EMU | NCSS Rejoinder Standard 3.1

Eastern Michigan University

College of Arts and Sciences

NCSS/Social Studies Education

XI. Matrix

3.0 PROGRAMMATIC STANDARDS FOR INITIAL LICENSURE

Matrix Item 3.1 - Programmatic Standard One: Substantial Instruction in Academic Areas within the Social Studies Field

Institutions preparing Social Studies teachers should provide and expect prospective Social Studies teachers to complete subject matter content courses (history/social science) that include United States History, world history (including both western and non-western civilizations), political science (including U.S. Government), economics, geography, and behavioral sciences.

Indicators

The Social Studies subject matter course work for those licensed to teach either Social Studies as a broad field or a single discipline of history or a social science at the middle or secondary school level should include courses in each of the content areas specified in this standard. The Social Studies subject matter course work for those licensed to teach Social Studies as a broad field:

* the secondary school level should include no less than 40% of a total four-year or extended-preparation program, with an area of concentration of at least 18 semester hours (24 quarter hours) in one academic discipline;

* at the middle school level should include no less that 30% of a total four-year or extended-preparation program, with an area of concentration of at least 18 semester hours (24 quarter hours) in one academic discipline.

The subject matter content course work for those licensed to teach a single discipline of history or a social science at the secondary or middle school level should include both:

* a discipline major of no less than 30% of a total four-year or extended preparation program; and

* additional course work outside the major selected from each of the content fields specified in this standard in order to assure that the key concepts from history and the social science disciplines closely related to the major are studied and integrated with the major.

3.1 Substantial Instruction in Academic Areas within the Social Studies Field

The institution provides and expects prospective Social Studies teachers to complete subject matter content courses (history/social science) that include a United States history, world history (including both western and non-western civilizations), political science (including U.S. Government), economics, geography, and behavioral sciences.

3.1.1 Programmatic Evidence

For Social Studies majors, the total credits in social sciences are 60, or 48% of credits for graduation (124). Each Social Studies major is required to take a minimum of 21 credits in one single social science discipline (History, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, or Geography) as part of the combined major/minor program. This major also includes a minor in History, Geography, Political Science or Economics.

For single discipline majors for secondary education, History majors have 36 credits, Geography majors have 39, Psychology majors have 36, Economics majors have 39, Political Science majors have 42 credits in their Arts and Sciences major. These major credit total, when divided by EMU’s total credits for graduation (124) work out to the following:

History 29%

Geography 31%

Psychology 29%

Political Science 34%

Economics 31%

All single-discipline majors have an academic minor as well, with at least 20 credits of coursework.

Through general education requirements, students are required to take a political science class, (PLSC 112) as well as at least 3 required classes in other Social Studies disciplines. [See appendix for these General Education Requirements]. These requirements include a multicultural/international requirement as well.

This means, at a minimum, all EMU students for secondary certification in an NCSS field have taken at least 39 credits in Social Studies areas within the College of Arts and Sciences, for a total of 31% of their program.

In each major/minor combination, students receive a broad training in social sciences and history. The minimum classes are listed as follows:

Social Studies Major:

History: At least two U.S. history classes (Hist 123 and Hist 124 and at least two world history classes (Hist 109 and Hist 110).

Economics: At least two economics classes (Econ 201 and Econ 202)

Political Science: At least two political science courses (PLSC 112 and PLSC 301)