Master of Science in Education
in Adolescence Education: Social Studies (7-12)

Coordinator: Dr. William Sharp

Concentrations Offered: History, Geography


Admission Requirements:

In addition to meeting the requirements for admission to a degree program in the college catalog, the applicant for enrollment in the program leading to a M.S.Ed. in adolescence education: social studies (7-12) should present the following:

  1. A resume.
  2. A letter stating the applicant’s education and professional goals.
  3. Official transcripts documenting a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
  4. Documentation of an initial/provisional certificate (or a certificate of qualification for initial or provisional certification) in adolescence/secondary or elementary social studies issued by the New York State Education Department.
  5. A minimum of 18 hours in history or geography and a minimum of 21 credit hours combined in history and geography. Under special circumstances this requirement may be reduced.
  6. At least a 2.7 grade point average in the undergraduate social science major and at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average.
  7. Two letters of recommendation with at least one from an instructor in the student’s undergraduate social science major or concentration.
  8. Approval of the Social Studies Graduate Committee.

Note: Students must have at least a B average in their first six hours of course work in order to be admitted to candidacy for the degree.


Program Requirements:

Students must choose a concentration of at least 18 hours in either history or geography and are required to have six credit hours of cognate social science and six hours of professional education. In addition to the program requirements stated below, students must either write a master’s thesis or take a written comprehensive exam based on work taken in the concentration and in professional education.

  1. History or geography concentration: 18 credit hours
    1. History
      1. Research and writing seminar: Three credit hours (HIS 660, 661, 662, 663, 664)
      2. Trends in discipline course: Three credit hours (Any 600-level course except HIS 650, 660, 661, 662, 663, 664)
      3. Courses combining content and pedagogy within the history concentration: Nine credit hours (Any history course at the 500 level except directed study).
      4. Elective course in concentration: Three credit hours at the 500 or 600 level.
    2. Geography
      1. Research and writing seminar: Three credit hours at the 600 level.
      2. Trends in discipline course: Three credit hours at the 600 level.
      3. Courses combining content and pedagogy within the geography concentration: Nine credit hours of geography courses at the 500 level.
      4. Elective course in concentration: Three credit hours at the 500 or 600 level.

  2. Cognate Social Science: Six credit hours, which must include: a course combining content and pedagogy at the 500 level and an elective social science outside of concentration at the 500 or 600 level.

    Note: At least one of the cognate social science courses must be a geography course if the concentration is history and one a history course if the concentration is geography.

  3. Professional Education: Six credit hours, which must include:
    1. One of the following: EDU 644, 670, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675
    2. Education elective (with consent of advisor): Three credit hours


Total Credit Hours Required: 30