About the Program
Accredited: Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) (formerly NCATE)
Enrollment in all teacher education programs follows the guidelines for "Admission to Teacher Education Programs" found in this catalog. Applicants who do not yet meet all admissions criteria should consult with the department.
Professional Licensure: This program leads to a recommendation for NYS certification; please check for certification requirements in all other states.
The social studies education (7–12; 5–6 extension) postbaccalaureate certification-only program prepares persons with existing undergraduate degrees who have a history or social science major to meet the disciplinary content and educational requirements leading to New York State’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 Social Studies Framework for social studies in grades 5–12. It also meets the standards set by national professional organizations such as the Council for the Accreditation Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Candidates should consult the Teacher Certification website for current seminars and workshops.
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 3.0 cumulative GPA; a minimum 3.0 GPA in all history and social sciences courses.
Students complete a minimum of 30–35 clock hours of field experience in each of three courses: SSE 200, SSE 303, and SSE 309.
Another course, SSE 488/HIS 488, will be used by students to complete the additional 50 clock hours in field experience required for the 5-6 extension. 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 highneed schools.
Prerequisites for Student Teaching
See prerequisites for SSE 409 and SSE 410.
A departmental honors program is also available. Students should contact the department for additional information.
The social studies content core constitutes a 42-credit major in social studies that consists of study in economics, government, and a minimum of 30 credit hours of study in the history and geography of the United States and the world (see total required credit hours in social studies, below). All program majors are required to complete a minimum of 100 clock hours of field experience related to
coursework prior to student teaching. These field experiences consist of observations, individual tutoring, and the teaching of small groups of students under the supervision of certified teachers. These experiences are an integral component of the pedagogical core courses specified in the previous section, with learning outcomes specified and their achievement evaluated by course instructors.
Students complete a minimum of 30–35 clock hours of field experience in each of three courses: SSE 200, SSE 303, and SSE 309.
Another course, SSE 488/HIS 488, is available and will be used by transfer students and others who may have a deficiency in field experience. 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 student teach, students are required to have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and a minimum GPA of 2.75 in the social studies major, as well as obtain a minimum grade of C in SSE 303 and SSE 309. All majors meeting these requirements must enroll in two practicum courses following completion of all other coursework and satisfaction of English and math competency requirements.
Placements for these practica include urban and suburban settings. The urban placements may be in high-need districts that provide opportunities for student teachers to work with students from diverse backgrounds, including socio-economically disadvantaged students, students with disabilities, and students who are English-language learners. Experiences include individual and group instruction, daily and long-view planning, unit teaching, classroom management and routine procedures, use of audiovisual aids, community resources, record-keeping, evaluation procedures, and participation in the total school program.
Candidates should consult the Teacher Certification website for current seminars and
workshops. https://teachercertification.buffalostate.edu/seminars-and-workshops
Learning Outcomes
1. The Learner and Learning Candidates will use understanding of adolescent development, individual differences and diverse
cultures to ensure inclusive, student-centered learning environments that enable each learner to meet high standards.
2. The Content Candidates will demonstrate understanding of central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of disciplines
to be taught and be able to connect concepts to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity and collaborative problem
solving related to authentic issues.
3. The Teacher and Teaching Candidates will use multiple methods of assessment, plan instruction that supports every
student in meeting rigorous learning goals and use varied an innovative instructional strategy to encourage learners to
develop deep understanding of content.
4. The Profession and Professional Dispositions Candidates will engage in ongoing professional learning, use evidence to
reflect on their own practice, seek appropriate leadership roles and collaborate with families, colleagues, and the
community to advance the profession.
Program Requirements
History of the Western Hemisphere (15 credit hours)
HIS 106 HISTORY OF AMERICAN LIFE I 3
HIS 107 HISTORY OF AMERICAN LIFE II 3
HIS 314 MODERN LATIN AMERICA 3
HIS 415 HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT OF NEW YORK STATE 3
Select one of the following: 3
HIS 308 HISTORY OF EARLY CANADA
HIS 316 HISTORY OF MODERN CANADA
HIS 326 HISTORY OF THE GREAT LAKES REGION
History of the Eastern Hemisphere (9 credit hours)
HIS 230 WORLD CIVILIZATIONS I 3
Select two from the following: 6
HIS 115 FOUNDATIONS OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION
HIS 116 EUROPE SINCE 1500
HIS 117 TWENTIETH-CENTURY EUROPE
Geography (6 credit hours)
GEG 300 WORLD REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY 3
Select one from the following: 3
GEG 102 HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
GEG 206 GEOGRAPHY OF NEW YORK STATE
GEG 309 URBAN GEOGRAPHY
GEG 360 GEOGRAPHY OF ASIA
GEG 362 GEOGRAPHY OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA
Political Science (3 credit hours)
Select one from the following: 3
PSC 102 INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
PSC 320 U.S. CIVIL LIBERTIES
Economics (3 credit hours)
Select one from the following: 3
ECO 101 THE ECONOMIC SYSTEM
ECO 201 PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS
ECO 202 PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS
Cultural Diversity (3 credit hours)
SSE/HIS 363 AMERICAN IDENTITY IN TRANSITION: DIVERSITY AND PLURALISM IN THE UNITED STATES 3
History/Social Science Electives (11 credit hours)
Select 11 credit hours 11
Professional Education Requirements (30 credit hours)
Professional Education Requirements (30 credit hours)
EDU 416 TEACHING LITERACY IN MIDDLE AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS 3
ENG 309 TEACHING AND EVALUATING WRITING 3
or EDU 417 ADOLESCENT LITERACY
EXE 100 NATURE AND NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS 3
PSY 357 ADOLESCENT AND YOUNG ADULT DEVELOPMENT 3
SPF 303 EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY: MIDDLE AND SECONDARY EDUCATION 3
SSE 200 INTRODUCTION TO SECONDARY TEACHING 3
SSE 303 METHODS AND MATERIALS IN TEACHING MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES 3
SSE 309 METHODS AND MATERIALS IN TEACHING HIGH SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES 3
SSE 370 COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY IN THE SOCIAL STUDIES CLASSROOM 3
SSE 402 HISTORICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF SOCIAL EDUCATION 3
or SSE/HIS 407 THE TEACHING OF HISTORY
Student Teaching Requirements (15 credit hours)
SSE 409 STUDENT TEACHING OF SOCIAL STUDIES IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL 6
SSE 410 STUDENT TEACHING OF SOCIAL STUDIES IN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL 6
SSE/HIS 488 INTERNSHIP 1-12