2025-2026

Secondary Education - History and Social Studies, Bachelor of Science in Education

Department of History

College of Arts and Letters

This degree prepares future educators for successful careers in middle and high school History and Social Studies classrooms. Teacher candidates gain robust content-area education in History and allied Social Studies disciplines, training in research-driven pedagogy, ample practicum time in real-world classrooms, and support for serving all learners well. This program is intended to lead to Arizona teacher certification.

This program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)

  • 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 general studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.

    • All of Northern Arizona University's general studies, junior-level writing, and capstone requirements.
    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
    • At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
    • At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.
    • A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.

    The full policy can be viewed here.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • 86 units of major requirements which includes 17 units of fieldwork experience and 12 units of Teacher Preparation Coursework.

  • Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy General Studies Requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements.

  • Candidates in this program are required to demonstrate content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and skills, professional knowledge, and ethical and professional dispositions to be eligible to enter student teaching or internship placements.

  • Content, pedagogical, professional knowledge or skills, and ethical and professional dispositions are demonstrated through candidate performance on key assessments embedded in the following course(s):

  • Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units.

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 3.0
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
Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan Optional
AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-A Recommended
Progression Plan Link Not Available
Licensure

This program may lead to licensure.

Purpose Statement

The Bachelor of Science in Education, History, and Social Studies program prepares competent and professional educators who will teach and 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. Students gain insight into the critical reading of these narratives and arguments, practice the historical craft by constructing evidence-based narratives and arguments from primary and secondary sources, and discuss, analyze, and synthesize diverse histories. They are also introduced to political science, economics, and geography disciplines. The program combines content knowledge and abilities with training in inquiry learning, pedagogical skills, and significant practice in secondary classrooms. Students practice creating inquiry-based daily, unit, and year-long curriculum plans rich in diverse instructional strategies (including the use of technological literacies) and teaching lessons in the secondary classroom. At the end of the program, students should be able to successfully orchestrate learning in secondary classrooms by planning meaningful, standards-based instruction, deliver these lessons successfully in the classroom, assess learning, and modify instruction for diverse learners. 

NAU students in this program are teacher candidates in Secondary Education, History, and Social Studies. They work on teaching and learning by practicing skills working with secondary learners relative to content, assessment, and professional dispositions to effectively teach social studies at the secondary level.

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.

  • Learners, Learner Differences, and Learning Environment
    • Create an inquiry-based, productive, collaborative, high-expectations classroom setting.
    • Engage and motivate secondary-grade learners.
    • Develop and refine learning plans appropriate to the grade level and diversity of learners (e.g. differing needs, abilities, race, class, gender, religion, and cultural background).
    • Adapt lessons for different learners' cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical development.
    • Articulate the relevance of teaching multiple perspectives to a diverse group of learners, recognizing the interconnectedness of all people.
  • Concepts/Knowledge Application
    • Inquire, think critically, and gain content knowledge and application to teach history, geography, government, and economics at the secondary level.
    • Practice disciplinary habits of mind, research skills, evidence-based argumentation, and interpretation.
    • Select and assess the value of primary and secondary sources for use in teaching secondary learners.
    • Incorporate multiple perspectives, drawing on and recognizing relationships among local, regional, and global issues.
    • Teach required standards for the subject and grade level taught.
  • Instructional Practice Planning and Organization
    • Plan for a learner-centered classroom
    • Plan a year of study in History/Social Studies at the secondary level, meeting required standards (National Council for the Social Studies and Arizona standards in particular).
    • Produce and review lessons and unit plans that foster critical thinking and active learning.
    • Analyze sources, methods, and unit designs and begin to determine which are appropriate and powerful learning tools to meet a variety of learning outcomes.
  • Instructional Strategies and Methods
    • Demonstrate skills and methods that help students build knowledge and apply their knowledge in historical/critical inquiry (e.g. consider issues of content, perspective, source selection and analysis, themes, controversial issues, and democratic participation).
    • Adapt strategies for a variety of learners and environments.
    • Use technology appropriately to engage learners and promote learning.
  • Assessment and Instructional Skills/ Abilities
    • Identify and employ enduring understandings and essential questions to teach for deeper meaning.
    • Plan instruction that promotes meaningful content knowledge and skill acquisition.
    • Craft pre-, formative, and summative assessments that align with learning outcomes.
    • Interpret and analyze the results of assessments to teach more successfully.
    • Employ a variety of effective instructional strategies appropriate to learners, content, and learning goals.
    • Use technological tools appropriate to content and instruction.
    • Engage students in building their technological literacies.
  • Professional Responsibility/Dispositions/Ethics/Attitudes
    • Demonstrate Respect and adaptation for a variety of learners.
    • Demonstrate the ability to self-assess their teaching and learning.
    • Demonstrate confidence in and commitment to growth in teaching.
    • Demonstrate patience and reflection in the process of gaining teaching skills.
    • Demonstrate responsible and appropriate use of content, presenting and citing research.
    • Demonstrate openness to explore professional growth and collaboration in terms of content and pedagogy.
    • Demonstrate an understanding and application of the ethical standards of the profession as expressed in the Model Code of Ethics for Educators (MCEE).

Additional Admission Requirements

  • Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

    • To receive Professional Education Programs (PEP) approval, candidates must:
      • Be a declared Secondary Education major in this program.
      • Complete EDF 200 with a Grade of "C" or better. 
      • Complete the Program's Mathematics Foundations requirement with a Grade of "C" or better. 
      • Complete the English foundations requirement (ENG 105 or equivalent) with a minimum GPA of 3.0. (If your English GPA is below 3.0, you may take an approved writing course to achieve the 3.0 GPA). 
      • A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 
      • Complete and submit your IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card; Youth Suicide Prevention Training; Professional Dispositions Modules; Equity Survey; and a Professional Responsibility Statement. Your State-approved Identity-Verified Print (IVP) fingerprint clearance card is obtainable through the Arizona Department of Public Safety (602-223-2279).
         
Major Requirements

  • This major requires 86 units distributed as follows:

    • Social Studies Content Coursework: 33 units
    • History Content Coursework: 15 units
      • U.S. History Coursework: 3 - 6 units
      • Non-U.S. History Coursework: 9 - 12 units
    • Social Science Coursework: 3 units
    • Social Studies Teaching and Learning Coursework: 6 units
    • Social Studies Fieldwork Coursework: 17 units
    • Teacher Preparation Coursework: 12 units


    Take the following 86 units:

    • A minimum NAU cumulative GPA of 2.5 is required.
    • A grade of "C" or better or a grade of 'P' for pass/fail coursework is required for all major requirements except where noted.

  • History Content Coursework (15 units)
    Include at least one 400-level course. These units must be divided among U.S. and non-U.S. courses as follows:

  • Social Studies Teaching and Learning Coursework (6 units)
    The following coursework must be completed with a GPA of 3.0.

  • Social Studies Fieldwork Coursework (17 units)

Teacher Preparation

  • Before being accepted to student teaching, the following criteria must be met:

    • Admission to the Professional Education Programs (PEP).
    • GPA and course grade requirements for the degree program as stated in Additional Admission and Major Requirements.
    • Complete all plan requirements.
    • Take and pass the designated content knowledge exam.
    • All major coursework, with the exception of EDF 200, must be completed within the six years prior to student teaching.
    • Successful completion of required state and university training modules.
    • All candidates must demonstrate professional and ethical standards of practice as described in the Model Code of Ethics for Educators and adhere to NAU's and PEP's Student Code of Conduct.
    • All outstanding PEP Alerts must be resolved per an improvement plan.
    • Attend mandatory Student Teaching Orientation.

  • Arizona Teacher Certification

    You must pass the National Evaluation Series Secondary Assessment Professional Knowledge Exam to obtain an Arizona teaching certificate.

Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Program

    • This program is available as an Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan wherein a student may start a master's degree while simultaneously completing their bachelor's degree.

    • Students enrolled at the Flagstaff campus for both undergraduate and graduate programs are eligible to complete the Bachelor of Science in Education, Secondary Education - History and Social Studies and start a Master of Arts in History - Portfolio Track at NAU.

    • Students must apply to the master's program by the graduate program's application deadline, meet all admissions requirements listed in the policy Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Programs, as well as the admissions requirements for the specified master's plan to be considered for admission. Admission to programs is competitive and qualified applicants may be denied because of limits on the number of students admitted each year.

      Be sure to speak with the Master's Program Director/Coordinator regarding your interest in the accelerated plan.

    • Students accepted into the Accelerated Program should complete the following requirements:

    • Major Requirements

      This major requires 86 units distributed as follows:

      • Social Studies Content Coursework: 33 units
      • History Content Coursework: 9 units
        • U.S. History Coursework: 3 units
        • Non-U.S. History Coursework: 6 units
      • Graduate-Level History Content Coursework: 6 units
      • Social Science Coursework: 3 units
      • Social Studies Teaching and Learning Coursework: 6 units
      • Social Studies Fieldwork Coursework: 17 units
      • Teacher Preparation Coursework: 12 units


      Take the following 86 units:

      • A minimum NAU cumulative GPA of 2.5 is required.
      • A Grade of "C" or better or P for Pass/Fail coursework is required for all major requirements.

    • History Content Coursework (9 units)
      Include at least one 400-level course. These units must be divided among U.S. and non-U.S. courses as follows:

    • Graduate-Level History Content Coursework (6 units)

    • Social Studies Teaching and Learning Coursework (6 units)
      The following coursework must be completed with a GPA of 3.0.

    • Social Studies Fieldwork Coursework (17 units)

    • Teacher Preparation

    • Before being accepted to student teaching, the following criteria must be met:

      • Admission to the Professional Education Programs (PEP).
      • GPA and course grade requirements for the degree program as stated in Additional Admission and Major Requirements.
      • Complete all plan requirements.
      • Take and pass the designated content knowledge exam.
      • All major coursework, with the exception of EDF 200 must be completed within the six years prior to student teaching.
      • Successful completion of required state and university training modules.
      • All candidates must demonstrate professional and ethical standards of practice as described in the Model Code of Ethics for Educators and adhere to NAU's and PEP's Student Code of Conduct.
      • All outstanding PEP Alerts must be resolved per an improvement plan.
      • Attend mandatory Student Teaching Orientation.

    • Arizona Teacher Certification

      You must pass the National Evaluation Series Secondary Assessment Professional Knowledge Exam to obtain an Arizona teaching certificate.

General Electives

  • 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 General Studies Requirements.

    We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.

Additional Information

  • You must take POS 220 or (POS 110 and POS 241) which satisfy 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:

    • Have an overall grade point average of 3.5 or better.
    • Have an overall grade point average of 3.7 or better for all History courses taken.
    • Complete a minimum of 39 units of History courses.
    • Complete a senior thesis or an Honors project under the supervision of a history faculty member.
    • Present the results of the thesis or Honors project at the University Honors Program Symposium, a History Department symposium, or a regional/national scholarly conference.

  • The History Department strongly encourages you to study abroad or intern abroad. For more information on global learning opportunities, benefits, or requirements, please consult the History Department website and your advisor.

  • Arizona state teacher certification requirements leading to an Institutional Recommendation may change at any time and may impact program of study requirements.

  • Some courses may have prerequisites. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.