Social Studies Education

Master’s Program

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Social Studies Education focuses on research, theory and teacher preparation. Our students and faculty explore the contextual and contested meanings of “history” and “citizenship” in U.S. public schools. Students engage in coursework and research that explore topics such as social studies curriculum, multicultural education, and improving literacy through social studies.

The Department of Curriculum & Instruction offers three options for a master’s degree Social Studies Education:

  • Master of Arts (M.A.) with Thesis (30 Credit Hours)
  • Master of Arts (M.A.) with Report (33 Credit Hours)
  • Master of Education (M.Ed.) (36 Credit Hours)

The MA requires an independent report or thesis, while the M.Ed. requires additional elective course work.

Program Details

Semester Start: Fall

Deadline to Apply: December 1

GRE Required? No

Location: On Campus

Schedule: Flexible

Length of Program:

  • M.A. with Thesis: 24 months, 30 hours
  • M.A. with Report 24 months, 33 hours
  • M.Ed.: 24 months, 36 hours

Our degree programs focus on teaching and learning in urban contexts and thus require that candidates have or are in the process of acquiring three years of teaching experience. The degree is designed to help practicing social studies teachers extend their understanding of the importance of linguistically and culturally diverse learning communities in constructing ideals of participatory citizenship education. Students learn skills that help them become passionate teachers and prepare engaging curriculum for children.

All programs must include at least six semester hours outside the department. Up to nine hours of upper-division undergraduate coursework may be counted toward the M.Ed. (distributed as follows: six hours in Curriculum and Instruction and three hours outside C&I, or three hours in C&I and six hours outside C&I). Up to six hours of upper-division undergraduate coursework may be counted toward the M.A.

Photo of faculty member Anthony L Brown
Professor

Focuses on historical and contemporary issues and discourses concerning African American students in schools and society.

Photo of faculty member Katherina A Payne
Associate Professor

Researches civic education, early childhood/elementary education, and teacher education to examine the role of relationships, community, and justice to make classrooms democratic and equitable spaces.

Photo of faculty member Cinthia S Salinas
Associate Dean for Equity and Inclusive Excellence, College of Education

Dr. Salinas is a member of the Social Studies Education program area and is an affiliate faculty member in the Bilingual/Bicultural and the Cultural Studies in Education program areas. Her focus in the social studies includes critical historical inqu...

30 hours total minimum

Basic Course Requirements (9 hours)

Curriculum Studies (3 hours)

  • EDC 383F  Curriculum Theory
  • EDC 385G  Historical Perspectives on Curriculum

Research Methods (3 hours)

  • EDC 380R  Educational Research and Design

Foundations  (3 hours)

  • EDC 384P  Multicultural Education
  • EDC 385G  Advanced Multicultural Curriculum
  • EDC 385G  Cultural Knowledge of Teachers and Teaching
  • EDC 385G  Foundations of Curriculum

Social Studies Specialization (minimum 9 hours)

Students with an emphasis on Social Studies will take additional related courses (minimum 9 hours), selected with the assistance and approval of the assigned advisor. Among the courses that might be selected to fulfill this requirement are the following:

  • EDC 382E  Teaching Elementary School Subject- Social Studies
  • EDC 382S  Teaching Secondary School Subjects: Social Studies
  • EDC 385G  Current Issues Teaching the Social Studies
  • EDC 385G  History of the Social Studies
  • EDC 390T  Humanities and Literacy in Social Education
  • EDC 390T  Improving Social Studies Education
  • EDC 390T  Institutes in Instruction: Critical Issues in Social Education
  • EDC 396   Seminar: Social Studies Education
  • EDC 384: Research in Elementary Social Studies 
  • EDC 385G: Perspectives on Democratic and Citizenship Education 
  • EDC382E: Social Studies Education: Issues and Research in the Field

Courses Outside the Department (minimum 6 hours)

Some coursework is required from outside the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. This includes the other departments in the College of Education Coursework from the following sections may fulfill this requirement:

  • Basic course requirements
  • Specialization

Additional Requirements

EDC 698A & 698B  Thesis (6 hours)

33 hours total minimum

Basic Course Requirements (9 hours)

Curriculum Studies (3 hours)

  • EDC 383F  Curriculum Theory
  • EDC 385G  Historical Perspectives on Curriculum

Research Methods (3 hours)

  • EDC 380R  Educational Research and Design

Foundations  (3 hours)

  • EDC 384P  Multicultural Education
  • EDC 385G  Advanced Multicultural Curriculum
  • EDC 385G  Cultural Knowledge of Teachers and Teaching
  • EDC 385G  Foundations of Curriculum

Social Studies Specialization (minimum 9 hours)

Students with an emphasis on Social Studies will take additional related courses (minimum 9 hours), selected with the assistance and approval of the assigned advisor. Among the courses that might be selected to fulfill this requirement are the following:

  • EDC 382E  Teaching Elementary School Subject- Social Studies
  • EDC 382S  Teaching Secondary School Subjects: Social Studies
  • EDC 385G  Current Issues Teaching the Social Studies
  • EDC 385G  History of the Social Studies
  • EDC 390T  Humanities and Literacy in Social Education
  • EDC 390T  Improving Social Studies Education
  • EDC 390T  Institutes in Instruction: Critical Issues in Social Education
  • EDC 396   Seminar: Social Studies Education
  • EDC 384: Research in Elementary Social Studies 
  • EDC 385G: Perspectives on Democratic and Citizenship Education 
  • EDC382E: Social Studies Education: Issues and Research in the Field

Courses Outside the Department (minimum 6 hours)

Some coursework is required from outside the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. This includes the other departments in the College of Education Coursework from the following sections may fulfill this requirement:

  • Basic course requirements
  • Specialization

Additional Requirements

  • EDC 398R Report and
  • Elective (minimum 6 hours)

36 hours total minimum

Basic Course Requirements (9 hours)

Curriculum Studies (3 hours)

  • EDC 383F  Curriculum Theory
  • EDC 385G  Historical Perspectives on Curriculum

Research Methods (3 hours)

  • EDC 380R  Educational Research and Design

Foundations  (3 hours)

  • EDC 384P  Multicultural Education
  • EDC 385G  Advanced Multicultural Curriculum
  • EDC 385G  Cultural Knowledge of Teachers and Teaching
  • EDC 385G  Foundations of Curriculum

Social Studies Specialization (minimum 9 hours)

Students with an emphasis on Social Studies will take additional related courses (minimum 9 hours), selected with the assistance and approval of the assigned advisor. Among the courses that might be selected to fulfill this requirement are the following:

  • EDC 382E  Teaching Elementary School Subject- Social Studies
  • EDC 382S  Teaching Secondary School Subjects: Social Studies
  • EDC 385G  Current Issues Teaching the Social Studies
  • EDC 385G  History of the Social Studies
  • EDC 390T  Humanities and Literacy in Social Education
  • EDC 390T  Improving Social Studies Education
  • EDC 390T  Institutes in Instruction: Critical Issues in Social Education
  • EDC 396   Seminar: Social Studies Education
  • EDC 384: Research in Elementary Social Studies 
  • EDC 385G: Perspectives on Democratic and Citizenship Education 
  • EDC382E: Social Studies Education: Issues and Research in the Field

Courses Outside the Department (minimum 6 hours)

Some coursework is required from outside the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. This includes the other departments in the College of Education Coursework from the following sections may fulfill this requirement:

  • Basic course requirements
  • Specialization

Additional Requirements

Electives (Minimum 12 hours)

Photo of Katherine Payne

Program Area Coordinator, Advisor
Katherina Payne


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