Social Science Education
48 credits + education course work
Why social science education?
Social scientists share a common interest in observing, describing, and explaining social phenomena, including cultures, institutions, organizations, groups, and individuals. A major in social science education is designed to serve students who seek certification to teach social studies in secondary schools and who need an overview of the disciplines represented in the social sciences. Licensure requirements are subject to change; therefore, students considering teaching in this area should be in continuous contact with the chair of this program and the school of education for a list of required courses.
Career Options
A majority of our graduates pursue classroom teaching in public or private middle or high schools; others go on to seek advanced degrees in special education, literacy, educational administration, curriculum and instruction, school counseling or school psychology.
High School Preparation
Comparative government & politics; human geography; microeconomics; U.S. government & politics; U.S. history
Sample First Year Schedule |
| Fall Semester |
Course # | Title | Credits |
| ED100 | Intro to Education (optional, but recommended) | (1) |
| PY111 | General Psychology | 4 |
| H150 | American Experience | 3 |
| LCT140 | First Year Seminar | 3 |
| E120 | English Composition | 3 |
| TA101 | Oral Communications | 3 |
| | 16-17 total |
| Spring Semester |
Course # | Title | Credits |
| ED250 | Human Relations, Cultural Diversity & Indian Cultures K-12 | 2 |
| S110 | Sociological Imagination | 3 |
| PS102 | American National Government | 3 |
| H125 | Europe and the World | 4 |
| ST132 | Reasoning with Statistics | 3 |
| | Disciplinary Studies Course | 3 |
| | | 18 total |
For more information contact: |
Sociology Program Coordinator | Education Chair |
Wesley Miller, Ph.D. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 700 Terrace Heights #1516 Winona, MN 55987-1399 (800) 635-5987, Ext. 1512 wmiller@smumn.edu | Scott Sorvaag, Ed.D. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota 700 Terrace Heights #23 Winona, MN 55987-1399 (800) 635-5987, Ext. 6612 ssorvaag@smumn.edu |
(From the 09-11 Catalog)
A. All of the following:
AN300 Introduction Anthropology
EC261 Principles of Microeconomics
GE305 Introduction to Geography
H125 Europe and the World
H150 The American Experience
H230 Ancient World
H321 Early Middle Ages
H322 High Middle Ages
LCT375 Global Issues
PS102 American National Government
PY211 Developmental Psychology
S110 Sociological Imagination
B. One of the following courses:
ST132 Reasoning with Statistics
ST232 Introduction to Statistics
C. The following course:
S250 Logic of Analysis
D. Five additional upper division courses selected from two programs or departments in this major. See the Course Catalog for options.
E. Required education course work
Please Note: Students considering teaching in this area should be in contact with the chair of this program and the education department. Students should also check each semester for possible changes in course work required of them as they work toward certification at the university.
Click on courses below for descriptions
AN300 Introduction to Anthropology (3 credits)A general introduction to the study of human culture. Topics: anthropology as an academic discipline, nature of human language, human culture, history of anthropological thought, and human social organizations.
EC261 Principles of Microeconomics (3 credits)A traditional introduction to the principles of microeconomics, concentrating on behavior of the household and the firm. The course analyzes factors determining prices, production and allocation of economic resources. Current issues are emphasized.
Prerequisite: mathematics competency.
GE305 Introduction to Geography (3 credits)A general introduction to the study of geography, with special emphasis on linking geography’s basic concepts to the realms and major regions of the world.
H125 Europe and the World (4 credits)This course is an introduction to history as a discipline and to the history of Europe. Students develop an introductory sense of the political, economic, social and cultural history of Europe since 1500 and be able to apply this knowledge in analyzing contemporary issues. In particular, students develop an understanding of the encounters between Europe and the rest of the world beginning with Columbus and be able to apply this knowledge in understanding today’s global world. Students also develop an introductory sense of how historians think about change in human society over time, and how historians analyze evidence and develop interpretations. Students develop the basic skill of interpreting primary sources of various kinds and constructing a historical analysis in written and oral form.
H150 The American Experience (4 credits)This course introduces students to the major themes of American history from the colonial period to the present. Students examine social, economic, intellectual, political, diplomatic, and cultural facets of the diverse people who created America. Together students explore the enduring paradox of separatism and unity within the American spirit.
Credit is not be granted for this course and H211.
H230 The Ancient World (3 credits)This course offers students a broad overview of the history of human civilizations form the origins of human life in Africa to the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD. The course emphasizes the common features of ancient cultures and civilization such as migration, environmental adaptation, the development of agriculture, political organization, technological innovation and the development of belief systems, which simultaneously highlighting the unique features of such civilizations and cultures as ancient Mesopotamia, ancient Egypt and neighboring African cultures, ancient and classical India, the Persian empires, the Chinese empires, the Hebrews, early American cultures, ancient Greece and the Hellenistic empires, the early Christian Church, and the Roman republic and empire. In addition, students gain an understanding of the methods historians, archaeologists and geographers use to arrive at our knowledge of the ancient world, as well as relevant insight into the kinds of primary and secondary sources available to the modern student of the ancient world.
Offered in alternate spring semesters.
H321 The Early Middle Ages (3 credits)The first half of a two-semester course that covers the period of history from approximately 100 to approximately 1400, the time of the Middle Ages. This course examines the period from approximately 100 to approximately 800. The purpose of the course is to identify and explore the concept of the Middle Ages by means of both primary and secondary sources. It is a fundamental presupposition that "Western civilization" came into being during the early Middle Ages out of a unique combination of Greco-Roman, Judeo-Christian, and Germanic elements. In this sense, then, the Middle Ages represent not a "middle," but the beginning of a new civilization. The essentials of this civilization will be explored. These include the decline of the Roman Empire, the rise of Christianity and monasticism, the Barbarian Invasions, Charlemagne, the Vikings, and the development of a feudal society.
All upper division history courses (300 and above) are closed to freshmen except where specific exception is made by the instructor.
H322 The High Middle Ages (3 credits)The second half of a two-semester course that covers the period of history from approximately 100 to approximately 1400, the time of the Middle Ages. This course examines the period from approximately 1000 to approximately 1400. The purpose of the course is to identify and explore the concept of the Middle Ages by means of both primary and secondary sources. Out of the chaos of the tenth century emerged a mature medieval civilization that is the focus of this course. It reached its apogee in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries with the great conflict between church and state, the Crusades, the revival of learning, feudal monarchy, chivalry, and high medieval Christianity, before experiencing the disasters of the fourteenth century and the breakdown of the medieval synthesis.
All upper division history courses (300 and above) are closed to freshmen except where specific exception is made by the instructor.
LCT375 Global Issues (3 credits)Global Issues, taken during a student's junior year, is designed to cultivate in students an understanding of the complexities inherent in our emerging global society and the ethical issues confronting them as members of a culturally diverse world. Each section of the course examines one or more specific problems or issues emerging from a global context by considering the issue(s) from multiple perspectives and with special attention toward the Lasallian concern for social justice.
PS102 American National Government (3 credits)A basic course on the nature and purpose of our U.S. political system; includes the Constitution, institutions, processes and persons that combine to form our federal government. The student is exposed to a variety of approaches to political study.
PY211 Developmental Psychology (3 credits)This course explores the study of growth and development across the life span. Students are introduced to the reciprocal nature of biological, cognitive, social and cultural factors on the developing person. This is a research-based introduction to understanding the expression of development in everyday life as it extends to family, friendship, youth ministry, school, neighborhood, sports, health care, and social services.
S110 Sociological Imagination (3 credits)The nature and foundations of society and the individual, the main forces that strengthen and weaken social groups and the conditions that transform social life is examined in this course.
S250 Logic of Analysis (4 credits)This course examines the major sociological perspectives in conjunction with an instruction in the logic and procedures of gathering information about social phenomena. The course covers topics such as: the logic of the scientific method, research design, hypotheses formation, theory and methods of scaling, and research analysis.
Prerequisites: S110 and either ST132 or ST232.
Also offered as PS242.
ST132 Reasoning with Statistics (3 credits)This course is designed to develop student facility in the use of statistical methods and the understanding of statistical concepts. The course takes a practical approach based on statistical examples taken from everyday life. Topics include: descriptive and inferential statistics, an intuitive introduction to probability, estimation, hypothesis testing, chi-square tests, regression and correlation. Appropriate technology is used to perform the calculations for many applications, and correspondingly an emphasis is placed on interpreting the results of statistical procedures.
Credit cannot be granted for this course and any of the following: BU215, B392 or ST232.
Prerequisite: mathematics competency.
ST232 Introduction to Statistics (2 credits)This course is designed to provide the basic ideas and techniques of statistics. Topics include: descriptive and inferential statistics, an intuitive introduction to probability, estimation, hypothesis testing, chi-square tests, regression and correlation. This course makes significant use of appropriate technology. Topics in this course is treated at a higher mathematical level than they are treated in ST132.
Credit is not be granted for this course and any of the following: BU215, or B392 or ST132. Prerequisite: M115 or departmental placement.