SOCIAL STUDIES EDUCATION

 

Mission Statement

 

The B.A.E program in Social Studies prepares teacher candidates to successfully instruct
comprehensive social studies at the middle and high school level. The Social Studies program embraces the mission and vision of the College by providing a systematic and grounded sequence of learning opportunities that support candidates' development into component and contributing professionals within diverse communities.

Candidates demonstrate practice reflected within a variety of state and learned society standards, including the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices, the Florida Performance Standards for Teachers of English for Speakers of other Languages, the Florida Subject Matter Content Standards for Comprehensive Social Studies, the National Council for the Social Studies Thematic and Pedagogical Standards, and the National Education Technology Standards for Teachers.

 

Student Learning Outcomes

 

UNF Social Studies Education program graduates will be able to:

 

Content/Discipline Knowledge & Skills

• Understand the various perspectives of the disciplines used within the teaching of the social studies and identify select concepts and generalizations from these disciplines that are incorporated within secondary social studies instruction.
  
  
• Demonstrate effective planning, instruction, and assessment skills in the area of secondary social studies education.
  
  
• Develop skills in the selection and use of technology to assist all students in learning.
  
  
• Demonstrate understanding of concepts and principles of behaviorism, social cognitive theory, information processing, constructivist views of learning, and motivation.
  
  
• Develop knowledge, skills, and dispositions to effectively manage the classroom environment.
  
  
• Develop knowledge and skills to design, assess, and implement instruction that is inclusive of special needs learners and speakers of other languages.

 

Critical Thinking

• Explore, view, and interpret events and conflicts from diverse ethnic and cultural perspectives.

 

Communication Skills

• Recognize and demonstrate effective means of communication within instructional contexts.
  
  
• Demonstrate methods of technology integration during both instructional design and implementation.

 

 

Curriculum Map
Click on the image below to see in which Social Studies Education courses these Student Learning Outcomes are addressed:

Social Studies Education Curriculum Map

 

 

 

 

Assessment Approaches

 

UNF graduates of the B.A.E program in Social Studies Education will demonstrate mastery of content knowledge and teaching skills through proficiency on course embedded assessments, activities, and critical task assessments in core, major, and clinical experiences at a proficiency level expected of a teacher candidate. It is expected that teacher candidates apply knowledge throughout the program by demonstrating understanding, competence, and effective implementation.

Assessment strategies include:

• Assignments, and other formal formative, summative, and authentic assessments; Successful completion of critical tasks in specific courses;
  
  
• articipation in class discussions, reflections, and critiques that provide a dynamic forum for developing ideas and demonstrating knowledge; and
  
  
• Analysis of teaching performances in field experiences and methods courses.

 

Career Opportunities

 

For information on the many career opportunities available to Social Studies Education majors, go to What Can You Do with an Education Major at http://www.unf.edu/dept/cdc/info/edmajors.html

 

For More Information

 

To learn more about the UNF Education Department and majoring in Social Studies, go to http://www.unf.edu/coehs/degrees/ci/bach.htm

 

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