Social Studies Teaching, History Emphasis, Comprehensive Major

 Social Studies Teaching, History Emphasis, Comprehensive Major (B.A.)

The following is a sample degree plan, based on the 2024-2025 catalog. It is based on the 120-credit graduation requirement and assumes no transferred credits, no requirements waived by placement tests, no courses taken in the summer or winter, no repeated courses, and no remedial courses that may be required. This sample degree plan is intended for first-year students entering UW-Eau Claire in the fall semester. Your own degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). UW-Eau Claire cannot guarantee all courses will be offered as shown, but will provide a range of courses that may enable prepared students to fulfill their requirements in a timely period. This sample degree plan is just a guide. Please consult your advisor, your degree audit, and the catalog to create your own degree plan. Note: In order to earn the required minimum of 120 credits for the degree in four years, you should plan to take 15 credits each semester or 30 credits each year. 
To earn a degree, students must fulfill all University Graduation Requirements, including the Liberal Education (LE) Core.  LE Core course work in the following sample degree plan uses abbreviations such as LE-K1, LE-S2, LE-R3, and LE-I1 to represent the learning outcomes students will meet via completion of their liberal education course work.  Please click here for a description of the Liberal Education Core outcomes and requirements.  Note that the LE Core may be completed through both course and non-course experiences.

SOME TIME IN THE FIRST YEAR
Writing Requirement:2-5
Intensive Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (LE-S1, 5 credits)
or
Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (LE-S1, 5 credits)
or
Accelerated Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (LE-S1, 2 credits)
or
Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing for Transfer Students (LE-S1, 2 credits)
LE Core Elective: Skills 1 (LE-S1) Written and Oral Communication3
HIST 124World History to 1500 (LE-K3, LE-R2)3
LE Core Elective: Knowledge 4 (LE-K4) Fine Arts3
PSYC 100Introduction to Psychology (LE-K2)3
Mathematics (S2):4
Finite Mathematics with Applications (LE-S2)
or
Introduction to Mathematical Thinking (LE-S2, 4 credits)
or
Earth Algebra (LE-S2, 4 credits)
HIST 125World History Since 1500 (LE-K3, LE-R2)3
HIST 198Doing History: Skills and Practice3
GEOG 178Planet Earth: Conservation of the Environment (LE-K1, LE-I1)3
POLS 110American National Politics (LE-R3, LE-K2)3
TOTAL FIRST YEAR30-33
SOME TIME IN THE SECOND YEAR
LE Option: Knowledge 1 (LE-K1L) Natural Sciences with Lab4
History (K3,R1):3
United States History to 1877 (LE-K3, LE-R1)
or
United States History Since 1877 (LE-K3, LE-R1, 3 credits)
POLS 122Introduction to World Politics (LE-K2, LE-R2)3
PSYC 260Educational Psychology (LE-K2)3
SOC 101Introduction to Sociology (LE-K2)3
GEOG 111Planet Earth: Human Geography3
History Diversity Course: (K3,R1):3
American Women's History (LE-K3, LE-R1)
or
African American History 1865 to Present (LE-K2, LE-R1, 3 credits)
or
American Indian History (LE-K3, LE-R1, 3 credits)
ES 212Exploring Schooling K-12 (Must be completed before applying to program)2-3
IDIS 285Integrating the Social Sciences: The Social Studies (Spring only)3
ECON 104Principles of Macroeconomics (LE-K2)3
TOTAL SECOND YEAR30-31
THIRD YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER
HIST 288Introduction to Research Methods and the Profession (Take before any upper division history)3
ECON 103Principles of Microeconomics (LE-K2)3
ES 490Historical, Legal, and Philosophical Foundations of Education3
POLS 301State and Local Politics (LE-K2)3
Sociology Diversity Course:3
Race and Ethnicity in the U.S.
or
Social Class and Inequality (3 credits)
or
Sociology of Family (3 credits)
SECOND SEMESTER - Apply for Admission to Program
ES 313Curriculum, Instructional Methods, and Disciplinary Literacies in Grades K-123
ES 314Collaboration, Engagement, and Assessment in Grades K-123
ES 385Social Foundations: Human Relations (LE-R1 DDIV)3
History Upper Division - Suggested HIST 385 (LE-R3)3
POLS 305Survey of U.S. Constitutional Principles (LE-K2, LE-R3)3
TOTAL THIRD YEAR30
FOURTH YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER
GEOG Elective - Geography Upper Division - See below3
ES 356Teaching Social Studies in Grades 4-123
SEIP 300Inclusive Practices for Secondary Educators3
HIST Upper Division - Global Requirement - See below3
HIST Upper Division - Diversity Requirement - See below3
SECOND SEMESTER
ES 445Student Teaching in Middle Level Education5
ES 470Student Teaching in Secondary Education5
ES 497Field Experience Seminar (LE-S3, LE-I1)2
TOTAL FOURTH YEAR27

Minimum total for the baccalaureate degree = 120 credits

**Social Studies elective upper division course options in 2021-22 Catalog: 

Geography: 301, 308, 319, 321, 322, 325, 379 

History Diversity Requirement: 313, 317, 344, 345, 368, 369, 370, 373, 378, 385, 394 

History Global Requirement: 302, 304, 306, 308, 309, 311, 313, 315, 318, 319, 325, 326, 327, 360, 362, 366, 375, 376, 377, 381, 382, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 389, 392, 393, 401. 


RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HIGH IMPACT PRACTICES (HIPs)  

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire encourages all students to participate in High Impact Practices.  The following information identifies any specific recommendations that faculty in this major have concerning which HIPs might be most beneficial to students, and any recommendations about when those HIPs best fit into the degree plan. Students should also consult their faculty advisor for information on HIPs. There are many additional high impact opportunities available. Talk to your academic advisor for more information about incorporating HIPs like Study AbroadIntercultural ImmersionInternship, and/or  Student/Faculty Collaborative Research into your time at UW-Eau Claire. 

Intercultural Immersion programs such as the Civil Rights Pilgrimage and the Somali Education Immerison are recommended for this program 

We also highly recommend Study Abroad or a faculty-led immersion program, especially those that are tied to the history department, such as CETS: Central Euopean Travel Seminar (Hist 327 and IDIS 340) or Public History in Great Britain (Hist 401). Both of these also involve upper division history credits which count toward the major. 
We encourage students to see their faculty advisors about undergraduate research opportunities available in the program. 

Liberal Education (LE) Core Guidance

Liberal Education Core (LE Core) 

The LE Core comprises 17 learning experiences across 11 learning outcomes. Students must complete a minimum of 36 credits in courses approved for the LE Core. 

  • K1 – Natural Sciences; two experiences (one lab science experience is required in K1 or K2). 

  • K2 – Social Sciences; two experiences (one lab science experience is required in K1 or K2). 

  • K3 – Humanities; two experiences. 

  • K4 – Fine Arts; one experience. 

  • S1 – Written and Oral Communication; two experiences (one experience must satisfy the University writing requirement). 

  • S2 – Mathematics; one experience (must satisfy the University math competency requirement). 

  • S3 – Creativity; one experience (can be fulfilled in a student’s major). 

  • R1 – Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity; two experiences (one experience must meet the UW System Design for Diversity (DD) requirement). 

  • R2 – Global Perspectives; one experience. 

  • R3 – Civic and Environmental Issues; one experience. 

  • I1 – Integration; two experiences (one experience can be fulfilled in a student’s major). 

  • SL—Service Learning; 30 hours 

Additional LE Core Information 

  • Most LE Core learning experiences are course based, and many courses meet more than one learning outcome (e.g., K3 and R2 or K1 and R3). 

  • Some learning experiences can also be met outside of a traditional course (e.g., undergraduate research (S3), study abroad (I1)). 

  • S1 – An English placement score that fulfills the University writing requirement fulfills one S1 experience. 

  • S1 – A foreign Language placement score that qualifies the student to enter the 102 level satisfies one S1 experience. 

  • S1, R2 – A foreign language placement score that qualifies the student to enter the 202 level satisfies one experience in S1 and the R2 experience. 

  • S2 – A math placement score that qualifies the student to enter Math 111, 112, 113 or 114 fulfills the S2 experience. 

  • S3 – Completion of two credits from any approved music ensemble fulfills the S3 experience. 

  • I1 – Any semester long study abroad program can fulfill one I1 experience.