Concordia University Wisconsin
Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Social Studies Education
Jackson, USA
BA
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2027
TUITION FEES
USD 750 / per semester
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
About: Concordia University Wisconsin’s Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Social Studies Education prepares you to teach 4th–12th grade students about history, civics, government, cultures, and current global issues. You’ll gain content knowledge through social sciences, history, and humanities courses and practical experience via off-campus fieldwork and student teaching in your final semester. Professors are current or former educators and class sizes enable personalized learning. You may pursue a Lutheran Teacher Diploma. Contact other states’ education departments about licensure reciprocity.
Career Outcomes: You’ll be prepared as secondary social studies teacher, history teacher, civics teacher, curriculum developer, museum educator, nonprofit policy roles.
Gain the confidence and skills to educate students about the past and present world around them.
You can become a social studies teacher
Apply your love for history and for current global issues to a rewarding and interesting teaching career. Provide students with the skillsets and understanding to thoughtfully examine various cultures, practices, and happenings. With our world becoming more connected, it is more important than ever to teach future leaders how to be compassionate and open-minded. Acquire your content knowledge in Concordia classrooms and your teaching experience in local schools as a student teacher.
Through a blend of the social sciences, history, and humanities, you will learn to guide 4th-12th grade students through different viewpoints and social structures. Perhaps most importantly, you will understand how to help your students discover how people relate to each other, how we interact as groups, and how we organize our thoughts, religions, and governments. With a foundation in social studies, your students will be able to understand the world around them and their role in it.
Students who desire licensure in another state must contact their state department of education for details about whether or not this coursework will meet state requirements.
Tour the campus at any time, and you can even schedule time to meet with faculty or students in the School of Education!
What to Expect
- Professors are current and former educators
- Low student-to-faculty ratio for more personalized learning
- Participate in off-campus field experiences in local schools
- Student teaching is completed in your final semester
- Option to earn a Lutheran Teacher Diploma to teach in Lutheran schools
Concordia Common Core - 18-21 Credits
Theology - Public Education
- The Bible
- Christian Faith
Theology - Lutheran (LTD) & Christian (CTC)
- Old Testament
- New Testament
- Biblical Theology
- Christian Citizen
- Western Culture & Worldview
- Western Thought & Worldview
- Science & Humanity
Liberal Arts Dimensions
- Introduction to Writing
- Public Speaking (or a language course); or
- Interpersonal Communication
Faith and Life Elective: Any course with the REL prefix other than REL 1000, 1100, 2010, 2020, 2030
- Foundations of Education
- Stewardship of the Body
HHP Activity Course
Human Creativity and Expression: Art, Music, Theater, Literature, or Graphic Design activity course
- Contemporary Math; or
- College Algebra
- Introduction to Life and Physical Sciences
- Human Relations for Teachers
Note: Two CUW-approved writing-intensive courses are required for graduation. Other Electives if under 120 credits:
Secondary Curriculum 31 - 37 credits
Education Seminars (seminars are graded as pass/fail)
- Orientation Seminar
- UDS Seminar
- Student Teaching Seminar
Theoretical & Practical Components
- Nature of the Exceptional Child
- Human Learning
- The Art & Science of Planning 2
- The Art and Science of Assessment 2
- The Art and Science of Instruction 2
- The Profession and Ethics of Teaching 2
Student Teaching Component (Take these courses in the same semester)
- Portfolio Completion-Secondary 2
- Secondary Education Student Teaching
Lutheran (LCMS Members) Teacher Diploma Requirements
- Teaching the Faith
- Lutheran Confessions
Christian Teacher Certification Requirements
- Teaching the Faith
Select one of the following:
- Lutheran Confessions
- Law and Gospel in the Life of the Church
- A Survey of Christian Thought
- Christian Apologetics
- Christ and Culture
Major Requirements- 54 credits
Social Science Foundations
- Principles of Economics
- Cultural Geography
- American Government
- General Psychology
- Introduction to Sociology
American Historical Foundations (Select 5 courses)
- Early America:1492-1800
- American Republic: 1800-1860
- Indus America:1865-1920
- United States as a World Power: 1920-Present
- Women in America
- The City & American Culture
- Topics in American History
Non-Western/Global History (Select 2 courses)
- World Civilizations I
- World Civilizations II
- Non-Western World
- History of Food
- Rats, Lice & Mice: History of Diseases & Epidemics
- Ancient Civilizations
- Empires: East & West
- Topics in Global History
Western/European History (Select 2 Courses)
- History of Christianity
- Renaissance and Reformation in Europe
- The Reformations
- European National History
- Topics in Western History
Disciplinary Thinking (9 credits)
- Historical Perspectives
- Historical Methods
- History Capstone
Education Methods Course
- Curriculum and Methods of Teaching Social Studies - Secondary 2
Students need to complete 15 credits of American History, 6 credits of non-Western/global History, and 6 credits of Western/European History courses, as well as HIST 3850 Historical Methods and HIST 4800 History Capstone, in order to complete the requirements of the History major with an American emphasis.
Requires Upper Division Status
ED4337, ED4339, and ED4373 are taken concurrently during the Fall prior to student teaching.