History and Social Studies Education (B.S.)

History and Social Studies Education (B.S.)
Outdoor group photo of History and Social Studies Education students and faculty.

Take on the challenge of mastering information about our human past.


Why do people enjoy studying history? There are many reasons: for the shock of finding familiar behavior across wide reaches of time and culture, for the puzzle of trying to understand practices alien to their own, for the challenge of mastering information about human life in the past, or for the insight to handle contemporary social concerns.


BS History and Social Studies Education majors take a shared core of four History classes to build broad historical content knowledge and the key historical skills of research, analysis, and communication. 

Students in the BS History Option take five full History courses beyond the core, distributed across United States, European, and world history. Advanced historical study examines multiple dimensions of human society, both in the past and as they shape our world today. History Option students hone their abilities in intricate analysis, in-depth research, clear persuasive and narrative writing, speaking and discussion, and collaboration. Students activate these high-level skills in two Professional Applications courses, chosen from a range of disciplines, that count toward the major. Depending on requirements, up to half of a non-History minor or certificate may be completed within the major. The option’s career development sequence concludes with a 2-credit class that helps students synthesize and describe their college growth while sharpening career readiness tools.

Students who wish to pursue a teaching license choose the BS Social Studies Education (5-12) Option. Social studies courses prepare young learners for college, career, and civic life. Future social studies educators must be prepared to think deeply, critically, and adaptively about historic and current events to support their students’ understanding of a complex and ever-changing world. This option can be broken down into three themes: history, social sciences, and pedagogy. Students take the core history courses in the major and at least one other upper-level history course. Students take lower and upper-level courses in Political Science, Economics, Geography, and the behavioral sciences such as Psychology, Anthropology, or Sociology. Woven through each year in the program, students take courses in teaching methods, child development, special education, and the professionalism expected of teachers. Students work directly in schools every year and, during their last semester, they participate in a full-time teaching internship. For more information about accreditation, interstate reciprocity, and licensure requirements, see the Holmes Center for School Partnerships and Educator Preparation section of this catalog or consult the program coordinator.

Contact

Program Coordinator, History & Social Studies Education
Professor
Phone: (603) 535-3203
Office: Arts & Technologies, Memorial Building Rm 105, MSC 30, Plymouth, NH 03264
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Curriculum & Requirements

Course Title Credits
Major Requirements
HI 1005Introduction to History and Social Studies Education1
HI 2011Modern World History, 1500 to Present (GACO)4
HI 2223Methods, Theories, and Careers in History (QRCO,WRCO)4
HI 3571Interrogating US History (DICO,TECO)4
Complete ONE course from the following:4
HI 2006
Ancient and Medieval Civilizations (GACO)
HI 2016
History of Modern Europe, 1300-2000
General Education
EN 1400Composition4
IS 1115Tackling a Wicked Problem4
MAMathematics Foundations3-4
CTDICreative Thought Direction3-4
SIDIScientific Inquiry Direction3-4
SSDISelf and Society Direction3-4
Directions (choose from CTDI, SIDI, SSDI) 14-8
IS 4220Signature Project (INCO,INCP)4
Required Options in this Major76-78
History
Social Studies Education (5-12)
Total Credits121-131
1

Directions should total a minimum of 16 credits because PPDI is waived for BS History and Social Studies Education. 

History Option

Course Title Credits
History Option
HI 4200Career Launch: Tell Your Story2
United States History Elective (Choose one)4
HI 3117
Revolutionary America, 1763-1815
HI 3145
Antebellum America, 1815-1860 (DICO,INCO,INCP)
HI 3155
American Civil War and Reconstruction
HI 3342
New Hampshire and New England History
HI 3351
Women, Gender, and Sexuality in American History (DICO)
HI 3355
Health and Illness in American History (WECO)
HI 3357
American Ideas (INCO,INCP)
HI 3359
Law and Society in US History (DICO)
HI 3526
The Great Depression in Film, Print, and On Stage: An Interdisciplinary History (DICO,INCO)
HI 3535
Home Front, USA: The WWII Era in the United States (DICO)
HI 3815
Topics in United States History
European History Elective (Choose one)4
HI 3230
Topics in European History (GACO)
HI 3360
Violence in the Middle Ages (GACO)
HI 3405
Love, Sex, and Family in Medieval Europe
HI 3485
The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era, 1789-1815 (GACO)
HI 3590
Religious Conflict in Early Modern Europe (GACO)
World History Elective (Choose one)4
HI 3210
History of China (GACO)
HI 3220
Sex, Slavery, and Empire in Global History (GACO)
HI 3465
The British Empire in World History (GACO)
HI 3775
Islamic Empires (GACO)
HI 3825
Topics in World History (GACO)
Additional History Electives
3000/4000 level History course4
Any HI course (not HIDI)4
WECO (may be HI)0-4
Professional Applications (Choose 6 to 8 credits; minimum 3 credits upper-level)6-8
BUS 1100
Introduction to Marketing and Sales
BUS 1200
Business Law and Ethics (DICO)
BUS 2300
Business Writing and Presenting (WRCO)
TMP 2010
Introduction to Travel and Tourism (GACO)
BUS 1200
Business Law and Ethics (DICO)
SAL 3280
Professional Selling Skills I
SAL 3290
Professional Selling Skills II
MKT 3210
Event Planning and Marketing
MGM 3450
Organizational Behavior & Team Development (DICO)
MKT 3130
Digital Marketing
MKT 3230
Public Relations
BU 4040
Business Law II
CM 2405
Public Speaking
CM 2775
Media and Cultural Studies (TECO)
CM 2995
Professional Social Media
CM 3400
Interactive Web Communication (INCO,INCP)
CM 3675
Journalism in the Digital Age (TECO,WRCO)
EN 3040
Practicum in Production
EN 3125
Advanced Composition
EN 3135
Non-Fiction Workshop
EPL 3100
Environmental Planning
EPL 3150
Introduction to Permaculture
Any French course for which the student is qualified
GE 2040
Digital Cartography
GE 2050
GIS I: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (QRCO,TECO)
GE 3050
GIS II: Advanced Geographic Information Systems
GE 4010
Remote Sensing and Digital Image Processing
HI 4001
History Internship
HI 4455
History Capstone Seminar (TECO)
PO 3125
Political Parties, Elections, and Interest Groups (TECO)
PO 3255
Model United Nations (GACO,INCO,INCP)
Any Spanish course for which the student is qualified
SSE 1550
Adolescent Development and Teaching Humanities (WECO)
SSE 2550
Facilitating Social Studies Lessons and Discussions
SSE 3550
Lesson and Inquiry Planning in the Social Studies
SSE 4550
Unit Planning and Assessment in the Humanities
Electives45-54
Total Credits73-88

Social Studies Education (5-12) Option

Course Title Credits
Social Studies Education (5-12) Option
Group A (Pedagogy)
SSE 1550Adolescent Development and Teaching Humanities (WECO)3
SSE 2550Facilitating Social Studies Lessons and Discussions3
ED 2800Inclusive Education and Technology (TECO)4
SSE 3550Lesson and Inquiry Planning in the Social Studies4
Complete ONE course from the following:4
EN 4560
Teaching Digital Literacy, Grades 5–12
EN 4318
Teaching Writing: Grades 5–12
SSE 4550Unit Planning and Assessment in the Humanities4
Group B (Social Studies Content)
HISSE core Major Requirements (HI 1005, HI 2011, HI 2006 or HI 2016, HI 2223, and HI 3571)
PO 1025American Government4
Complete ONE course from the following:3-4
PO 1035
World Politics (GACO)
GE 2002
Human Geography
SO 3130Wealth and Poverty4
EC 3400Economics for Educators3
Upper-Level Elective Social Studies Content
Complete a minimum of 4 credits in HI:4
HIHistory (not HIDI)
Complete a minimum of 8 credits in the following disciplines:8
AN
Anthropology (not ANDI)
EC
Economics (not ECDI)
GE
Geography (not GEDI)
HI
History (not HIDI)
PO
Political Science (not PODI)
PS
Psychology (not PSDI)
SO
Sociology (not SODI)
Electives10
Group C (Student Teaching)
SSE 4630Social Studies Seminar1
SSE 4640Internship in Secondary Social Studies12
Total Credits71-72
1

Groups A, B, and C courses require a minimum grade of C in the SSE Option. HI Major Requirements are considered part of Group B.

2

SSE courses in Group A should be taken in sequence. 

3

A minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA, C minimum in Groups A/B courses, and passed Praxis Core are requisite to entry into SSE 3550 and 4550.

4

A minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, C minimum in Groups A/B courses, and passed Praxis II are requisite to entry in SSE 4630 and SSE 4640.

Check all course descriptions for prerequisites before planning course schedule. Course sequence is suggested but not required.

To complete the bachelor’s degree in 4 years, you must successfully complete a minimum of 15 credits each semester or have a plan to make up credits over the course of the 4 years.  For example, if you take 14 credits one semester, you need to take 16 credits in another semester.  Credits completed must count toward your program requirements (major, option, minor, certificate, general education or free electives).

History Option

Plan of Study Grid
Year OneCredits
EN 1400 Composition 4
IS 1115 Tackling a Wicked Problem 4
MAMathematics Foundations 3-4
HI 2011 Modern World History, 1500 to Present (GACO) 4
HI 2016
or HI 2006
History of Modern Europe, 1300-2000
or Ancient and Medieval Civilizations (GACO)
4
CTDICreative Thought Direction 3-4
SSDISelf and Society Direction 3-4
Electives 5
 Credits30-33
Year Two
HI 2223 Methods, Theories, and Careers in History (QRCO,WRCO) 4
HI 3571 Interrogating US History (DICO,TECO) 4
SIDIScientific Inquiry Direction 3-4
Directions (choose from CTDI, SIDI, SSDI) 4-8
Professional Applications 3-4
Electives 10
 Credits28-34
Years Three and Four
European 3000/4000 Level History course 4
United States 3000/4000 level course 4
World 3000/4000 level History course 4
3000/4000 level History course (not HIDI) 4
Any level History course (not HIDI) 4
HI 4200 Career Launch: Tell Your Story 2
Professional Applications 3-4
IS 4220 Signature Project (INCO,INCP) 4
WECOWellness Connection 0-4
Electives 31
 Credits60-65
 Total Credits120

Social Studies Education (5-12)

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
EN 1400 Composition 4
MAMathematics Foundations 3
IS 1115 Tackling a Wicked Problem 4
SIDIScientific Inquiry Direction 4
HI 1005 Introduction to History and Social Studies Education 1
 Credits16
Spring
CTDICreative Thought Direction 4
SSE 1550 Adolescent Development and Teaching Humanities (WECO) 3
ED 2800 Inclusive Education and Technology (TECO) 4
HI 2011 Modern World History, 1500 to Present (GACO) 4
 Credits15
Year Two
Fall
SSDISelf and Society Direction 4
PO 1025 American Government 4
HI 2223 Methods, Theories, and Careers in History (QRCO,WRCO) 4
SSE 2550 Facilitating Social Studies Lessons and Discussions 3
 Credits15
Spring
Directions (choose from CTDI, SIDI, SSDI) 4
PO 1035
or GE 2002
World Politics (GACO)
or Human Geography
3-4
HI 3571 Interrogating US History (DICO,TECO) 4
Upper HI 4
 Credits15-16
Year Three
Fall
Elective 4
INCPIntegrated Capstone 4
SSE 3550 Lesson and Inquiry Planning in the Social Studies 4
HI 2006
or HI 2016
Ancient and Medieval Civilizations (GACO)
or History of Modern Europe, 1300-2000
4
 Credits16
Spring
Elective 4
SO 3130 Wealth and Poverty 4
EC 3400 Economics for Educators 3
EN 4560 Teaching Digital Literacy, Grades 5–12 4
 Credits15
Year Four
Fall
Elective 2
Upper SS 4
Upper SS 4
SSE 4550 Unit Planning and Assessment in the Humanities 4
 Credits14
Spring
SSE 4630 Social Studies Seminar 1
SSE 4640 Internship in Secondary Social Studies 12
 Credits13
 Total Credits120

Students will be able to:

  • locate historical and scholarly sources using electronic and print media;
  • analyze and evaluate primary and secondary sources;
  • communicate effectively through polished narrative, persuasive, and analytical writing and presentations;
  • identify the significance of key ideas and issues, periods and people, events and movements in world history;
  • identify the significance of key ideas and issues, periods and people, events and movements in European history;
  • identify the significance of key ideas and issues, periods and people, events and movements in United States history;
  • demonstrate an understanding of the range of careers and contributions beyond the classroom that draw on the skills and knowledge developed through historical study.

Explore Program Details

National History Day New Hampshire

National History Day

National History Day (NHD) is an educational program which encourages middle and high school students to celebrate their skills as historians and exposes them to the processes, sources, and complexities of historical research. Nearly one million students participate nationwide. For information on the national program, visit the National History Day site. New Hampshire’s program has been hosted by PSU since 2003.

Co-curricular or extra-curricular, NHD succeeds in proving true the axiom: learning by doing. Working as individuals or in groups, students (grades 6-8 and 9-12) choose a topic relating to a nationally established annual theme. Students investigate their topic, develop a thesis, and interpret primary and secondary sources to apply it to the national theme. These students then bring history to life in meaningful ways by presenting their project in one of the four formats. For more specific information, visit the National History Day New Hampshire site.

“I’ve made great friends with colleagues from different schools; I’ve developed strong, lasting, positive relationships with students who compete. Many former participants still stay in touch with me.”

— A New Hampshire teacher

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