2020-2021 Catalog (Current)

History Education Secondary Education

Degree Type: Bachelor of Science
College(s): College of Arts and Sciences
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Program Requirements

History Education Secondary Education, BS Program Checksheet

Includes:

  • Major Courses, General Education Courses, and Minor Courses
  • Admission and Transfer Requirements
  • Graduation Requirements

Why Choose History Education?

History is more than the study of the past, it also involves the study of change and continuity over time. According to historian and educator Peter Stearns, "Only through studying history can we grasp how things change; only through history can we begin to comprehend the factors that cause change; and only through history can we understand what elements of an institution or a society persist despite change." History education is an ideal choice for any student who finds they are always asking "why?" and then, once learning the answer, wants to share that knowledge and insight with others. In today's society, history education is especially relevant. Trained history educators will play an important role in helping future generations understand the world around them - whether in terms of understanding the root causes of social or political conflict or better appreciating diverse cultural values or valuing democratic institutions and ideals.

Career Opportunities

Current employment opportunities in the field of history education are based on two key factors. Both on a national and state level there is a common theme of the extreme need for teachers and adequately prepared history teachers. Concerns at the beginning of the decade focused primarily on the issue of the retirement for a significant number of educators, in the Michigan Education Report of 2001. Teacher shortages in Michigan are predicted to be most severe at the secondary education level. The issue of teacher shortage due to retirement has been compounded by the impact of the federal law No Child Left Behind (2003). NCLB seeks to redress a major issue - teachers who teach in content areas where they have little or or no formal training. This issue is especially relevant to the field of history.

Teacher Certification Requirements

As required by the State of Michigan to receive teacher certification, all teacher candidates must: (1) meet the MDE (CAEP) cohort requirements, (2) pass the pedagogy tests in their subject area majors and minors, and (3) have a 2.75 minimum GPA to receive teacher certification in Michigan. These state requirements are in addition to the FSU graduation requirements of your individual program.

More Information

School of Education
Bishop Hall Room 421
Ferris State University
1349 Cramer Circle
Big Rapids, MI 49307-2737
Telephone: (231) 591-5361

Required Courses
Credit Hours

Directed Electives

GEOG 100
Geography of World Regions
3
GEOG 111
Geography of Phys Environment
4
ECON 221
Principles of Macroeconomics
3
PLSC 121
Amer Gov 1-People and Politics
3

Core Required Courses

Note: A "C" grade in each class plus a 2.75 GPA is required for satisfactory completion of this major.


REQUIRED CORE COURSES
HIST 121
US History to 1877
3
HIST 122
US History - 1877 to Present
3
HIST 211
World Civilizations to 1400
3
HIST 212
World Civilizations since 1400
3
HIST 300
Craft of History
3
HIST 405
History Educ Theory-Practice
3
World History 9 CREDITS TOTAL

World Cluster 1: Select One (1) Course 
HIST 251
Racism and Science
3
HIST 253
Imperialism Modern World
3
HIST 255
The Impact of 1492
3
HIST 257
Terrorism in the Modern World
3
HIST 259
Women in Activism Global Persp
3
HIST 361
Racism in the Modern World
3
HIST 381
Imperial China
3
World Cluster 2
Select One (1) Course
HIST 258
Greece and Rome
3
HIST 350
The Making of Modern Britain
3
HIST 351
Medieval Europe
3
HIST 352
Renaissance and Reformation
3
HIST 360
Contemporary European History
3
HIST 363
Rise of the Russian Empire
3
HIST 373
20th Century Russia
3
World Cluster 3
Select  One (1) Course:
HIST 370
Modern Africa
3
HIST 371
Modern China, Japan & Korea
3
HIST 372
Middle East in Modern Era
3
HIST 375
Latin American History
3
UNITED STATES ELECTIVES 12 CREDITS
United States Cluster 1
Select 2 courses:
HUMN 202
African-Amer Cult Expression
3
HIST 201
African-American History
3
HIST 285
History of Sports
3
HIST 311
Examining Jim Crow Stereotypes
3
HIST 315
Modern Civil Rights Movement
3
HIST 325
American Women's History
3
HIST 326
African-American Women's Hist
3
HIST 330
Turbulent 1960s
3
HIST 411
Array
United States Cluster 2
Select 2 courses:
HIST 230
Michigan History
3
HIST 277
American Business History
3
HIST 309
US History 1900 - 1945
3
HIST 310
US History since 1945
3
HIST 320
US and the Vietnam War
3
HIST 331
19th Century Amer Pop Culture
3
HIST 332
20th Century Amer Pop Culture
3
HIST 333
Antebellum America
3
HIST 334
Colonial America
3
HIST 341
US Foreign Policy-20th Century
3
HIST 342
The Civil War-Reconstruction
3
HIST 385
American Military History
3
HIST 421
Array
Total credit hours required:
39

Professional Education Sequence

Level I
Note: Students seeking admission to teacher education candidacy must meet all university requirements for admission to the specific program they wish to enter.
EDUC 101
Intro to the Professn of Teach
1
EDUC 251
Life Span Human Growth - Devel
3
EDUC 289
Principles Teaching - Learning
3
Note: Prior to admission to the Level II courses, students must take all sections of the Professional Readiness EXam, complete all Professional Education Prerequisite courses with a minimum of 2.5 GPA, with no grade lower than a C (2.0), have a 2.5 cumulative GPA, and meet all other program requirements. Students may have no more than two repeats in Level I coursework.
Level II
EDUC 303
School and Work and Society
3
EDUC 338
Secondary General Methods I
4
EDUC 415
Teaching Special Needs
3
EDUC 438
Secondary General Methods II
5
EDUC 443
Tchg Reading-Secondary Areas
3
Level III
Note: Prior to student teaching and professional seminar (Level III courses), students must obtain the appropriate GPA for their major/minor as established by each department, earn an overall GPA of 2.75 in the professional education courses, have a 2.5 cumulative GPA, and meet all other program requirements.
EDUC 499
Student Teaching
12
Total credits required:
40
NOTE: STUDENTS MUST OBTAIN THE APPROPRIATE GPA FOR THEIR MAJOR/MINOR AS ESTABLISHED BY EACH DEPARTMENT. A 2.75 GPA IS REQUIRED IN THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION COURSE SEQUENCE. A 2.50 CUMULATIVE GPA IS ALSO REQUIRED BEFORE STUDENT TEACHING. NOTE: Though faculty advisors are responsible for advising students regarding degree requirements, it is the student who is ultimately responsible for choosing the correct courses and for following the correct program.