Social Studies Education Major Policy on Distinction
Social Studies Education awards distinction to majors who meet the criteria listed below. Students earning distinction will demonstrate excellence in their Social Studies Education major coursework and research project. Social Studies Education’s Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) summarize the skills associated with this major:
- the ability to acquire and to articulate in a variety of forms an understanding of social studies concepts within the following disciplines: political science, geography, history, sociology/anthropology, psychology and economics.
- the ability to critically examine and evaluate claims of knowledge about human social experience, interaction, and behavior.
- the ability to examine and analyze a variety of perspectives and to articulate a personal philosophy within the social studies
The following are requirements for Social Studies Education distinction:
- Achievement of the minimum grade point average of 3.0 overall and of 3.5 in the major coursework;
- A major, substantive project or paper prepared with the direction and approval of the program director. It should either confirm or improve the student’s record in course work by demonstrating the quality of the student’s skill as a researcher, as an interpreter of the ideas of others, and as a thinker. The final project or paper must be reviewed and approved for distinction by the program director and one other Education department faculty member;
- A short essay (1000 words) that addresses how their major coursework, and major, substantive project or paper, has assisted in their intellectual development to be submitted to the Education Department faculty for approval. This essay will accompany their major, substantive project or paper when submitted to the Program Director and faculty member for review;
- Presentation of the project or paper to faculty and students at an Education department colloquium prior to May of your senior year; and
- Presentation of the project or paper at a national conference, and/or presentation at a state level conference complemented with submission for publication to a professional journal approved of by the Program Director.
Path to Distinction:
- Prior to Spring break of your junior year, you will meet to discuss your intention of applying for distinction with the Social Studies Program Director. At this meeting your major, substantive project or paper will be discussed.
- Prior to reading day of your junior year you will submit your Application for Distinction to the Program Director for approval. If the application is approved you will work with the Program Director, or their designee, throughout the development of your project or paper.
- Prior to Spring break of senior year you will submit the final draft of your major, substantive project or paper, and short, complementary essay (1000 words) to the Program Director, or designee, for approval. A copy of this draft will be sent to the faculty reviewer. The Program Director, or designee, will synthesize their comments and those from the faculty reviewer and communicate the results to the student. Revisions, if needed, will be supervised by the Program Director, or designee, and resubmitted to the faculty reviewer for approval .
- You will also present your project or paper to faculty and students at a department colloquium prior to May or your senior year.
- Prior to the first day of finals of your senior year you will present your project or paper at a national conference, and/or present at a state level conference complemented with submission for publication to a professional journal approved of by the Program Director or designee.
- Prior to the first day of finals of your senior year you will be notified of the decision to award distinction by formal letter.