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St. Cloud State University

St. Cloud State University

Social Science (SSCI) and Social Studies (SST) Undergraduate Programs

361 STEWART HALL/(320) 308-5226

Programs at a Glance

Degree programs

  • BA – Social Science
  • BS – Social Studies Education; emphases in
    • Economics
    • Geography
    • History
    • Political Science
    • Sociology
  • BES – Social Science
  • Minor – Social Science
  • Minor (BES) – Social Science

Program admission and performance requirements

Admission/transfer – Department

  • 2.00 GPA or higher in courses in disciplines in the program
  • for transfer courses in the program, a grade of “C” or better in each course

Admission – Teacher Education

  • grades of “C” or better in ENG 191 and CMST 192
  • 2.50 GPA or higher  overall
  • completion of a minimum of 36 semester hours, with at least 12 semester hours in residence at SCSU
  • submission of scores on the Pre-Professional Skills Test

Graduation – Teacher Education

  • 2.50 GPA or higher overall

Graduation – University

  • BA in Social Science – minor  or one  year of  a foreign language

University minimum requirements for bachelor’s degrees

  • 120 credits
  • 40 credits in General Education
  • 1 credit in PESS 122
  • 45 credits in upper-division (300-400) courses
  • 30 credits in residence at SCSU
  • 2.00 GPA overall, in major, and in minor (departments may set higher standards)

 (See this section and the sections on the College of Social Sciences and the College of Education for more information.)

Social Science Director/Social Studies Director: Kyle Ward

The Social Science and Social Studies programs are committed to the interdisciplinary study of human behavior using multiple perspectives and tools of scientific analysis. In interdisciplinary courses, issues confronting us are examined from many points of view. An understanding of topics such as power or population change, for example, is best achieved through an integrated approach using insights from anthropological, economic, geographical, historical, political, psychological and sociological dimensions, as well as from other areas such as the natural sciences and humanities.

Career benefits for students are many; the skills and knowledge gained from the Social Science and Social Studies programs are applicable in a variety of settings, including possible careers in teaching, government service, or business. This approach provides strong preparation for graduate study in the social sciences, international fields and law. Our graduates are "generalists" who have a wide range of interests and backgrounds well suited to the rapidly changing job markets of the 21st century.

Students seeking admission to a nonteaching major or minor in Social Science must have at least a 2.0 grade point average in all courses previously taken in anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, social science and sociology. Students in a Social Studies teaching major must have an overall 2.5 grade point average. Many courses may be counted in both a major or minor or a double major. Transfer credits carrying a grade of less than "C" are not usable in a Social Science or Social Studies major or minor.

Students must have completed SST 453 and must have achieved a grade of at least "C" in SST 453 prior to student teaching.

Bachelor of Arts-Non-teaching

Social Science Major (42)
ECON 205, 206; POL 195, 312; PSY 115; SOC 160, 304; ANTH 250; SSCI 421; SSCI 460 or 470

One 3-credit elective at the 300-400 level from 4 of the following areas: ANTH, ECON, GEOG, HIST, POL, PSY, SSCI

This major requires either one year in a single foreign language OR a minor.

Non-teaching Social Science Minor (24)
ECON 205; POL 195; SOC 160, 304; ANTH 250; SSCI 421
Electives 300-400 level in ANTH, ECON, POL, PSY, SSCI

Bachelor of Elective Studies-Non-teaching

Social Science Major (36) and Social Science Minor (24)
Students will develop a proposal for the selection of applicable courses in the social sciences and provide a rationale for this. This proposal will be reviewed and revised in consultation with the adviser.

Bachelor of Science-Teaching (63-69)

The Social Studies Education major prepares students for Minnesota licensure as middle/secondary (5-12) social studies teachers. Students selecting this major must complete the General Education program, the Social Studies Licensing Core, one of the emphases in the B.S. Social Studies major designated for licensure, and the Professional Education component.

The following courses make up the University's approved Social Studies Licensing Core: ANTH 250; ECON 201; GEOG 253, 270; HIST 140** or 141**, 106 (global only)*, 385; ETHS 310; POL 195, 251; PSY 240; SOC 160; SST 253, 453. Many of these social studies licensure core courses may be used in the general education program. (*Students emphasizing history will use HIST 210, 211 and electives in African, Asian and/or Middle Eastern history instead of HIST 106 (global only). **They will also include both HIST 140 and 141 in their emphasis.)

Individuals who plan to seek this licensure should consult the Director of Social Studies Education in the College of Social Sciences, SH 361, 320-308-5226, immediately upon enrolling at SCSU or changing to this field to determine the current plan for the social studies licensure competencies to be developed and demonstrated. Fifteen credits of coursework at SCSU and a 2.50 GPA at SCSU are required for admission to the Bachelor of Science Social Studies Education (Teaching) major leading to middle/secondary social studies licensure.

Social Studies Education majors will pick one of the following emphases:

Social Studies Major: Economics Emphasis (21)
Economics Core: ECON 205, 206, 360, 405, 406
One of ECON 471 or 474, and one of the following: ECON 417, 420, 442, 451, 460, 461, 465, 472, 473.
Note: Students in this emphasis are not required to take ECON 201 in their Social Studies Licensing Core.

Social Studies Major: Geography Emphasis (24)
Geography Core: GEOG 270, 271, 273, 274
Required regional courses: 376 and one non-western: 368, 369, or 373; 410 may be substituted with approval of adviser.
Electives: 6 credits - one must be regional - one must be topical
Note: Students in this emphasis are not required to take GEOG 253 in their Social Studies Licensing Core.

Social Studies Major: History Emphasis (24)
History Core (24 credits, of which at least 18 must be at the 200-level or above).

  1. U.S.: HIST 140 and 141 (6 Cr.)
  2. Western Civ I and II (6 Cr.)
  3. Africa, Asia, Latin America or Middle East (6 Cr.)
  4. HIST electives (6 Cr.)

Social Studies Major: Political Science Emphasis (24)
Political Science Core POL 101, 195, 312, 251, 311, 491 or 492
One course in comparative government or one course in international relations (300/400) (3 Cr.)
One course in political theory (300/400) (3 Cr.)

Social Studies Major: Sociology Emphasis (24)
Sociology Core
SOC 111 or 160, 268, 301, 302, 303 (15); STAT 193
SOC gender elective: SOC 273, 355, or other course with approval of adviser (3);
400 level SOC elective (3)

Middle School Social Studies Specialty Area for Elementary Education Majors (15)
Required courses: One course each (exclusive of SSCI 104 and 320) from any five of the following areas: Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Social Science, Sociology, Political Science, Psychology.

A minimum of 3 courses must be at the 200-400 level. Other than HIST 109 or SOC 268, no course included in Area C of General Education may be counted in the social studies specialty area. Transfer students who have completed the MN Transfer Curriculum or who have earned an AA degree may count one appropriate course from their General Education program toward the fulfillment of this specialty area.

Social Studies Elementary Education Minor (18)
One course from six of the following eight areas/departments: ANTH, ECON, GEOG, HIST, SSCI, SOC, POL, PSY
Four courses must be at the 200-400 level (Cannot use SSCI 320)