2020-21 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2020-21 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Dual Major in Adolescence Education: Social Studies and Political Science (7-12) [SST_POL]


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This program in the Political Science Department  allows students who major in political science to qualify for certification to teach adolescence education in social studies (grades 7-12). It combines a major in political science with additional course work and professional teacher preparation.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  1. Apply appropriate criteria in choosing digital and non-digital sources for research-based instructional planning.                                                                            
  2. Analyze and plan instruction that develops diverse learners' literacy skills and is aligned with NCSS and NYSED frameworks and standards                         
  3. Develop and utilize effective assessment strategies aligned with NCSS and NYSED frameworks and standards.                                                                                
  4. ​Identify Political Science Department SLOs (this is a dual major and includes Political Science courses that are also required by the POL major). 

Career Potential

  • Teaching adolescence social studies
  • Professional schools such as law or social work
  • Business
  • Government and non-profit agencies and organizations

Program Standard Grade Point Average Requirement

The major GPA is calculated by all courses identified in the college catalog as required for the major. In addition, this program has an established program standard GPA which may be used to determine progress in the program.

  • Program Standard GPA
    • Minimum GPA of 2.7 in any POL course except POL 485
  • Political Science Major Requirements
    • 36 credits in any POL course except POL 485

A. Requirements for the Political Science major


See Political Science (B.A.) [POL]  major.

B. Professional Preparation: 38-41 credit hours


Required Courses: 17 credit hours


Select one course in geography


Select 15 credit hours in history


C. Professional Sequence: Junior year, 10 credit hours


Students must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher to be enrolled in coursework that includes field experiences. For more information, see Policies for Early Field Experiences  in the Academic Policies  section of this catalog. For all of these courses, students should see program requirements, available through the Department of History. After completing AED 310 and AED 315, students must be accepted into the adolescence education: social studies (SST) major in order to proceed in subsequent coursework in the Professional Sequence. 

D. Professional Sequence: Senior year, 19 credit hours


The SST senior professional sequence — AED 301, AED 400, 401, and 402 — is for seniors meeting all SST major and program requirements. AED 301 should be taken in the fall semester that precedes student teaching. Student teaching is a capstone experience. Students who cannot graduate by the December following student teaching may not register for the AED 400, 401, 402 sequence.

Eligibility for Student Teaching Requirements

  • Acceptance into the adolescence education: social studies (7-12) major by the beginning of the second semester of the junior year.
  • Senior status, at or near 90 credit hours, with 24 credit hours in the social science content major, which must be officially declared.
  • Overall grade point average of 2.5 or higher.
  • Grade point average of 2.7 or higher in the social science content major.
  • A grade of C or higher in AED 300.
  • A grade of B- or higher in AED 301.
  • A grade of C or higher in ECO 105 or ECO 110 and GRY 120 or GRY 125 and POL 100 and PSY 232.
  • Social studies and economics [SST_ECO] dual majors must have a grade of C or higher in ECO 105 and ECO 110 and ECO 111.
  • A grade of C- or higher in any introductory course in the social science content major portion of the dual major. Introductory courses are defined as follows within the dual majors:
    • Social studies and: African American studies [SST_AAS]; anthropology [SST_ANT]; geography [SST_GRY]: any 100- or 200-level courses in the social science content major requirements.
    • Social studies and history [SST_HIS]: HIS 100, HIS 101, HIS 110, HIS 111, HIS 200 and HIS 201.
    • Social studies and political science [SST_POL]: POL 100, POL 101, POL 102, POL 110, POL 112, POL 202 and POL 240.
    • Social studies and sociology [SST_SOC]: any 100- or 200-level courses in the social science content major requirements except SOC 235.

Students are permitted to retake these courses; however, the grade point average and grade requirements must be met by the end of the fall semester immediately before student teaching.

The following workshops must be completed prior to student teaching.

  • Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting (CARR)
  • Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)
  • Safe Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE)

Student Teaching


Spring semester only. No other courses may be taken during the student teaching semester.

Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation: 126


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