Department of Social Science
K-12 Teacher Education
If you plan to teach Social Studies in the California public schools, we recommend that you major in either Multiple Subject Social Science Teacher Preparation (K-8) or Single Subject Social Science Teacher Preparation (7-12). These two majors are the only California Commission on Teacher Preparation (CCTC) approved course of study in the College of Social Science at San Jose State University. Moreover, you will need an interdisciplinary foundation in the Social Sciences (History, Geography, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, Anthropology) in order to be fully prepared to teach the required state approved curriculum.
Also, the demographics of California require that teachers be prepared to work effectively with a diverse student population. To that end, we put diversity issues at the center of our coursework. Our diverse faculty consists of social scientists who are not only experts in their respective fields but are also active in community agencies serving diverse populations. We couple theory and practice in our courses by requiring a fieldwork experience in a public school classroom in tandem with the examination and critique of the latest educational theories and case studies.
If you care about children/youth, equity in education and you want to make a positive contribution to the field of education, Social Science is the right major for you. We welcome you and invite you to join us. It is our mission to train exemplary teachers, advocates, and leaders for the betterment of our schools and society.
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BA - Social Science, Preparation for Teaching (Single Subject)
This major is designed for students interested in teaching history, political science (government), economics, or social science in high school or middle school. The following course work satisfies San Jose State University's requirements for a BA in Social Science. In addition, this program is approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) as subject matter preparation for a single subject credential in social science.
Minimum grade point average (GPA) criteria may be required for verification of subject matter competency. Completion of the program will not guarantee admission to the credential program. Like all other applicants, students must meet credential program standards and undergo screening for admission. See "Teaching: How to Become a Teacher in California" (see index) for information on application and admission to credential programs.
Course Requirements
General Education Requirements: (33 units)
Of the 51 units required by the university; 18 may be satisfied by specified major and support requirements. Consult major advisor for details.
American Institutions (6 units)
Of the 6 units required by the university, all may be satisfied within general education requirements as specified in the schedule of classes.
Physical Education (2 units)
Electives (19 units)
Requirements in the Major
(66 units)
Lower Division (27 units)
Twenty-four (24) units from the following:
ECON 001A. Principles of Economics: Macroeconomics
ECON 001B. Principles of Economics: Microeconomics
HIST 001A. World History
HIST 001B. World History
HIST 020A. History of the American People
HIST 020B. History of the American People
POLS 001. American Government
POLS 002. Introduction to Comparitive Politics
Three units from the following:
ANTH 011. Cultural Anthropology
PSYC 001. General Psycology
SOCI 001. Introduction to Sociology
Upper Division (39 units)
Required (6 units):
SOCS 177. Society and Education
SOCS 195. Theory and Practice in the Social Sciences
Required (15 units):
GEOG 101. Global Geography
GEOG 140. The United States
GEOG 145. California
HIST 189A. California History
HIST 189B. California History
Three units from the following:
ENVS 001. Introduction to Environmental Issues
PHIL 061. Moral Issues
RELS 162. Religion and Political Controversy in the U.S.
ANTH 148. Religion and Anthropology
Three units from the following:
AAS 185. Multicultural Perspectives within American Society
SOCS 193. Women and Minorities in the Social Sciences
AFAM 195. Peoples of Color in the Making of the Americas: 1850-Present
ECON 140. Economics of Race and Gender
GEOG 112. Nations, Cultures, and Territorial Disputes
HIST 186. Ethnicity & Race in United States History
HIST 188. History of Women in the United States
POLS 109. Women and Politics
POLS 110. Ethnic Politics
WOMS 101. The Study of Women
Three units from the following:
ECON 111. Economic History of the U.S. and Canada
HIST 171. American Constitutional & Legal History
HIST 175. Inventing America, 1800-1860
HIST 176. Civil War America
HIST 177. The U.S. in the Industrial Age, 1865-1920
HIST 178. Crash, Depression & War, 1920-1950
HIST 179. Cold War America & Beyond, 1950 - Present
HIST 187. History of Women in United States
Complete two courses from different geographical areas (6 units):
HIST 105B. History of Africa
HIST 109B. History of China
HIST 110B. History of Japan
HIST 143. Europe, 1750-1900
HIST 144. Europe, 1900-1945
HIST 145. Europe & the World Since 1945
HIST 163. Nineteenth Century Latin American History
HIST 164. Latin America in the Twentieth Century
HIST 166. Contemporary Mexico
Complete three units from the following:
AAS 125. Filipino Experience in the United States
AAS 175. Asian American Communities
AAS 186. The Vietnamese Experience in America
AAS 191. History of Chinese Americans
AAS 192. History of Japanese Americans
AFAM 134. Martin L. King and theCivil Rights Movement
AFAM 143. Politics of Poverty and Welfare in African-American Communities
MAS 130. Chicanas and Chicanos in American Society
MAS 175. Comparitive Latino Cultures in the Americas
WOMS 112. Women in the Global Economy
WOMS 160. Women, Race and Class
Total Units: 120
BA - Social Science, Preparation for Teaching (Multiple Subjects)
This major is designed for students interested in teaching in elementary school or middle school. The following course work satisfies San Jose State University's requirements for a BA in Social Science. In addition, this program is approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) as subject matter preparation for diversified subject matter preparation. Maintaining a minimum grade of average (GPA) and completion of the program will not guarantee admission to the credential program. Like all other applicants, students must meet credential program standards and undergo screening for admission. See "Teaching: How to Become a Teacher in California" (see index) for information on application and admission to credential programs.
Course Requirements
General Education Requirements (6 units)
Of the 51 units required by the university, 45 may be satisfied by specified major and support requirements. Consult major advisor for details.
American Institutions (6 units)
Of the 6 units required by the university, all may be satisfied within general education requirements as specified in the schedule of classes.
Physical Education (2 units)
Support Requirements for Diversified Major (57-66 units)
Language & Literature (18-21 units total)
Required (9 units)
ENGL 001A. Composition 1
ENGL 001B. Composition 2
ENGL 112A. Children's Literature
Three units from the following:
ENGL 103. Modern English
LLD 107. Patterns of English
Either series from the following:
(9 units)
LLD 108. Intro to Second Language Development, Teaching, and Assessment
COMM 045. Communication Criticism
EDEL 108E. Teaching Reading in Diverse Classrooms
(6 units)
CHAD 150. Development of Communicative Competence
CHAD 151. Developing Literacy in a Diverse Society
Mathematics (9 units)
Required:
MATH 012. Number Systems
MATH 105. Concepts in Mathematics, Probability and Statistics
MATH 106. Intuitive Geometry
Science (12 units)
Required:
CHEM 035. Introduction to Physical Sciences
BIOL 021. Human Biology
GEOL 103. Earth Systems and the Environment
SCI 110. Global Themes of Science
Visual and Performing Arts (9 units)
Required: (3 units)
CA 177. Interdisciplinary Arts for Teaching
Complete six units from:
ART 039. Multicultural Arts for Children
ART 138. Studio Art Experiences for Young People
DANC 148. Children's Dance
MUSC 010B. Introduction to Music
MUSC 185A. Music for Children
TA 131. Storytelling and Creative Dramatics
Physical Education and Health (3-6 units)
Either of the following:
(6 units)
KIN 177. Movement Experiences for Children
EDTE 190. Health Education for the Classroom Teacher
(or 3 units)
CHAD 149. Child Health and Physical Activity
Human Development (3-6 units)
Either of the following:
(6 units)
PSYC 082. Child and Adolescent Psychology
CHAD 067. Development of Human Potential
(or 3 units)
CHAD 060. Child Development
Other Preparation (3 units)
SOCS 100W. Writing Workshop
Electives (10 - 19 units)
Foreign language and technology requirements for teaching credential strongly recommended (see Credential Information Services).
Requirements in the Major (36 units)
Lower Division (6 units)
Choose from:
AAS 033A & 33B. Asian Americans in the United States: Historical and Political Process
HIST 015A & 15B. U.S. History & Government
Upper Division (30 units)
SOCS 137. California in Historical and Social Scientific Perspectives
SOCS 138. United States in Historical and Social Science Perspectives
SOCS 139. The World in Historical and Social Science Perspectives
SOCI 162. Race and Ethnic Relations
SOCS 177. Society and Education
SOCS 195. Theory and Practice in the Social Sciences
POLS 102. State Government and Politics
GEOG 112. Nations, Cultures, and Territorial Disputes
ANTH 115. The Emerging Global Culture
ECON 109. Analysis of Economic Issues for Teachers
Total Units: 120
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