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Social Studies Education (M.A.T.)

TEEMS Social Studies FAQs

Social Studies Education (M.A.T.) TEEMS -The TEEMS Alternative Masters program in social studies education is for individuals seeking their initial certification in social studies education in grades 6-12. We require that applicants have an undergraduate degree in a social studies content area such as history, political science, geography, economics, psychology, sociology, philosophy, cultural studies, or a variety of other social sciences. Individuals who do not have such a degree may take courses at the undergraduate level to meet the content requirement. We require 8 courses at the junior or senior level in social studies content. We have set minimum admission requirements of 2.5 GPA, 800 on the GRE and passing score on GACE Basic Skills Assessment.
The program features a very strong cohort design and focuses on the development of professional knowledge about how to teach social studies. At least four of the courses in the TEEMS program are taken with the cohort of students in the program. The program includes 12 courses and 2 internships (one in the Fall and one in the Spring). The courses are divided between social studies content (history, political science, geography, and economics) and education. This is a full-time program. The first semester of the program includes a 2 course sequence that meets during the day. Classes are available in the evenings (again with the exception of the first summer). The Spring internship does require a full time 8:00 to 4;00 commitment for 15 weeks. The Fall internship is 8:00 to 12:00 for 6 weeks.
We will allow provisionally certified teachers who are teaching social studies to use their work experience as an internship while in the program. This track is sometimes referred to as the TEEMS After Dark program. You take the 12 course but they are distributed differently than they would be if you were doing a traditional internship.

 

Program Theme: Teachers as Critical Inquirers in Multicultural, Urban Settings

The M.A.T. major in Social Studies Education provides initial teacher preparation for individuals holding bachelor’s degrees in history or one or more of the social sciences.

Program Admission
All applicants must meet the College of Education’s requirements for admission to graduate study. Admission to the program occurs once each year. Additional admission requirements specific to this program include:

  • An undergraduate or graduate degree in history or in one or more of the social sciences from a regionally accredited college or university. A minimum of a major (24 upper-division semester hours) in history or a social science must be part of prior coursework.
  • Three letters of recommendation as follows: (a) one academic or professional letter, (b) one letter from someone who can evaluate the applicant’s personal qualifications, experience, and background in light of potential to work successfully with adolescents, and (c) one letter from a current work supervisor (if applicable)
  • Documentation of previous work experience
  • Interviews conducted by faculty and school-based personnel

Program Academic Regulations
The department may specify additional requirements.
The M.A.T. program is a carefully sequenced program. Students who do not follow the prescribed program sequence will be withdrawn from the program and may reapply to enter the next program cycle.
Exit requirements for this program are:

  • Completion of all program coursework with a grade point average of no less than 3.00,
  • Successful completion of the teaching internships with a grade of “B” or higher, and
  • Successful presentation of a professional portfolio.

Students in this program will be eligible to be recommended for Georgia initial certification after earning passing scores on the GACE Assessments in Economics, Geography, History, and/or Political Science for licensure in the Social Studies content area(s) on the GACE and successfully completing:

  1. All content courses recommended for the students by MSIT and Arts and Sciences faculty upon the students’ admission to the program;
  2. Students must complete EXC 4020 Characteristics and Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities (3) or its equivalent, and Technology for Teachers (IT 3210, IT 7360) or its equivalent, taken within the last five years, to be eligible for recommendation for certification in addition to the program of study requirements;
  3. EPY 7080 The Psychology of Learning and Learners (3) and
  4. EDCI 6600 Introduction to Secondary Teaching (3), EDCI 7660 Practicum I (3), EDCI 7670 Practicum II (3), EDCI 7680 Practicum III (3), EDSS 6560 Principles of Social Studies Instruction (3), EDSS 7540 Theory and Pedagogy of Social Studies Instruction (3).
  5. Successful presentation of a professional portfolio.

 

Program of Study
A. Professional Studies (9)
Select one (3):
EPRS 7900 Methods of Research in Education (3)
EPRS 7910 Action Research (3)

Select one (3):
EPSF 7100 Critical Pedagogy (3)
EPSF 7110 Multicultural Education (3)
EPSF 7120 Social and Cultural Foundations of Education (3)

Required (3):
EPY 7080 The Psychology of Learning and Learners (3)

B. Teaching Field/Major (27)
Required (9):
EDCI 6600 Introduction to Secondary Teaching (3)
EDSS 6560 Principles of Social Studies Instruction (3)
EDSS 7540 Theory and Pedagogy of Social Studies Instruction (3)
Elective in Teaching Field/Major (3)

Select One:
EDRD 7360 Literacy and Technology (3)
EDRD 7630 Literacy in the Content Areas (3)
EDSS 7570 Social Studies Concepts and Issues (3)
IT 7360 Integrating Technology in School-Based Learning Environments (3)
TSLE 7260 Cultural Issues for the Bilingual/English as a Second Language Teacher (3)
Other education electives may be selected with consent of the advisor.

Select Advanced Studies in Social Studies (15):
The students select at least 15 semester hours of 6000-level and above coursework related to history and the social sciences in consultation with their advisory committee. For the majority of students, this coursework will include nine semester hours from history and six semester hours from one of the following areas: anthropology, economics, geography, political science, psychology, and sociology. Because students will be certified in single fields of social studies, additional undergraduate or graduate coursework may be required for the students to demonstrate competence in these four areas: economics, geography, history, and political science. The advisement committee will approve the students’ planned program of study after a transcript analysis of previous work and consultation with the students.

C. Internship (9)
Required (9):
EDCI 7660 Practicum I (3)
EDCI 7670 Practicum II (3)
EDCI 7680 Practicum III (3)
Program total: minimum of 45 semester hours