Social Studies Composite (Teacher Certification), Bachelor of Arts

Program Overview

This program leads to a profession which requires an occupational license as defined under Texas Occupations Code 58.001 This requires that all applicants seeking to become licensed must undergo a criminal background check prior to licensure. Students in this program should check with the College of Education and P-16 Integration on the requirements for a criminal background check prior to student teaching.

As an integral part of a liberal arts education, history courses introduce students to different historical eras, diverse cultures, famous and ordinary women and men, and a variety of geographical settings. Our courses challenge students to think critically, express themselves clearly, and become informed and responsible citizens in an increasingly interconnected world. Students majoring or minoring in history may become teachers or seek employment in business or government. History is an excellent background for those who wish later to go to law school or enter journalism.

Admission requirements for this program beyond university admission requirements. 

Admission to the Teacher Education Program at the Office of Educator Preparation and Accountability is required for completion of teacher certification requirements with the undergraduate degree. All admission requirements are in accordance to Texas Administrative Code rules §227.10 and the HEA Title II accountability requirements. All applicants must meet the current certification requirements in effect at the time of application, regardless of the catalog year of degree plan.  For current admission requirements, application process and timeline visit the Office of Educator Preparation and Accountability admissions site

Progression requirements required for this program. 

Teacher Education Program progression requirements include GPA, course grades, certification courses, benchmarks/key assessments and testing.  Admission to the Clinical Teaching Program is required for successful completion of the teacher education program. For current clinical teaching program admission, application process and timeline visit the Office of Educator Preparation Accountability clinical teaching site

 

Core Curriculum - 42 hours

The Core Curriculum serves as a broad foundation for the undergraduate degree. All candidates for a bachelor’s degree must achieve core student learning outcomes, including communication, critical thinking, empirical and quantitative skills, teamwork, personal responsibility and social responsibility, by completing courses within each category or component area of the Core Curriculum as outlined below.

The University has approved specific courses that satisfy Core Curriculum Requirements. Approved courses can be found on the Core Curriculum Page. Students seeking the most efficient way to complete the core curriculum and major or minor requirements are advised to take approved courses that can fulfill both requirements. Although core curriculum courses can also be used to fulfill major or minor requirements, earned credits hours are only applied once.

The courses listed below fulfill core curriculum and major requirements. Students who have completed a core curriculum category with courses other than those listed below will still be required to take the listed course(s) to meet major requirements.

040 Language, Philosophy and Culture - 3 hours

HIST 2321World History I

3

080 Social and Behavioral Sciences - 3 hours

ECON 2301Principles of Macroeconomics

3

090 Integrative and Experiential Learning - 6 hours

HIST 2322World History II

3

Major Requirements - 57 hours

Required Courses - 15 hours

Social Studies Composite Core

ECON 2302Principles of Microeconomics

3

HIST 3302World Environmental History

3

HIST 3308History Foundation for Social Studies Educators

3

HIST 3333Texas History

3

HIST 4398History Capstone for Social Studies Educators

3

Prescribed Electives - 42 hours

Certain courses below appear in more than one section of the degree plan. The courses and related semester credit hours can only be applied once to the degree

United States History: Colonial America to 1776 - 3 hours

Choose from:

HIST 3320Colonial America to 1763

3

HIST 3332Mexican-American History

3

HIST 3336Spanish Borderlands to 1821

3

HIST 3339Slavery in the Americas, 1492-1888

3

HIST 4323History of the Old South

3

United States History: Early National Period to 1848 - 3 hours

Choose from: 

HIST 3321The United States, Revolution, and the New Nation, 1763-1815

3

HIST 3322Rise of the American Nation, 1815-1848

3

HIST 3327The American Military Experience

3

HIST 3328History of the American Presidency

3

HIST 4323History of the Old South

3

United States History: Era of Sectional Conflict - 3 hours

Choose from:

HIST 3323Era of Sectional Conflict, 1848-1877

3

HIST 3327The American Military Experience

3

HIST 3328History of the American Presidency

3

HIST 3332Mexican-American History

3

HIST 3334History of the American West

3

HIST 3338United States-Mexico Borderlands after 1821

3

HIST 4323History of the Old South

3

United States History: 1877 to the Present - 3 hours

Choose from:

HIST 3330The United States as a World Power

3

HIST 3324The Emergence of Modern America, 1877-1929

3

HIST 3325Twentieth Century America

3

HIST 3327The American Military Experience

3

HIST 3328History of the American Presidency

3

HIST 3331Women, Gender, and Sexuality in American History

3

HIST 3332Mexican-American History

3

HIST 3382Asian American History, 1849 to 2001

3

HIST 4324History of the New South since 1877

3

HIST 4325The United States: War, Prosperity, and Depression, 1917-1945

3

HIST 4326The United States since 1945

3

European History - 6 hours

Choose from:

HIST 3340Medieval Europe

3

HIST 3341Early Modern Europe

3

HIST 3342Revolutionary Europe, 1789-1850

3

HIST 3343Europe's Age of Imperialism, 1850-1919

3

HIST 3344Contemporary Europe, 1919 to the Present

3

HIST 3345History of England to 1688

3

HIST 3346History of England after 1688

3

HIST 3347History of Spain

3

HIST 3348Russian History

3

HIST 3349Women, Gender, and Sexuality in European History

3

HIST 3352Race, Ethnicity, and Religion in Medieval Europe

3

HIST 3351History of Southeastern Europe since 1815

3

HIST 4339Ancient Greece and Rome

3

HIST 4342The Renaissance and Reformation, 1300-1650

3

HIST 4344Absolutism and Enlightenment in Europe, 1650-1789

3

HIST 4391Special Topics in European History

3

Latin American History - 3 hours

Choose from:

HIST 3361Colonial Latin America

3

HIST 3362Modern Latin America

3

HIST 3363Mexico from Pre-Conquest to the Present

3

HIST 4360Mexico's First Century as an Independent Republic

3

HIST 4361Contemporary Mexico

3

HIST 4362History of Mexican Culture

3

HIST 4363History of Mexican Cinema

3

HIST 4366The Caribbean and Central America

3

World/Asian/Middle Eastern History - 3 hours

Choose from:

HIST 3306Great Discoveries in Archaeology and History

3

HIST 3307Women, Gender, and Sexuality in World History

3

HIST 3370Early Middle East History

3

HIST 3371Modern Middle Eastern History

3

HIST 3372History of East Asia to 1800

3

HIST 3374History of the Ottoman Empire

3

HIST 3375History of Modern Japan

3

HIST 3376History of Modern China

3

HIST 3379History of South Asia to 1947

3

HIST 4301Maritime Archaeology and History

3

HIST 4303Public Health in the Americas

3

HIST 4306History of the Cold War

3

HIST 4390Special Topics in World History

3

Additional History Electives - 3 hours

Choose an additional advanced History (HIST) courses except HIST 3301

Geography Component - 6 hours

GEOG 1303World Regional Geography

3

GEOG 3320Cultural Geography for Educators I

3

Political Science Component - 6 hours

Choose from:

POLS 3311Contemporary Texas Politics

3

POLS 3355U.S. Public Policy

3

POLS 4312U.S. Constitutional Law - Civil Liberties

3

POLS 4341U.S. Political Theory

3

Social Science Component - 3 hours

Choose from:

SOCI 1301Introduction to Sociology

3

ANTH 2351Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

3

PSYC 2301General Psychology

3

Teacher Certification - 27 hours

Area of Certification: Social Studies (7-12)

EDFR 2301Intercultural Context of Schooling

3

EDUC 3301The Teaching Profession and Student Learning in Contemporary Schools

3

EDUC 3302Knowledge of Student Development and Learning

3

EDUC 3304Instructional Planning and Assessment in Culturally Sustaining Classrooms

3

EDUC 3306Evidence-Based Teaching in Positive Learning Environments

3

EDUC 4306Implementing and Assessing Effective Secondary Content Pedagogy

3

READ 4305Disciplinary Literacy in the Classroom

3

EDUC 4611Student Teaching Secondary or All-Level

6

Total Credit Hours: 42

Total Credit Hours: 126

View this program’s recommended roadmap to graduation.

UTRGV Roadmaps are a suggested sequence of courses designed to assist students in completing their undergraduate degree requirements. This is a term-by-term sample roadmap of courses required to complete the degree. Students must satisfy all requirements in their catalog including, but not limited to course prerequisites, grade point average and course grade benchmarks, progression requirements, and graduation requirements.

Students should meet with their academic advisor every semester to discuss their individualized path toward completion. Degree progress within this roadmap depends upon such factors as course availability, individual student academic preparation and readiness, student time management, work and personal responsibilities, and financial considerations. Students may choose to take courses during summer terms to reduce course loads during long semesters.