Major

Broad-field major for teaching

Minor

Broad-field Minor

Academic Standards

Social Science
(College of Letters and Science)
Greg Summers, Coordinator
Room 422, College of Professional Studies Building
Phone: 715-346-2334
E-mail: history@uwsp.edu or gsummers@uwsp.edu

The social science major is available with or without teacher certification.  If you are working toward teacher certification, choose alternative A or B listed below in order to meet Wisconsin certification requirements for high school social studies teachers.  Also see information about the Professional Education program and the Secondary Education curriculum for teacher certification in the Education section of this catalog.

Social Science Major
Without teacher certification consists of the following:

1. Complete a minor. Choose from anthropology, economics, history, political science, psychology, sociology.

2. Choose 3 social science fields listed below and earn 6 credits in each. Do not include the field you have selected for your minor.

1. Anthropology.

2. Economics.

3. Geography (human), consisting of Geography 110, plus 3 credits in human geography courses numbered 300 or above.

4. History (in addition to history credits necessary to meet the general degree requirements).

5. Political Science.

6. Psychology.

7. Sociology.

3. Sufficient additional credits to total 45 or more, with at least 15 in courses numbered 300 or above.

Broad-Field Social Science Major for teacher certification (Secondary/Middle)
Consists of a minimum of 54 social science credits from the following subjects: anthropology, economics, geography (human), history, political science, psychology and sociology. Select alternative A or B. 

Alternative A:

1. A certifiable major (minimum of 34 credits) in one of the subject areas listed above and

2. A minimum of 20 credits distributed over at least two of the other social science subjects.

3. At least 12 credits must be in history and/or political science.

Alternative B:

1. A certifiable minor (minimum of 22 credits) in one of the social science subjects listed above and

2. A minimum of 32 credits distributed over at least three of the other social science subjects.

3. At least 12 credits must be in history and/or political science.

This "broad-field" social science major will permit teaching in the major field, the minor field, and the fusion courses. (The fusion courses are those drawn from several of the social science disciplines and, therefore, require a composite preparation in social science. Fusion courses include civics, social problems, American problems, area studies, vital issues, etc.) In addition, broad-field social science majors may be certified to teach in any of the social science disciplines in which they have completed 9 credits.

For certification in the "broad-field" social sciences, Wisconsin statutes require instruction in conservation and cooperatives. These requirements (normally Economics 210 or 272, and Natural Resources 370) are described in the Education section of this catalog.

Social Science Minor  
Without teacher certification consists of 24 credits, 6 credits in each of the following social studies areas:

1. Economics. Required: Econ 210; Elective: Econ 211 or any 3 credit course numbered 300 or above approved by the social science advisor.

2. Geography. Required: Geography 110; Elective: any 3 credit course in human geography numbered 300 or above approved by the social science advisor.

3. Political science. Required: Poli Sci 101; Elective: any 3 credit course numbered 300 or above approved by the social science advisor.

4. Sociology and anthropology. Required: Sociology 101; Elective: any 3 credit course numbered 300 or above approved by the social science advisor.

Broad-field Social Science Minor
This minor is open only to elementary education majors and is for DPI certification to teach ages six through 12-13. It consists of at least 24 credits as follows:

1. History, 9 credits: History 130 or 211; 107 or 108; and 101 or 102.

2. Political Science 160, 180, or 202.

3. Geography 110, 113 or 120.

4. Sociology 101 or 102.

5. At least 6 credits from Anthropology 101 or 110, Economics 210, 211, Psychology 290, 320.

Academic Standards

1. To graduate with a major in social science you must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA (without teacher certification) and a 2.75 cumulative GPA (with teacher certification) in all major required courses, including transfer courses, regardless of any declaration of academic bankruptcy.

2. No more than two courses for which you earned a D or D+ may be repeated for credit in the major. See the Academic Information section of this catalog for the policy on repeating courses.

3. Courses in the social science major (without teacher certification) are open to all students who meet the prerequisites.

4. Enrollment caps may be enforced for admission into the Professional Education Program for certification in broad-field social science. See your advisor or the coordinator of the program for more information.