B.S. Social Studies Education

Bachelor's in Social Studies Education

If your goal is to become a middle school or high school social studies teacher in the state of Indiana, the BS in Social Studies Education at Indiana Wesleyan University was designed for you. This major is designed to meet the certification standards of the Indiana Department of Education and the national accreditation requirements of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and is recognized by the National Council for the Social Sciences (NCSS). At our Christian university, you can learn how to apply biblical principles to your career as a social studies teacher, whether you choose to work in public or religious school settings.

Why Pursue My Bachelor’s in Social Studies Education at IWU?

There are several benefits to pursuing your BS in Social Studies Education at IWU. This accredited degree program is taught by faculty with experience in teaching social studies. We also provide student services, from tech support to tutoring, to help you succeed in this bachelor’s in social studies education program. Students learn from expert faculty who will become mentors in the faith, integrating classroom learning with biblical truths for a Christ-centered environment that encourages spiritual growth.

What Will I Learn in this BS in Social Studies Education Program?

The courses in this BS in Social Studies Education are designed to help students learn the knowledge and skills to engage students in diverse academic settings. The student experience combines traditional coursework with interactive learning and 1:1 faculty guidance. Course topics cover methods of teaching, American government, educational technology, comparative politics, and more.

What You Will Study in This Bachelor of Science in Social Studies Education

Coursework for this BS in Social Studies Education program helps students:

Explore the history, principles, problems, and philosophy of public education in American society
Study literacy strategies for the secondary content classroom
Learn topics in contemporary world affairs from a geographical perspective
Examine core principles of classroom instruction and management, certification, job search procedures, interviewing strategies, mock interviews, accountability, and current issues in education
Apply biblical principles to your career in social studies education

Program Requirements

Admission Requirements

Indiana Wesleyan University students are assessed multiple times as they progress through the Teacher Education Program and acquire the knowledge, skills and dispositions required of successful educators.

Admission to the Teacher Education Program.
- Cumulative GPA of 2.75 and a 3.0 in each teaching major, including teacher education courses. All professional education courses completed with a grade of C- or less must be repeated.
- Formal application.
- Teacher Education Program Assessments: interview; reading and writing on demand assessments.
Admission to student teaching. Students apply for admission to student teaching a year prior to the academic year in which the student teaching semester occurs.
- Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the major.
- Design a lesson plan that is assessed by a School of Teacher Education faculty member using an assessment rubric that is expressly designed for that purpose.
Students apply for admission to student teaching a year prior to the academic year in which the student teaching semester occurs.

Graduation Requirements

The student teaching semester culminates with the following assessments:

Students develop a standards-based portfolio during the student teaching semester, assembling artifacts in five different domains that provide evidence that they have met the standards and expectations required of them. The portfolio is assessed with a rubric designed expressly for that purpose.
Student teachers develop a Teacher Work Sample that is designed to determine the degree to which their teaching has been effective in producing the learning expected of their students.
As the concluding activity of the student teaching semester, a defense committee, consisting of the student's supervising teacher, School of Teacher Education faculty, other University faculty and practicing P-12 teachers, conducts an interview with each student teacher. The student teacher is assessed on his or her professional impression and also the degree to which he or she answers questions successfully.

Accreditation

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), www.hlcommission.org, 312-263-0456. Other accreditations and associations of Indiana Wesleyan University are available at www.indwes.edu/about/iwu-profile/accreditation.

The Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)

The IWU Teacher Education Program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and is a member of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE).

B.S. Social Studies Education Degree

B.S. Social Studies Education Degree

Bachelor's in Social Studies Education

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