Amanda Pratt (Spring 2008) with her students at Avery High School

License to Teach ALL Secondary Social Studies

The History, Secondary Education degree yields license to teach ALL Social Studies at the high school level, not just History. The degree is called “History” because it is housed in the History Department. However, the degree includes study in all fields of Social Studies, and graduates are licensed to teach all Social Studies subjects at the high school level.

Program Curriculum

The History, Secondary Education degree is regularly revised to closely match what real secondary Social Studies teachers teach. There are 3 Social Studies courses required for high school graduation: World History, U. S. History, and Civics and Economics. Since the majority of high school Social Studies teachers teach those courses for all of their careers, heavy priority is placed on preparing majors to teach those subjects. The degree also includes required electives in other social science fields that occasionally appear as electives in high school curriculums.

History Department Recommendations for General Education

• General Education Requirements
• General Education Checksheet (pdf 129 K)

In addition to meeting General Education requirements, some of the themes provide excellent preparation for students who want to be secondary Social Studies teachers. The History Department highly recommends the following themes and courses for our majors:

Aesthetic Perspective, Traditions and Innovations

• HIS 1110 (HS)
• ART 2130 (FA)
• ENG 2050 (LS)

Historical and Social Perspective, This American Life

• HIS 1200 (HS)
• ECO 2030 (required in the major)
• PS 1100 (required in the major)

Local to Global Perspective, Regions in Global Context

• HIS 1130 (HS)
• GHY 1020 (can count as a required Social Studies elective in the major)

Double-counting in the Major

1. Majors may double-count 9 semester hours of history (HIS prefix) taken in General Education toward the major.

Possible courses to double-count toward upper-level history credits in the major

Historical & Social	Ancient Worlds	HIS 2312
Historical & Social	Appalachia	HIS 3726
Historical & Social	Mind	HIS 3923

2. In addition, the following required Social Studies courses may be taken in General Education and double-counted in the major.

Required Social Studies Courses

Historical & Social	This American Life	ECO 2030
Historical & Social	This American Life	PS 1100

The requirement for 3 sh of Social Studies Electives

Historical & Social	Indiv & Society, Rev & Soc Chg	SOC 1000
Historical & Social	Indiv & Society, Mind	PSY 1200
Historical & Social	Glob Res, Reg in Glob Context	GHY 1020

3. While 1000-level history (HIS) courses do not count toward the major, the following World and American history courses are excellent preparation for students who want to become high school Social Studies teachers. Majors should note that both American and World History are required courses at the high school level, and the great majority of secondary Social Studies teachers end up teaching those courses for most of their careers.

American and World History at the 1000 level

Aesthetic	Traditions and Innovations	HIS 1110
Historical & Social	Cultural Diversity	HIS 1120
Historical & Social	Revolutions & Soc Chg	HIS 1501
Historical & Social	This American Life	HIS 1200
Local to Global	Empire, Col., & Globalization	HIS 1400
Local to Global	Origins & Migrations	HIS 1600
Local to Global	Regions in Global Context	HIS 1130

Amanda Duncan (Spring 2008) with her students at West Wilkes High School

Requirements for the Reich College of Education (RCOE)

History, Secondary Education majors must apply to be co-enrolled in the Reich College of Education so they can take their education courses and complete student teaching.

The Teacher Education Admission Application is here. (pdf)

Note, however, that the degree (BS in History, Secondary Education with a secondary Social Studies teaching license) is granted by the College of Arts & Sciences, where the History Department is located.

Special notes on RCOE Regulations

• The only education courses that may be taken before being formally admitted to RCOE are CI/SPE 2800 and PSY 3000.
• Students must be admitted to RCOE one FULL semester (not counting summers) before student teaching.
• Students must earn a “C” or better in all education courses including: CI/SPE 2800, CI/FDN/RE 3850, FDN 3800, PSY 3000, CI 3100, and RE 4630.
• All education courses must be completed before student teaching.

Requirements for Admission to RCOE

Students must have:

1. Completed at least 45 semester hours.
2. Have a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or above (the 2.50 GPA must be maintained through graduation).
3. Passing scores on PRAXIS I (may substitute SAT or ACT scores: see chart below).
4. Completed CI/SPE 2800 with a “C” or above.
5. Completed the Candidate for Professional Licensure form (automatically completed in CI/SPE 2800).
6. Completed the Reading, English, and Speech Proficiencies.
   • Reading – Automatically met by PRAXIS I: Reading exam (or substitute exam) plus obtaining 45 sh with overall GPA of 2.50.
   • English – Automatically met by PRAXIS I: Writing exam (or substitute exam) plus a grade of C or higher in ENG 1000.
   • Speech – Requires a screening test.  Schedule an appointment in RCOE Center for Communication Disorders (University Hall, 262-2185).
7. Have no grades of “I” (incomplete). 

Required PRAXIS I Scores

• PPST Reading 176
• PPST Writing 173
• PPST Mathematics 173
• OR a composite score of 522 or higher

If you have	You are exempt from
SAT Scores
Total score of 1100	PRAXIS I (all)
Less than 1100 total with 550 or over on Verbal Section	PRAXIS I: Reading and Writing
Less than 1100 total with 550 or over on Math Section	PRAXIS I: Math
ACT Scores
Total score of 24	PRAXIS I (all)
Less than 24 total with 24 or over on Verbal Section	PRAXIS I: Reading and Writing
Less than 24 total with 24 or over on Math Section	PRAXIS I: Math

 Student Teaching Application

• RCOE uses the Student Teaching Application to determine when to put a student on the contact list for communications about student teaching.
• Complete the Student Teaching Application one year prior to student teaching.
• The Student Teaching Application is available online.
• Be advised that your RCOE supervisor and cooperating teacher will read your application when you are being placed for student teaching.

Student Teaching Placements

See the RCOE website, Quick Links, Student Teaching, Prerequisites and Applying for information on when and how student teaching placement is done.

PRAXIS II Exams

PRAXIS II exams are required as part of student teaching. Students must TAKE the exams, but they can still graduate even if they do not PASS them. Understand, though, that principals like to hire teachers who have passed PRAXIS II. In their third year, teachers must demonstrate that they are “highly qualified” (No Child Left Behind regulation), and PRAXIS II scores are the easiest way to do that. Thus, principals prefer applicants who already meet the “highly qualified” regulation.

History, Secondary Education majors must take two exams:

1. Social Studies Content Knowledge (10081)
2. SS Pedagogy (30084)

A minimum combined score of 320 is required in North Carolina.

Notes About the Major

2009-2010 Checksheet for BS in History, Secondary Education

Older Checksheets

• Certain skills are taught a different levels of history courses. One 3 s.h. 2000-level course must be taken before any 3000-level course may be taken, and one 3000-level course must be taken before any 4000-level course may be taken.
• History courses at the 1000-level do not count toward the major.
• No more than 12 semester hours may be taken at the 2000-level.
• For schedule planning, students should know that some courses in the major (HIS 4100, both Issues in Teaching courses, CI 3100) are never offered in summer school.

Registration Schedule and Information

Required Courses NOTE: Double-Counting

• Up to 9 s.h. of history (HIS) courses may be double-counted from General Education.
• Also, some of the required Social Studies courses are offered in General Education and may be double-counted toward the major.
• See charts under Department Recommendations for General Education.

History (36 s.h.)

• HIS 2201: Survey American Civilization to 1876
• HIS 2204: Survey American Civilization Since 1876
• HIS 3000: Writing History
• At least 6 semester hours of European history
• At least 6 semester hours of non-western history (Asia, Africa, Latin America, Middle East,)
• 9 semester hours of history electives
• HIS 4000: Senior Colloquium
• HIS 4100: Senior Seminar (minimum grade of “C” required)

Social Studies (15 s.h.)

• PS 1100: American National Government & Politics
• PS 2130: State and Local Government
• ECO 2030: Principles of Economics: Price Theory
• ECO 2040: Principles of Economics: Macro

3 semester hours from the following

• GHY 1020: World Regional Geography
• PSY 1200: Psychology: Historical, Social, and Scientific Foundations
• SOC 1000: The Sociological Perspective

Major Related Education Courses (5 s.h.)

• CI 3100: Teaching HS Social Studies
• RE 4630: Reading in the Content Area

History Courses Especially for the Major

There are two courses created especially to prepare majors to teach the history courses required at the high school level. Students may take both courses.

• HIS 3626: Issues in Teaching U. S. History (counts as an American history)
• HIS 3628: Issues in Teaching World History (counts as American, European, or non-western).

The “Block”

History, Secondary Education does not have a true formal block. Majors are strongly recommended to take the following courses in their last semester of course work, which equates to an informal “block.”

• T/Th 8:00 CI 3100 - Teaching High School Social Studies
• T/Th 9:30 HIS 3626 or HIS 3628 - Issues in Teaching History (see History Courses Especially for the Major)
• T/Th 11:00 RE 4630 – Reading in the Content Area

CI 3100 and RE 4630 are required. The Issues in Teaching History courses are not required but highly encouraged.

“Block” courses are always offered on Tuesday and Thursday to help students work toward leaving Monday/Wednesday/Friday open. There is a 45 hour internship included in CI 3100. Therefore, majors need a schedule that allows them to be in the public schools for large blocks of time without returning to campus for classes.

Advising In the Major

The History, Secondary Education degree is the second largest education program on campus. The size of the program makes it impossible for all students to be advised by a single person. Rather, Dr. Myra Pennell (pennellml@appstate.edu), the program director, coordinates a team of advisors for the major. When students declare the major, they are assigned an advisor. They remain with the same advisor until it is time to clear for student teaching in the last semester of course work. At that point, majors roll to Dr. Pennell for final advising and student teacher clearance/orientation.

Any questions about advisors should be directed to Dr. Mary Valante (valante@appstate.edu), Undergraduate Advising Director, Room 1088, Anne Belk Hall, 828-262-4983. Each semester, an updated list of advisors is posted outside her office door and on the Advising bulletin board in the main hall of the building.

Your Program Director

Dr. Myra Pennell (pennellml@appstate.edu) is the director of the History, Secondary Education program. The following are times when majors work with her:

• When you declare your major, come by Dr. Pennell’s office (1090, Anne Belk Hall) and introduce yourself.
• Close to the opening of registration each semester, Dr. Pennell has an advising meeting for majors (including students in General Education who have yet to declare their major but are interested in the History, Secondary Education). That meeting is your chance to ask questions directly to Dr. Pennell make sure you are doing everything you are supposed to. Look for an e-mail from her each semester announcing that meeting.
• Dr. Myra Pennell must sign your Teacher Education Admission application.
• Contact Dr. Myra Pennell any time you have questions or problems, and you do not know what to do. She can help you or get you to the right person.
• Majors roll to Dr. Pennell for advising and student teacher clearance/orientation in your last semester of course work.
• Dr. Pennell is the academic supervisor for student teachers in the major.

Senior Check

The Senior Check is a formal transcript audit performed by the Dean’s Office, College of Arts & Sciences, which lists everything the student lacks for graduation. Since their diploma comes from this same office, the Senior Check is extremely important information for students nearing graduation. The check is performed when students have 85 earned hours, and a copy is sent to the student as an attachment to an e-mail entitled “Senior Check.” The History Department also receives a copy for the student file. Students should carefully examine the check and contact the Arts & Sciences advisors below in the Dean’s Office (Room 100, IG Greer Bldg.) with any questions. Also, Dr. Pennell can help with Senior Check problems.

Tina Beshears (beshearskk@appstate.edu) is the advisor for students with last names A - Go

Jennifer Taylor (taylorjt@appstate.edu) is the advisor for students with last names Gr - N

Jen Hammock (hammockjl@appstate.edu) is the advisor for students with last names O - Z

Miscellaneous

• Students must earn a minimum of 122 s.h. to graduate.
• Transfer students must earn at least 60 s.h. at a 4-year institution.
• Students should have WRITTEN permission for any changes/exceptions to the program of study (course substitutions, etc.). A copy of that permission should be placed in the student file in the History Department. Another copy of the permission should be sent to the Arts & Sciences Dean’s Office, (Room 100, IG Greer Bldg.) to be placed in the student file in that office. Send the Dean’s Office copies to the Arts & Sciences advisors below. 

Tina Beshears (beshearskk@appstate.edu) is the advisor for students with last names A - Go

Jennifer Taylor (taylorjt@appstate.edu) is the advisor for students with last names Gr - N

Jen Hammock (hammockjl@appstate.edu) is the advisor for students with last names O - Z