Social Studies Composite (Teacher Certification), Bachelor of Arts

(Focus: 7^TH – 12^TH Grade Teacher Certification)

This program leads to a profession which requires an occupational license as defined under Texas Occupations Code 58.001 This requires that all applicants seeking to become licensed must undergo a criminal background check prior to licensure. Students in this program should check with the College of Education and P-16 Integration on the requirements for a criminal background check prior to student teaching.

As an integral part of a liberal arts education, history courses introduce students to different historical eras, diverse cultures, famous and ordinary women and men, and a variety of geographical settings. Our courses challenge students to think critically, express themselves clearly, and become informed and responsible citizens in an increasingly interconnected world. Students majoring or minoring in history may become teachers or seek employment in business or government. History is an excellent background for those who wish later to go to law school or enter journalism.

Note: For a PDF version of the degree requirements for this program go to the Undergraduate Programs page on the UTRGV website. 

 

Core Curriculum Requirements – 42 Hours

Students must fulfill the Core Curriculum requirements. The courses listed below satisfy both degree requirements and Core Curriculum requirements.

Social and Behavioral Sciences – 3 hours

ECON 2301

Principles of Macroeconomics

3

Major Requirements – 57 Hours (45 advanced)

Social Studies Composite Core – 21 hours (12 advanced)

Required

ECON 2302	Principles of Microeconomics	3
HIST 2321	World History I	3
HIST 2322	World History II	3
HIST 3300	Historiography and Methods	3
HIST 3302	Geography and Environment in History	3
HIST 3333	Texas History	3
HIST 4399	Senior Research Seminar	3

Social Studies Composite Electives – 36 hours (33 advanced)

United States History – 12 hours (12 advanced)

Choose one course from each area. A course can only be counted in one area.

Choose 3 hours of Colonial America to 1776 courses from:

HIST 3320	Colonial America to 1763	3
HIST 3332	Mexican-American History	3
HIST 4321	The Spanish Southwest to 1821	3
HIST 4323	History of the Old South	3

Choose 3 hours of Early National Period to 1848 courses from:

HIST 3321	The United States, Revolution, and the New Nation, 1763-1815	3
HIST 3322	Rise of the American Nation, 1815-1848	3
HIST 3327	The American Military Experience	3
HIST 3328	History of the American Presidency	3
HIST 4323	History of the Old South	3

Choose 3 hours of Era of Sectional Conflict courses from:

HIST 3323	Era of Sectional Conflict, 1848-1877	3
HIST 3327	The American Military Experience	3
HIST 3328	History of the American Presidency	3
HIST 3332	Mexican-American History	3
HIST 3334	History of the American West	3
IST 4322
HIST 4323	History of the Old South	3

Choose 3 hours of 1877 to the Present courses from:

HIST 3330	The U.S. as a World Power	3
HIST 3324	The Emergence of Modern America, 1877-1929	3
HIST 3325	Twentieth Century America	3
HIST 3327	The American Military Experience	3
HIST 3328	History of the American Presidency	3
HIST 3332	Mexican-American History	3
HIST 4324	History of the New South since 1877	3
HIST 4325	The United States, War, Prosperity, and Depression, 1917-1945	3
HIST 4326	The United States since 1945	3

European History – 6 hours (6 advanced)

Choose from:

HIST 3340	Medieval Europe	3
HIST 3341	Early Modern Europe	3
HIST 3342	Revolutionary Europe, 1789-1850	3
HIST 3343	Europe's Age of Imperialism, 1850-1919	3
HIST 3344	Contemporary Europe, 1919 to the Present	3
HIST 3345	History of England to 1688	3
HIST 3346	History of England after 1688	3
HIST 3347	History of Spain	3
HIST 4340	Ancient Greek History	3
HIST 4341	Ancient Roman History	3
HIST 4342	The Renaissance and Reformation, 1300-1650	3
HIST 4343	Russia since 1905	3
HIST 4344	Absolutism and Enlightenment in Europe, 1650-1789	3
HIST 4391	Special Topics in European History	3

Latin American History – 3 hours (3 advanced)

Choose from:

HIST 3360	Pre-Conquest Mexico and Central America	3
HIST 3361	Colonial Latin America	3
HIST 3362	Modern Latin America	3
HIST 3363	Mexico from Pre-Conquest to the Present	3
HIST 3364	Mexico through Independence	3
HIST 3365	Mexico since Independence	3
HIST 3366	Latin American Women in the Modern Era	3
HIST 3367	Women in Colonial Latin America	3
HIST 4360	Mexico's First Century as an Independent Republic	3
HIST 4361	Contemporary Mexico	3
HIST 4362	History of Mexican Culture	3
HIST 4363	History of Mexican Cinema	3
HIST 4364	Brazil after Independence	3
HIST 4365	Latin America since Independence	3
HIST 4366	The Caribbean and Central America	3
HIST 4393	Special Topics in Latin American History	3

World History – 3 hours (3 advanced)

Choose from:

HIST 3303	Classical and Post-Classical World, 500 BCE to 1450	3
HIST 3304	First Globalization, 1450-1750	3
HIST 3305	The Modern World, 1750-present	3
HIST 3306	Great Discoveries in Archaeology and History	3
HIST 3307	Women in History	3
HIST 4300	The Atlantic World	3
HIST 4301	Maritime Archaeology and History	3
HIST 4302	Comparative Colonialism	3
HIST 4303	Public Health in the Americas	3
HIST 4304	US-Latin American Relations	3
HIST 4306	History of the Cold War	3
HIST 3370	Early Middle East History	3
HIST 3371	Modern Middle Eastern History	3
HIST 3372	History of East Asia to 1800	3
HIST 3374	History of the Ottoman Empire	3
HIST 3375	History of Modern Japan	3
HIST 3376	History of Modern China	3
HIST 4390	Special Topics in World History	3

Social Studies Composite Electives – 12 hours (9 advanced)

Geography Component – 3 hours

GEOG 1303

World Regional Geography

3

History Component – 3 hours (3 advanced)

Choose 3 hours of advanced History. HIST 3301 does not fulfill the HIST elective requirement.

Political Science Component – 6 hours (6 advanced)

Choose from:

POLS 3311	Contemporary Texas Politics	3
POLS 3355	U.S. Public Policy	3
POLS 4312	U.S. Constitutional Law ? Civil Liberties	3
POLS 4341	U.S. Political Theory	3

Teacher Certification – 27 Hours (24 advanced)

Area of Certification: Social Studies (7-12)

EDFR 2301	Intercultural Context of Schooling	3
EDUC 3301	The Teaching Profession and Student Learning in Contemporary Schools	3
EDUC 3302	Knowledge of Student Development and Learning	3
EDUC 3304	Instructional Planning and Assessment in Culturally Sustaining Classrooms	3
EDUC 3306	Evidence-Based Teaching in Positive Learning Environments	3
EDUC 4306	Implementing and Assessing Effective Secondary Content Pedagogy	3
READ 4305	Disciplinary Literacy in Content Area Classrooms	3
EDUC 4611	Student Teaching Secondary or All-Level	6

Total Credit Hours: 69

Total Credit Hours: 126

Admission, Progression, And Graduation Requirements, if applicable:

Progression requirements

Social Studies Composite Majors must earn a ‘C’ or better in HIST 3300 before taking advanced HIST classes or may progress at the discretion of the instructor. For teacher certification, students must apply for admission and be accepted to the College of Education and P-16 Integration prior to enrolling in teacher certification courses, except for EDFR 2301 which is open to all students.