Students must choose a concentration of at least 18 credit hours in either geography or history and must take six hours of a cognate social science and six hours of professional education. In addition to the program requirements stated below, students must either write a master’s thesis or take a written comprehensive exam based on work taken in the concentration and in professional education.

Faculty

Scott Anderson (Geography Advisor)
William Sharp (History Advisor)

Career Potential

• Secondary social studies teacher
• Graduate schools
• Public historian (museum, archives)
• Business positions
• Urban planning departments
• Careers appropriate to geography or political science

Special Features

• Small graduate reading and writing seminars
• Preponderance of work in subject matter areas 

Admission Requirements

In addition to meeting the requirements for admission to a degree program stated in this catalog, the applicant for enrollment in the program leading to a M.S.Ed. in adolescence education: social studies (7-12) should present the following:

1. A resume
2. A letter stating educational and professional goals.
3. Official transcripts documenting a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
4. Documentation of an initial/provisional certificate, or a certificate of qualification for initial or provisional certification, in adolescence/secondary or elementary social studies issued by the New York State Education Department.
5. A minimum of 18 credit hours in geography or history and a minimum of 21 credit hours combined in geography and history. Under special circumstances this requirement may be reduced.
6. At least a 2.7 grade point average in the undergraduate social science major and at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average.
7. Two letters of recommendation with at least one from an instructor in the student’s undergraduate social science major or concentration.
8. Approval of the Social Studies Graduate Committee.

Note: Students must have at least a B average in their first six hours of course work in order to be admitted to candidacy for the degree.