As a social studies education major at Grace, you will have the opportunity to make meaningful relationships with students and be equipped to provide quality instruction, engaging lesson plans, and differentiation to meet the specific needs of your students.
Grace College’s School of Education is founded on the ideology of “teacher as a moral practitioner.” We are deeply committed to instilling the principles of character, competence, and service in our future teachers. This comes from Micah 6:8, which states, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Ultimately, we look to Jesus, the greatest teacher, as our guide.
This major is housed in the School of Arts and Humanities and the School of Education, who work closely to ensure your coursework is balanced and thorough. As a result, you’ll graduate with a double major in social studies education and history!
Your foundational history courses will invite you to explore world history, geography, American history, and American government, along with specialized courses in these fields. You may also choose a concentration in economics, psychology, and sociology.
The first half of the social studies and history education degree focuses heavily on pedagogy and core educational principles. These classes dive deep into the importance of relationships, student engagement, and classroom environment. Later courses are rich in evidence-based practices for teaching social studies to middle and high school students. You’ll complete your program with a semester-long placement student teaching at a local school!
Education courses also provide a lot of real-world experience. In your very first teaching class, you will get the opportunity to observe and assist in a classroom for 20 hours. From there, you will continue to accumulate experience in the local schools by completing observations and teaching one-on-one, small-group, and whole-class lessons. Before student teaching, you will have completed more than 150 hours of classroom experience!
After you earn your bachelor’s degrees in secondary social studies education and history, you are able to pursue a teaching license that will allow you to teach fifth grade through 12th grade. Ultimately, our desire is for you to love your students well and truly make an impact on lives in whichever school setting God leads you to.
