Bachelor of Arts in Education in
Social Studies Education

Social Studies Education Major, Bachelor of Arts in Education (BAE)

The Social Studies Education Major is for students who want to become teachers in the fields of History, Civics, Economics, Geography, and Social Studies for middle school and high school levels. 

• This program satisfies the Social Studies Secondary Education endorsement (grades 5th though 12th) for the state of Washington. 
• Alternative required courses may be used if pre-approved by the Director of the Social Studies Education program.
• Social Studies Education students must complete at least 15 credits of this major at Eastern Washington University.

• Although this major does not require a minor, it is highly recommended that majors acquire a minor endorsement in disciplines such as English Education, English as a Second Language, Middle Level Mathematics, or Earth and Space Science Education.​

* Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning courses

Grade Requirements: A grade ≥B- is required for each required course in the Social Studies Education major.

Students should apply to the Secondary Education program under the guidance of the Major Advisor and only after completing EDUC 201.

University Competencies and Proficiencies

English 
Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning
Placement and Clearance 
Prior Learning/Sources of Credit AP, CLEP, IB

General Education Requirements (GER)

• Minimum Credits—180 cumulative credit hours 
  • 60 upper-division credits (300 level or above)
  • 45 credits in residence (attendance) at Eastern, with at least 15 upper-division credits in major in residence at Eastern
• Minimum Cumulative GPA ≥2.0

Breadth Area Core Requirements (BACR)

Humanities and Arts 
Natural Sciences 
Social Sciences

University Graduation Requirements (UGR)

Diversity Course List
World Language (for Bachelor of Arts)
Global Studies Course List
Minor or Certificate
Senior Capstone Course List

Application for Graduation (use EagleNET) must be made at least two terms in advance of the term expected to graduate (undergraduate and post-baccalaureate).

Use the Catalog Archives to determine two important catalog years.

1. The catalog in effect at the student's first term of current matriculation is used to determine BACR (Breadth Area Core Requirements) and UGR (Undergraduate Graduation Requirements).
2. The catalog in effect at the time the student declares a major or minor is used to determine the program requirements.

Students who earn a BA in Social Studies Secondary from EWU should be able to do the following:​

*Based on Washington State Social Studies Education “Learning Standards” and the Department of History Learning Outcomes.

Program Learning Outcome (Civics) - The student understands and applies knowledge of government, law, politics, and the nation’s fundamental documents to make decisions about local, national, and international issues and to demonstrate thoughtful, participatory citizenship.

SLOs - Understands to the level of being able to teach:

1. key ideals and principles of the United States, including those in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and other fundamental documents
2. the purposes, organization, and function of governments, laws, and political systems
3. the purposes and organization of international relationships and U.S. foreign policy understands civic involvement

Program Learning Outcome (Economics) - The student applies understanding of economic concepts and systems to analyze decision-making and the interactions between individuals, households, businesses, governments, and societies.

SLOs - Understands to the level of being able to teach:

1. that people have to make choices between wants and needs and evaluate the outcomes of those choices
2. how economic systems function
3. the government’s role in the economy
4. understands the economic issues and problems that all societies face

Program Learning Outcome (Geography) - The student uses a spatial perspective to make reasoned decisions by applying the concepts of location, region, and movement and demonstrating knowledge of how geographic features and human cultures impact environment.

SLOs - Understands to the level of being able to teach:

1. the physical characteristics, cultural characteristics, and location of places, regions, and spatial patterns on the Earth’s surface
2. human interaction with the environment
3. the geographic context of global issues

Program Learning Outcome (History and Social Studies Skills, Part I) – Conduct research by using appropriate historical methods.

SLOs - Understands to the level of being able to teach:

1. evaluating other scholars’ historical arguments
2. using various kinds of historical sources
3. assessing sources for their research value
4. adducing evidence to support a scholarly argument
5. following discipline-approved citation practices

Program Learning Outcome (History and Social Studies Skills, Part II) – Communicate historical analyses to diverse audiences

SLOs - Understands to the level of being able to teach:

1. conveying factually-based historical narrative from multiple perspectives
2. developing well-balanced scholarly judgements about the past
3. communicating historical analyses in clear expository pose

Program Learning Outcome (History and Social Studies Skills, Part III) – Use historical knowledge in civic engagement.

SLOs - Understands to the level of being able to teach:

1. contributing to public dialogues by providing historical information
2. advancing historical positions that incorporate diverse perspectives
3. working effectively as part of a team on a civically-oriented project
4. deliberating public issues