MASTER OF ARTS IN SOCIAL STUDIES EDUCATION (M.A.)
Director: Scott C. Billingsley
The Master of Arts (M.A.) in
Social Studies Education program has two concentrations. The Licensure concentration is designed for
experienced teachers who wish to increase their own knowledge, enhance social
studies instruction for their students, and exercise professional leadership in
social studies curriculum development within secondary schools. It builds upon
and extends the multiple goals of UNC Pembroke’s undergraduate social studies
education program. The history and
social science requirements are carefully structured to provide breadth of
coverage and self-selected areas of concentration. The History/Social Science
concentration is designed for students who do not hold or seek North Carolina
teacher licensure but wish to pursue graduate study in history, enhanced by
work in related social science fields.
The Master of Arts in Social
Studies Education program will enable students to
1. Strengthen their history and social science knowledge base and analytical skills.
2. Enhance their understanding of the structure and methods of the individual academic disciplines and, therefore, their ability to make the material interesting and comprehensible to their students.
3. Become familiar with recent curriculum reform initiatives which have particular relevance for social studies teachers, including the essential thematic strands identified by the National Council for the Social Studies and the national standards developed for each content area.
4. Integrate recent scholarship and professional trends with their own classroom experiences.
5. Evaluate available technology resources (hardware and software) and determine their suitability for instructional purposes.
6. Assume professional leadership roles in curriculum development, instructional planning, and advocacy for social studies as an essential component of K-12 education.
Students will complete a
capstone product of learning and, with the guidance of a project committee from
the relevant academic discipline(s), prepare a professional presentation for
colleagues prior to graduation.
PROGRAM-SPECIFIC ADMISSIONS STANDARDS
** Current SSE licensure and two years of full time social studies teaching experience;
** A letter of application describing what the applicant hopes to gain from the program and, in light of her or his current philosophy of social studies education, how the applicant assumes the program will affect classroom practices.
** [Non-licensure degree candidates will be required to sign a waiver of licensure statement and will be exempted from the two-year teaching experience stipulation. They will not be expected to submit a recommendation from a school administrator.]
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Requirements for a Master of Arts in
Social Studies Education |
Sem. Hrs. |
|
Required Professional Studies Core EDN* 550 Applied Educational Psychology EDN* 565 Applied Philosophy of Education EDN* 566 Applied Educational Research |
9 |
|
Specialty Area Requirements |
|
|
Advanced Methods SSE 500 - Social Studies Curriculum
Transformation |
3 |
|
History (4 courses; 3 required courses and one elective) Required Courses: Select one course from each category. 1. European History (HSTS 500-519) HSTS 5xx - Topics in European History to 1500 HSTS 5xx - Topics in European History since 1500 2. Asian, African, Latin American History (HSTS 520-539) HSTS 5xx - Topics in Asian History HSTS 5xx - Topics in African History HSTS 5xx - Topics in Latin American History 3. U. S. History (HSTS 540-559) HSTS 5xx - Topics in U.S. History to 1890 HSTS 5xx - Topics in U.S. History since 1860 Elective: Select one additional course from the following: HST 510 - Advanced North Carolina History HST 520 - History of the South Any HSTS 5xx course
offered. No topic may be repeated. |
12 |
|
Social Sciences (4 courses) Select two courses from one social science discipline. Both courses must be in the same field. (6 hours) a. Economics** b. Geography/Geology c. PSPA (may include approved MPM*** courses) Select two courses from any social
science field not selected for the concentration. In addition to courses from any department listed above, the
following are also approved electives. (6 hours) American Indian Studies: AIS 505 Psychology: PSY 545 **** |
12 |
|
|
Total: 36 |
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Requirements for a Master of Arts in
Social Studies Education: History/Social Science Concentration |
Sem. Hrs. |
|
Core Courses HST 500 - Historical Methods HST 599 - Historical Research SSE
500 - Social Studies Curriculum Transformation |
9 |
|
Required History Element Select at least one course from each of these regional categories: 1. HSTS 5xx - Topics in Asian, African, Latin American History 2. HSTS 5xx - Topics in European History 3. HSTS 5xx - Topics in U. S. History |
15-18 |
|
Required Social Sciences Element Select from the fields of American
Indian Studies, Economics, Geography/Geology, Political Science, or PSY 545 |
9-12 |
|
|
Total: 36 |
Note: For course descriptions, see listings in the following graduate degree programs: *M.A.Ed., **MBA, ***MPA, ****M.A. in School and Service Agency Counseling
COURSES
AMERICAN INDIAN STUDIES DEPARTMENT (AIS)
AIS 505. Contemporary Issues of American Indians
This seminar-style course examines major issues of American Indians in the 20th century. Both local and national in scope, topics to be addressed include: politics, economics, treaty relationships with federal and state governments, education, alcohol and substance abuse, the environment, cultural identity, relations with non-Indians, religious freedom, land and water rights, tribal sovereignty, and other issues as they arise. Alternate fall.
CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS DEPARTMENT (GLY/GGY)
GLY 501. Essentials of Earth Science
Advanced study of topics in geology, meteorology, oceanography, and solar system astronomy.
GGY 503. Descriptive Regional Analysis
Qualitative definition of geographical regions in the light of human interests: physical, biotic, demographic and socio-cultural determinants; the relevance of regional factors for planning and policy issues in education, government, the economy, and the general welfare.
GGY 505. Geographics
Visualization of spatial data. Utilization of mapping software to create high quality graphics for interdisciplinary analysis in business, marketing, education, demographics, etc. Study of contemporary advances in computer mapping technology and geographic information systems.
HISTORY DEPARTMENT (HST/SSE)
Social Studies Core Course
SSE 500. Social Studies Curriculum Transformation (3 hours)
This course enables students to transform social studies instruction by incorporating recent scholarship and innovative teaching strategies in the social studies classes they teach. Topics will be addressed in a way designed to facilitate synthesis of academic learning and classroom experience, and aligned with advanced professional standards. Prerequisite: Formal admission to the M.A. in Social Studies Program
History/Social Science Core Courses
HST 500. Historical Methods (3 hours)
This course deals with methods of historical research, the critical evaluation of sources, primary as well as secondary, and the writing and oral presentation of an historical essay. Accordingly, one major course requirement is a research paper based on primary and secondary sources. Because the process of historical research is as important as the research product, this paper will be the culmination of a series of steps (completed both within and outside the classroom) designed to help each student master the elements of research and effective written and oral presentation.
HST 599. Historical Research (3 hours)
This course serves a capstone learning experience for M.A. in Social Studies Education students in the History/Social Sciences Concentration. Students will complete and present a directed, supervised research project. Graded on a Pass/Fail basis. Prerequisite: A complete proposal should be approved no later than the close of registration. Approval requires the signature of the supervising faculty member and of the History Department Chair.
Asian, African, Latin American History
HSTS 5xx - Topics in Asian History
The course examines a specific region, period, or theme in Asian history. Topics will vary, determined by the instructor’s specialty.
HSTS 5xx - Topics in African History
The course examines a specific region, period, or theme in African history. Topics will vary, determined by the instructor’s specialty.
HSTS 5xx - Topics in Latin American History
The course examines a specific region, period, or theme in Latin American history. Topics will vary, determined by the instructor’s specialty.
European History
HSTS 5xx - Topics in European History to 1500
The course examines a specific region, period, or theme in European history prior to 1500. Topics will vary, determined by the instructor’s specialty.
HSTS 5xx - Topics in European History since 1500
The course examines a specific region, period, or theme in European history since 1500. Topics will vary, determined by the instructor’s specialty.
United States History
HSTS 5xx - Topics in U.S. History to 1890
The course examines a specific period or aspect of U. S. history prior to 1890. Topics will vary, determined by the instructor’s specialty.
HSTS 5xx - Topics in U.S. History since 1860
The course examines a specific period or aspect of U. S. history since 1860. Topics will vary, determined by the instructor’s specialty.
Additional History Electives
HST 510 - Advanced North Carolina History
An advanced study of the development of North Carolina from colonial beginnings to the present.
HST 520 - History of the South
A political, economic, and cultural study of the southern region with emphasis on the characteristics which make it distinctive.
HSTS 5xx - Topics in History
This course will focus on one topic which does not fit within any single geographic category used above.
POLITICAL SCIENCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT (PSPA)
PSPA 540. Systems of State and Local Government
Systematic survey of municipal, county, special district, and state governments, with special emphasis on critical examination of their roles and problems in the decision making process of respective political subdivisions.
PSPA 545. American Political Process
Examination of American political and governmental institutions and analysis of their process, relationship, and roles in the dynamics of the political system.