Social Studies Education & History Course Descriptions

This global history course will examine important developments in the civilizations of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Western Hemisphere from prehistory to the rise of globalism in the 21st century. Themes to be investigated will include: Politics and government, art and ideas, religion and philosophy, family and society, science and technology, earth and the environment, and interaction and exchange. An emphasis will be placed on showing how these meta-themes are manifested in cultures throughout the world. This course will also serve as an introduction to the methods historians use in the field. Three hours.

The cultural and physical elements of human habitats, the significance of the elements of the earth to humans, and the use of maps and their importance. Three hours.

This introduces students to how the political system in America functions. It focuses on the actual workings of the American government and starts with the cultural and constitutional contexts of American politics. Three hours.

This survey course includes major themes and tensions in American history with attention to citizenship, concepts and processes of historical/social studies inquiry, chronological thinking, and principles related to interpreting primary and secondary sources. It includes politics, major people, events, and movements in the history of the United States as well as Paleo-Indian cultures. This course also explores the relationship between the US and other nations. 3 credits.

This team-taught and interdisciplinary seminar is among students’ final educational experiences before degree completion. As such, its components allow students to showcase the academic abilities they have acquired through their degree program (through a thesis or project) and to think about and prepare for the next steps in their professional careers. Students participate in both interdisciplinary plenaries and discipline specific seminars. Students give a final presentation of their

An introduction to the profession of teaching. Learning experiences are structured both in and out of the classroom with the purpose of assisting the college student in making career decisions relative to the profession, e.g., to teach or not, at which level, and in which subject area. Both content and field experiences are aligned with the missions of Grace College and the School of Education. A grade of B- or better is required to continue on toward candidacy status. Three hours

A study of the learner at all grade levels and the many factors affecting learning, including but not limited to, theories of learning, environment, heredity, cultural impact, discipline, classroom management, exceptionalities, and development. The measurement of academic aptitude and achievement is also covered. Practical application is stressed. Prerequisite: SED 1000. Three hours.

This course is designed for prospective teachers, elementary or secondary, and any interested persons working with children at home or in social agencies. The intent is to develop an introduction to children with exceptionalities and practical strategies to assist these children, especially in an educational setting. This course will examine the types of exceptionalities, the laws that apply to them, as well as adaptations and special services that are provided to them in a regular classroom setting and in alternative educational settings. Prerequisite: SED 1000. Three hours

The course consists of cooperative teaching and learning. The instructor’s role is that of a facilitator, rather than a “giver” of knowledge. There are lectures, small and large group discussions of readings and related information, writing, and research focusing on issues of diversity in schools. To better appreciate the influence of culture on behavior and values, students explore their own diversity through written and/or group discussions and inquire into the cultural diversity of school populations in Indiana and surrounding regions. Among the topics included in this study are multicultural education, social classes and socioeconomic status, ethnicity and race, gender, religion, language, community involvement, curriculum, justice, privilege, and other relevant topics that relate to multicultural concerns. Prerequisite: SED 1000. Three hours.

This course provides you with a theoretical, research-based background for classroom instructional and assessment strategies you will be implementing in your teaching. Key issues discussed will include how people learn, instructional planning, how we successfully assess student learning, and how our instruction and assessment strategies can lead to improved student learning and increased motivation to learn. Prerequisite: SED 1000 & SED 2200. Three hours.

The purpose of this course is to develop a working knowledge of responsive instruction by applying differentiation strategies and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles. Students will learn to promote all students’ development, learning, and success through ongoing assessment that informs instruction. Multi-tiered systems within the general education setting will be explored. Students will learn technology skills and culturally responsive teaching to enhance student learning. Prerequisites: SED 2600, and candidacy status. Three hours.

This course presents best practices in classroom assessment, environment, and behavior management. Topics include relationship development, organization of the classroom learning environment, classroom procedure development, and approaches for managing individual and large group student behaviors. Various strategies to instruction and assessment will be explored. Candidates will develop lessons utilizing formative and summative assessment tools. Candidates will understand how these assessments inform the teaching and learning process. Prerequisites: candidacy status. Three hours.

This course is an introduction to critical thinking 1 as a fundamental process instrumental in applying philosophy to the craft of teaching. Various topics that deal with classroom concerns, student teaching experiences are discussed each week. Topics include: school law, interviewing, résumé construction, best practices, and classroom management. Candidates will complete the TWS designed to help the teacher education candidates continue their development as reflective practitioners by systematically documenting and analyzing student learning. This course is an introduction to critical thinking2 as a fundamental process instrumental in applying philosophy to the craft of teaching. The course is a systematic study of the philosophy of education and the ethics that undergird the profession. Both secular and Christian philosophical views are examined. Candidates also integrate elements of a chosen set of philosophical beliefs to sharpen their competence as a professional. Candidates interact with key stakeholders associated with the craft of teaching. Describing the work of moral practice is part of the activities of the course. Prerequisite: All SED course work completed, additional school requirements me. Three hours.

Includes full-time teaching experience for an entire semester as well as a seminar for majors during the experience. This course deals with a variety of topics and issues especially germane to candidates who are about to enter the teaching profession. Each candidate enrolled in this course will be required to complete a Teacher Work Sample and earn a passing score of C or higher. Prerequisites: All SED course work completed, additional school requirements met. Nine hours.

This course is offered to help the preservice teacher understand the special characteristics of early adolescents and adolescents and their school settings (middle and high school). Prerequisites SED 2200, SED 2600, candidacy status. Three hours.

This course is a study of practical methods and materials in the broad areas of social studies education. Students will learn many classroom techniques and thus create a repertoire of methods appropriate for the secondary levels of education. Prerequisites: SED 2200, SED 2600, SED 3600, candidacy status. Three hours.

This course includes several approaches to political philosophy. First, it provides a general overview of the dominant political ideologies from the ancient to the contemporary world. Second, it provides a general survey of some of the most influential political thinkers whose writings and theories have given rise to the modern political landscape. This will focus heavily on the development of western political thought but may include selections from Islamic civilization, southeast Asia, or other non-western contexts. Third, this course will include an introduction to more recent thinkers, or even popular personalities, whose work is relevant to the intersection of faith and politics. Three hours.

This is an examination of the structure and interplay between state, county, and local governments. Issues such as social security, zoning, welfare, public health, and the environment will be examined from the point of view of how they originate at the local levels yet how they exist and grow within federal guidelines. This contains a module on Indiana politics and history. Three hours.

This course is designed to give students an appreciation of the North American continent, within the context of social, physical, and historical geography. This includes a module on Indiana geography and history. Three hours.