Program: History (B.A./B.S.) - Teaching Specialization - South Dakota State University

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Apr 07, 2025

Students in a classroom.

Program Coordinator/Contact

Dale Potts, Associate Professor of History
School of American and Global Studies
Lincoln Hall 215, Box 2212
605-688-6345

Program Information

The history curriculum is adaptable to personal interests and needs, allowing students to explore the past and make connections to the present. Students pursuing a History Teaching Specialization may select either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in preparation for careers in various fields related to education. The program also provides a necessary background for graduate work or other specialized training.

Accreditation, Certification, and Licensure

Accreditation

Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
South Dakota Department of Education

Certification and Licensure

Completion of an approved bachelor’s Secondary preparation program.
Completion of an approved South Dakota Indian studies course.
Pass the state designated content knowledge test or 2.7 GPA in content major coursework.
Pass the state designated pedagogy test.
Completion of a Suicide Awareness and Prevention training, available free online through the South Dakota Department of Education.
Apply online with the South Dakota Department of Education.
Written recommendation from institution of higher education (SDSU) verifying program completion.

Course Delivery Format

The program provides courses online and face to face on campus and at various off-campus attendance centers.

Academic Requirements

A grade of “C” or better is required in CMST 101 , ENGL 101 , PSYC 101 , and MATH 103 or higher (if these courses are in your plan of study), and all courses for the major (classes with department/program prefix).
An overall GPA of 2.5 is required to enroll in any education courses.
No more than 6 credits in HIST 491 - Independent Study (COM) and HIST 494 - Internship (COM) may be counted toward the major or minor.

Requirements for History Major - Teaching Specialization: 120 Credits

Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Science

System General Education Requirements

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

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Requirements

One declared minor outside of the major discipline OR a second major OR a teaching specialization. The minor may be a traditional minor within one department or school or it may be interdisciplinary involving more than one department or school. The minor can be in a different college. The minor must be declared no later than the student’s third semester of enrollment.
Capstone course in the major discipline
Upper division coursework Credits: 33

Bachelor of Arts Requirements: 6+

Modern Foreign Language Including the 202-Level Credits: 6+

Bachelor of Science Requirements: 10+

Natural Sciences Credits: 10+
- Any two lab sciences.
- Coursework must include 2 prefixes.
- MATH and STAT courses do not count toward the science requirement.

System General Education and/or major coursework may satisfy some or all of the above requirements. Consult program advisor for details. See the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences for additional information about Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science specifications.

Major Requirements

HIST 111 - World Civilizations I (COM) [SGR #4, HSDC] Credits: 3
or HIST 121 - Western Civilization I (COM) [SGR #4, HSDC] Credits: 3
HIST 112 - World Civilizations II (COM) [SGR #4, HSDC] Credits: 3
or HIST 122 - Western Civilization II (COM) [SGR #4, HSDC] Credits: 3
HIST 151 - United States History I (COM) [SGR #3, HSDC] Credits: 3
HIST 152 - United States History II (COM) [SGR #3, HSDC] Credits: 3
HIST 280 - Writing History (COM) Credits: 3
HIST 476 - History of South Dakota (COM) Credits: 3
HIST 480 - Historical Methods and Historiography (COM) Credits: 3 (Capstone)

Upper-Level Elective Requirements

Select 6 credits of 300-400 level U.S. History, 6 credits of 300-400 level World History, and 3 additional credits of 300-400 level History from the US or World History Electives. Credits: 15

** Approved internship credits (HIST 494) taken in another country or focused on a World History (non-US) subject will count as upper-level World History Elective credits; approved internship credits taken in the US and focused on US history will count as upper-level US History Elective credits.

A maximum of 6 credits from a non-History prefix will be accepted towards the upper-level elective requirements.

US History Electives

Select 6 credits from the following. Credits: 6

HIST 349 - Women in American History (COM) Credits: 3
HIST 352 - Revolution and Early National United States (COM) Credits: 3
HIST 357 - America from WWI to the Great Depression: The Perils of Prosperity, 1914-1941 Credits: 3
HIST 358 - The U.S. Since 1941 (COM) Credits: 3
HIST 367 - Rise of American Indian Activism Credits: 3
HIST 368 - History and Culture of the American Indian (COM) Credits: 3
HIST 373 - Oral History Credits: 3
HIST 378 - Folklore and Popular Culture of the U.S. Credits: 3
HIST 409 - Environmental History of the U.S. (COM) Credits: 3
HIST 455 - American Civil War and Reconstruction (COM) Credits: 3
HIST 460 - American Military History (COM) Credits: 3
HIST 462 - Formation of Federal Indian Policy Credits: 3
HIST 465 - Westward Expansion of the U.S. (COM) Credits: 3
HIST 471 - American Indians in Film (COM) Credits: 3
HIST 494 - Internship (COM) Credits: 1-12 (Max of 3 credits) **
GEOG 372 - Introduction to GIS (COM) Credits: 2
GEOG 372L - Introduction to GIS Lab (COM) Credits: 1
GEOG 383 - Cartography Credits: 2
GEOG 383L - Cartography Lab Credits: 1
GEOG 405 - Historical Geography Credits: 3

World History Electives

Select six credits from the following. Credits: 6

HIST 301 - Jesus Remembered - Gospels Credits: 3
HIST 326 - Renaissance and Reformation (COM) Credits: 3
HIST 341 - English History to 1688 (COM) Credits: 3
HIST 381 - Imperialism, Then and Now Credits: 3
HIST 401 - Early Christian Era Credits: 3
HIST 402 - Reformations and Religious Conflict Credits: 3
HIST 404 - Classical Mythology (COM) Credits: 3
HIST 406 - Experimental History in the Ancient World Credits: 3
HIST 415 - Women in Antiquity (COM) Credits: 3
HIST 422 - Ancient Rome (COM) Credits: 3
HIST 425 - Medieval Europe (COM) Credits: 3
HIST 440 - Ancient Greece (COM) Credits: 3
HIST 445 - Nazi and Soviet Europe Credits: 3
HIST 494 - Internship (COM) Credits: 1-12 (3 credits required) **
POLS 447 - Latin American Politics (COM) Credits: 3
POLS 458 - Democracy and Authoritarianism (COM) Credits: 3

Teaching Specialization Requirements

AIS 211 - South Dakota American Indian Culture and Education (COM) [SGR #3, HSDC] Credits: 3
EDFN 101 - Exploration of Teaching and Learning (COM) Credits: 1
EDFN 340 - Adolescent Development in Educational Contexts Credits: 3
EDFN 351 - Teaching and Learning I Credits: 1
EDFN 352 - Teaching and Learning II Credits: 3
EDFN 352L - Teaching and Learning II Lab Credits: 2
EDFN 453 - Teaching and Learning III Credits: 3
EDFN 453L - Teaching and Learning III Lab Credits: 4
EDFN 454 - Teaching and Learning IV: Student Teaching Credits: 11
SEED 415 - 7-12 Social Science Methods (COM) Credits: 3 (Teaching Content Methods Requirement)
SEED 450 - Reading and Content Literacy (COM) Credits: 2
SEED 456 - Capstone/Action Research Credits: 1

Electives

Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Total Required Credits: 120

Summary of Program Requirements

Bachelor of Arts
System General Education Requirements*	30 Credit Hours
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Requirements**	6+ Credit Hours
Major Requirements	36 Credit Hours
Teaching Specialization Requirements	37 Credit Hours
Electives***	11 Credit Hours
Bachelor of Science
System General Education Requirements*	30 Credit Hours
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Requirements**	10+ Credit Hours
Major Requirements	36 Credit Hours
Teaching Specialization Requirements	37 Credit Hours
Electives***	13 Credit Hours

*System General Education Requirements for students pursuing a baccalaureate degree shall include a minimum of 30 credit hours. Some general education coursework may be counted for Major Requirements, Supporting Coursework, and College Requirements.
**System General Education Requirements, Major Requirements, and Supporting Coursework may satisfy some or all of the above requirements.
***Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Academic Advising Guide Sheet

The goal of the academic advising guide sheets and sample plans of study is to promote undergraduate student success by guiding all students to timely completion of an undergraduate degree. Students are not limited to the course sequence provided for their academic program. Instead, the sample plan of study is one possible path to completing your degree and is meant to be used as a guide for planning purposes in consultation with an academic advisor. The plans also help students prepare for meetings with their academic advisor and track their progress in their selected academic program.

History (B.A./B.S.) - Teaching Specialization

Location(s): Brookings Main CampusClose