BSOSC Secondary Education Social Studies at Pennsylvania State University

Programme overview

The Secondary Education Social Studies major prepares students to meet the requirements as established by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, to be certified for the Social Studies Instructional I Certificate. The major prepares students to teach history, government, economics, geography, psychology, sociology, and anthropology. Students are challenged to prepare for teaching assignments at the middle and high school level, and in diverse settings characterized as rural, urban, and suburban.

Faculty: Penn State Harrisburg | Duration: minimum 122 credits | Study mode: full-time | Location: University Park, PA, United States

What you will study

The degree requires a minimum of 122 credits, including General Education and the requirements for the major. Required courses include Learning and Instruction, Secondary Education Field Experience, Learning Theory and Instructional Procedures, Social and Cultural Factors in Education, Professional Development in Teaching, Diversity and Cultural Awareness Practices in the K-12 Classroom.

Career pathways

The Secondary Education Social Studies major will prepare students to teach social studies in secondary schools grades 7 to 12. As secondary school teachers, they will delve more deeply into subject matter introduced broadly during the elementary years.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Entry to Secondary Education Social Studies requires the following: A minimum grade point average of 3.0; Completion of ENGL 15 or ENGL 30H and three credits of literature from approved list with a C or higher grade; Three credits of literature from a department-approved list with a C or higher grade; Completion of six credits of college-level mathematics (MATH or STAT prefixes) with a C or higher grade; Submission to the Teacher Education Office of current and clear background checks as required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education; Submission of documentation of 20 pre-major fieldwork hours.

Undergraduate applications are accepted for Fall, Spring and Summer entry; the application opens August 1 for Fall and Summer and June 1 for Spring.

Early Action: apply by November 1 to receive a decision by December 24. Recommended submission deadline for all applications: December 1. Applicants apply through the MyPennState application or the Common App. A nonrefundable application fee is paid by credit card; fee waivers are available to eligible students.

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.psu.edu/apply/

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