Major in History, Social Studies Teaching Concentration

The Social Studies Teaching concentration is for students who plan to teach in middle school, junior high, or high school. Students must also complete the requirements for the Social Studies Undergraduate Teaching Licensure through Educator Preparation in the College of Health and Human Sciences. 

Students interested in pursuing a teaching license through CSU may refer to Educator Preparation, or visit the Education Building, Room 111 for general information.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Analyze and interpret historical materials, such as documents, artifacts, and images.
2. Engage in chronological reasoning, to understand causation and change over time.
3. Examine critically how people in the past understood their own history, in scholarly works and in popular forms such as myths or commemorations.
4. Interpret, write, and speak about the past using evidence and according to the standards and expectations of the historical discipline.
5. Demonstrate proficiency in contemporary theory & practice of secondary education.

Effective Spring 2025

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:
During their sophomore year, students must apply for admission to the licensure program. This requires completion of at least 30 credits, a minimum 2.750 GPA, and passing a criminal background check. To continue in the major, students must maintain a 3.000 GPA. Grades in all History, Social Studies and Education courses must be C (2.000) or above. 

History, AUCC Category 4A Courses

Select course, with advisor approval, to fulfill the category 4A requirement. The selected course may apply toward the History, upper-division (U.S. or non-U.S.) program requirements.

History, Upper-Division Course Categories

Course Categories

Course Number Range	Title
HIST 300 - HIST 339	Europe
HIST 340 - HIST 379	North America/US
HIST 410 - HIST 419	Latin America
HIST 420 - HIST 429	Africa
HIST 431 - HIST 439	Middle East
HIST 440 - HIST 449	South Asia
HIST 450 - HIST 459	East Asia
HIST 460 - HIST 479	World/Trans-regional

History, Upper-Division U.S. Courses

Select one course from each category (Pre-1876, Post-1876, Any Period) for a total of 9 credits. The selected AUCC Category 4A course may apply toward this requirement. 

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
U.S. History Courses Pre-1876 – Select one course from the following:
HIST 340	Colonial American Borderlands--1492-1800	3
HIST 341	Empire, Race, Revolution--America 1700-1815	3
HIST 344	Antebellum America	3
HIST 345	Civil War Era	3
HIST 351	American West to 1900	3
HIST 353	U.S.-Mexico Borderlands	3
HIST 358	American Women's History to 1800	3
HIST 361	Native American History Methods	3
HIST 366	African-American History to 1865	3
U.S. History Post-1876 – Select one course from the following:
HIST 347	United States, 1876-1917	3
HIST 348	United States, 1917-1945	3
HIST 349	United States Since 1945	3
HIST 350	United States Foreign Relations Since 1914	3
HIST 352	American West Since 1900	3
HIST 354	American Architectural History	3
HIST 355	American Environmental History	3
HIST 356	American Cultural and Intellectual History	3
HIST 357/MLSC 357	The American Military Experience	3
HIST 359	American Women's History Since 1800	3
HIST 360	United States Immigration History	3
HIST 362	Native American History Topics	3
HIST 363	Colorado History	3
HIST 364/ETST 364	Asian American Social Movements, 1945-Present	3
HIST 365	American West Field Study	3
HIST 367	African-American History Since 1865	3
HIST 379/ECON 379	Economic History of the United States	3
HIST 476	History of America's National Parks	3
HIST 479	Practice of Public History	3
U.S. History Any Period – Select one course from the following:
Any HIST course numbered 340-379		3
HIST 476	History of America's National Parks	3
HIST 477	Teaching History	3
HIST 479	Practice of Public History	3

¹

Select from the list below, with advisor approval, to fulfill the All-University Core Curriculum (AUCC) category 4A requirement. The selected course may apply toward the History, upper-division (U.S. or non-U.S.) program requirements.

²

Any student seeking to register for 300- or 400-level history courses must have completed 45 credits or have received written consent from the instructor.

³

Select three upper-division courses from at least two different non-U.S. categories (Africa, East Asia, Europe, Latin America/Caribbean, Middle East, South Asia, World/Trans-regional) for a total of 9 credits. The selected History, Category 4A course may apply towards this requirement.

⁴

Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to a minimum of 120 credits, of which at least 42 must be upper-division (300- to 400-level).

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:
During their sophomore year, students must apply for admission to the licensure program. This requires completion of at least 30 credits, a minimum 2.750 GPA, and passing a criminal background check. To continue in the major, students must maintain a 3.000 GPA. Grades in all History, Social Studies and Education courses must be C (2.000) or above.