Sociology Major - Teaching Specialization

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Program Coordinator/Contact
Mary Emery, Department Head
Department of Sociology and Rural Studies
Scobey Hall 224
605-688-4132
E-mail: mary.emery@sdstate.edu
www.sdstate.edu/soc
Click here for additional information.

Program Information
Sociology majors often make strong teachers because of their understanding of how people behave and interact. Students in this specialization gain mastery of sociology by studying and applying contemporary sociological theory and research to social issues such as globalization, social inequality, diversity, family, religion, or population. Additionally, students complete pedagogy courses to prepare for employment in middle school or senior high level teaching.

Accreditation, Certification, and Licensure
Accreditation
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education Programs (NCATE)
South Dakota Department of Education

Certification and Licensure
With this major and the accompanying teacher education coursework required for teaching licensure, candidates are eligible to take the Praxis content tests, and apply for a teaching license in South Dakota. Students are required to take the PRAXIS II content test, as well as the PRAXIS II Principles of Learning and Teaching test. The minimum score for the Praxis II PLT must be obtained for teaching licensure and varies by state.

Academic Requirements
A minimum GPA of 2.6 and at least a C in all major courses is required.

Course Delivery Format
The program offers coursework on campus, on-line, and at attendance centers around the state.

Requirements for Sociology Major - Teaching Specialization: 120 Credits

Bachelor of Science in Arts and Sciences

System General Education Requirements*: 30

Goal #1 Written Communication : Credits: 6
Goal #2 Oral Communication : Credits: 3
Goal #3 Social Sciences/Diversity : Credits: 6
Goal #4 Arts and Humanities/Diversity : Credits: 6
Goal #5 Mathematics : Credits: 3
Goal #6 Natural Sciences : Credits: 6

Institutional Graduation Requirements**: 5

Goal #1 First Year Seminar : Credits: 2
Goal #2 Cultural Awareness and Social and Environmental Responsibility:
SOC 462**
Credits: 3

College of Arts & Sciences Bachelor of Science Requirements: 34

Bachelor of Science

Natural Science Credits: 14
With 6 credits of Biological Sciences
With 8 credits of Physical Sciences
Social Sciences Credits: 12
Humanities Credits: 8

SGRs, IGRs, and/or Major coursework may satisfy some or all of the above requirements. Consult program advisor for details. See the College of Arts and Sciences for additional information about Bachelor of Arts Specifications and Bachelor of Science Specifications .

Major Requirements: 33

SOC 100 - Introduction to Sociology * (COM) (G)
Credits: 3
SOC 307 - Research Methods I
Credits: 3
SOC 308 - Research Methods II
Credits: 3
SOC 403 - Sociological Theory (COM)
Credits: 3
SOC/ANTH Elective Credits: 21

Electives: 0-17

Teaching Specialization Requirements

Professional Semester III

SPED 405 - Educating Secondary Students with Disabilities (COM)
Credits: 2
SEED 410 - Social Foundations, Management and Law
Credits: 2
EDER 415 - Educational Assessment
Credits: 2
ELED 488 - K-8 Student Teaching (COM)
or
SEED 488 - 7-12 Student Teaching (COM)
Credits: 8
*Candidates in K-12 areas such as Health, Physical Education and Recreation, Art, Modern Language, and Music split their student teaching credits, enrolling in both SEED 488 and ELED 488

Additional Requirements

Students must also receive a “C” grade or better in
SPCM 101
,
ENGL 101
, and
MATH 102
or higher.
There are GPA requirements for entry into and continuation within the teacher education program. For additional information please consult the Secondary Education Handbook.

Total Required Credits: 120

Curriculum Notes

* The 30 credit Board of Regents System General Education Requirements (SGRs) must be completed as part of a student’s first 64 credits.

** South Dakota State University has a 5 credit Institutional Graduation Requirement (IGRs).

(G) Globalization Requirement.

(AW) Advanced Writing Requirement.

Students must take the proficiency examination after completing 48 credits. English 101, and a course in each of the General Education areas of social science, mathematics, natural science, and humanities and arts must be taken prior to taking this exam.