 cr
EDF 303 Educational Psychology
EDU 416 Teaching Literacy in Middle and Secondary Schools
ENG 309 Teaching and Evaluating Writing
EXE 100 Nature and Needs of Individuals with Special Needs
OR
EXE 372 Foundations of Teaching Secondary Students with Disabilities
PSY 357 Adolescent and Young Adult Development
SSE 200 Introduction to Secondary Teaching
SSE 303 Methods and Materials in Teaching Middle School Social Studies
SSE 309 Methods and Materials in Teaching High School Social Studies
SSE 370 Computer Technology in the Social Studies Classroom
SSE 402 Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Social Education
OR
SSE/HIS 407 The Teaching of History
Total Required Credit Hours in Student Teaching 12 cr
To student teach, a student must have achieved a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher and a minimum
2.75 GPA in the social studies major, as well as obtain a grade of C or higher in SSE 303 and SSE 309.
SSE 409 Student Teaching of Social Studies in the Middle School (6)
SSE 410 Student Teaching of Social Studies in Senior High School (6)
Total Required Credit Hours 92 cr
