“Our history is not our destiny,” suggests Alan Cohen.
This degree prepares future educators to teach their students both the tragedies of history and the lessons it offers for the future. The plan includes content-rich coursework as well as significant preparation in teaching, using best practices and applied theory.
This program is nationally recognized by the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS).
This program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
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As a high school educator who specializes in history and social studies, you'll give your students the context and knowledge they need to understand and participate in the world around them. In this program you'll tap into the areas of interest that pique your curiosity, such as U.S. history, world history, political science, economics, and geography. You can also take additional courses in other social sciences, like anthropology, psychology, and sociology.
You’ll graduate with expertise in your chosen field, ready with the tools needed to shape the educational experiences of your students and build a curriculum that reaches everyone. Enjoy a rigorous and collaborative learning environment that will prepare you for a rewarding career in secondary education. If you earn excellent grades and successfully complete a senior thesis or an honors project, you become eligible to receive departmental honors when you graduate.
Note: You must apply and be accepted to the College of Education’s teacher education program in addition to being admitted to the university.
To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.
The full policy can be viewed here.
In addition to University Requirements:
Candidates in this program are required to demonstrate content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and skills, professional knowledge, and professional dispositions to be eligible to enter student teaching or internship placements.
Content, pedagogical, and professional knowledge or skills, professional dispositions are demonstrated through candidate performance on key assessments embedded in the following course(s):
Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.
| Minimum Units for Completion | 120 |
| Major GPA | 2.5 |
| Highest Mathematics Required | MAT 114 |
| Additional Admission Requirements | Required |
| Fieldwork Experience/Internship | Required |
| Student Teaching/Supervised Teaching | Required |
| Study Abroad | Recommended |
| University Honors Program | Optional |
| AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-A | Recommended |
| Progression Plan Link | View Progression Plan |
Purpose Statement
The BSEd History and Social Studies program prepares competent and professional educators who will make a positive difference in secondary social studies classrooms. The program equips future teachers with historical and social science knowledge and understanding by exposing them to a variety of narratives, perspectives, and disciplinary skills and by introducing them to diverse local, state, national, and global communities. The program combines content knowledge and abilities with training in inquiry learning, pedagogical skills and significant practice in secondary classroom.
NAU students in this program are teacher candidates in History and Social Studies Education; and they work on teaching and learning by practicing skills in working with secondary learners, content, assessment, and professional dispositions.
Student Learning Outcomes
Outcomes align with Standards from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium
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Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
To be eligible for admission to the program, candidates must meet the following requirements:
30 units of coursework which includes:
A minimum GPA of 3.0 in all content major coursework (must have taken at least 3 units) and a cumulative 2.5 GPA in all courses.
Additional requirements:
Take the following 74 units with a minimum GPA of 3.0, and a Grade of "C" or better
Social Studies Content Courses
*HIS 402, HIS 405, and HIS 484 are topics courses and can fulfill either U.S. or Non-U.S. requirements depending upon the topic. Please consult with your advisor.
Note: we recommend survey courses of regions of the world, drawn from courses offered regarding Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America (e.g., HIS 220, HIS 221, HIS 230, HIS 231, HIS 240, HIS 241, HIS 249, HIS 250, HIS 251, HIS 280, HIS 281, HIS 312, HIS 314, HIS 331, HIS 332, HIS 338, HIS 340, HIS 341, HIS 380, HIS 381, etc.)
Select additional Social Science courses from the following (6 units):
In all of our professional education programs, you are required to complete a student teaching or internship experience. In addition, a minimum number of units of practicum is required, which involves supervised field experience with a practicing teacher.
Before being accepted to student teaching, the following criteria must be met:
Arizona Teacher Certification
In order to obtain an Arizona teaching certificate you must pass both the appropriate National Evaluation Series subject matter test and the National Evaluation Series Secondary Assessment Professional Knowledge.
Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.
You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.
We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.
Please note that you must take POS 220 or (POS 110 and POS 241) which satisfies the state and federal constitution requirement for Arizona certification, or you may meet the requirement by demonstrating proficiency on a special exam.
If you meet the following criteria, you become eligible to receive History Departmental Honors when you graduate.
To obtain Departmental Honors, you must:
Be aware that Arizona state teacher certification requirements leading to Institutional Recommendations may change at any time, and may impact program of study requirements.
Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.