BSEd in Secondary Education with Emphasis in Social Studies

Degree Program Description

The Bachelor of Science in Education in Secondary Education prepares students to work with children from ninth through twelfth grade in public, private, and alternative school systems. You may consider a degree in education if you enjoy working with children and/or adolescents, want to strengthen the future through education, and want to make a difference in the lives of others.  MU Students work closely with mentors, practicing teachers, administrators, and university faculty to develop the knowledge and skills to enhance learning outcomes for children and youth. The coursework through the College of Education & Human Development focuses on teachers’ roles in facilitating learning at all levels of development and considers the influences of cultural, political, historical, and economic factors on students, teachers, and schools. Upon successfully completing the initial teacher certification process, the state grants you certification in secondary social studies.  Practical and rewarding clinical training in schools and agencies begins sophomore year and continues each semester culminating in a senior-level teaching internship, enhancing teaching skills and confidence. Coursework within Secondary social studies provide you with experience in the methods of teaching social studies. Education courses include an introduction to social studies education, methodology for teaching science and assessment within the field. Inquiry courses focus on how issues related to schools, family, community, and society affect educators, classroom management, and special needs learners.

Major Program Requirements

Students must complete all university, general education, and content requirements, in addition to degree requirements. Please meet with an Academic Advisor to discuss degree requirements and to create a semester plan.

Teacher Education programs in the College of Education & Human Development are accredited by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Curriculum changes mandated to earn teacher certification may become effective at any point during your academic program. Therefore, it is extremely important that you DO NOT SELF ADVISE.

Cultural Diversity Requirement-Choose one of the following, or a course from the Multicultural Certificate Course List The course must be in addition to major Education and content course requirements (it cannot double dip with any other professional Education course requirement or content course requirement); however, it may count towards a general education requirement.3
Experiencing Cultural Diversity in the United States
Multicultural Study of Children and Families
or Multicultural Certificate Course (https://multicultural.missouri.edu/application/course-list/)
Early Experiences
LTC 1100Orientation1
or SPC_ED 1100 Orientation: Special Education
LTC 2200School Health and Student Wellbeing3
ESC_PS 2010Inquiry Into Learning I3
ESC_PS 2014Inquiry into Learning I - Field Experience1
or ESC_PS 2014H Inquiry into Learning I - Field Experience - Honors
LTC 2040Inquiring into Schools, Community and Society I3
or LTC 2040H Inquiring into Schools, Community and Society I - Honors
LTC 2044Inquiry into Schools, Community and Society: Field1
IS_LT 2467Inquiry into Empowering Learners with Technology3
Mid-Level Experiences
LTC 4530Introduction to Social Studies3
LTC 4534Secondary Social Studies I Field Experience1
LTC 4560Reading and Writing in the Content Areas3
SPC_ED 4020Teaching the Exceptional Learner3
LTC 4541Reading and Writing in the Social Studies3
LTC 4544Reading and Writing in the Social Studies Field1
LTC 4460Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages3
or LTC 4460H Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages - Honors
Advanced Experiences
LTC 4550Assessment in Social Studies3
LTC 4554Secondary Social Studies III Field Experience1
ED_LPA 4060Inquiring into Schools, Community and Society II3
SPC_ED 4310Behavioral and Classroom Management3
LTC 4971Internship and Capstone Seminar12
Internship and Capstone Seminar - Honors (Honors students can choose to enroll in 6 credit hours of LTC 4971H and 6 credit hours of LTC 4971 to fulfill 12 credit hour requirement for Internship and Capstone Seminar.)
Content Area
HIST 1100Survey of American History to 18653
or HIST 1100H Survey of American History to 1865 - Honors
HIST 1200Survey of American History Since 18653
or HIST 1200H Survey of American History Since 1865 - Honors
American History Course (see advisor for course list)6
HIST 1400 can replace HIST 1100 & HIST 1200. An additional course in American History required to earn a minimum of 12 credit hours in American History.
HIST 1500Origins of European History3
or HIST 1500H Origins of European History - Honors
HIST 1510History of Modern Europe3
or HIST 1510H History of Modern Europe - Honors
Non-Western History/Cultural History Course (see advisor for course list)3
ECONOM 1014Principles of Microeconomics3
or ECONOM 1014H Principles of Microeconomics-Honors
or ABM 1041 Applied Microeconomics
or ABM 1042 Applied Macroeconomics
GEOG 1100Regions and Nations of the World I3
or GEOG 1100H Regions and Nations of the World I - Honors
or GEOG 1200 Regions and Nations of the World II
or GEOG 1205H Regions and Nations General Honors
or GEOG 1550 Introduction to the Humanized Earth
POL_SC 1100American Government3
or POL_SC 1100H American Government - Honors
POL_SC 1400International Relations3
or POL_SC 1400H International Relations - Honors
or POL_SC 2700 Comparative Political Systems
or POL_SC 2700H Comparative Political Systems - Honors
Psychology Course 1000+3
Sociology Course 1000+3

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Semester Plan

Below is a sample plan of study, semester by semester. A student’s actual plan may vary based on course choices and where options are available.                      

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
LTC 11001LTC 22003
Cultural Diversity Requirement3IS_LT 24673
ENGLSH 10003General Education Math Requirement3
Humanities 3Humanities3
HIST 11003HIST 12003
 13 15
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ESC_PS 2010 or LTC 2040 (Social Science)3ESC_PS 2010 or LTC 2040 (Social Science)3
ESC_PS 2014 or LTC 20441ESC_PS 2014 or LTC 20441
Humanities & Writing Intensive3Lab Science3
Biological, Physical, Mathematical Science3Biological, Physical, Mathematical Science3
GEOG 1100, 1200, or 15503POL_SC 11003
Sociology 1000+3Psychology 1000+3
 16 16
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
LTC 45303LTC 45413
LTC 45341LTC 45441
SPC_ED 40203LTC 44603
LTC 45603HIST 15103
POL_SC 1400 or 27003American History Elective3
HIST 15003Economics3
 16 16
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
LTC 45503LTC 497112
LTC 45541 
ED_LPA 40603 
SPC_ED 43103 
American History Elective3 
Non-Western History/Cultural History Elective3 
 16 12
Total Credits: 120

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Degree Audit

The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree. 

MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.

Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.

Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.

For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.

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Major and Career Exploration

The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.

  • If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.

  • If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major

  • If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.

For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.

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