Welcome

SUNY Cortland offers an innovative program in which social studies training is headed by a team of professional historians whose backgrounds combine extensive social studies experience, continuing scholarship, and teaching history in a range of settings (including college classes at Cortland).

Training in teaching methods and issues is approached through the discipline of history/social studies. Students who wish to teach social studies at the secondary level (grades 7-12) enroll in a dual major program that combines the Adolescence Education Social Studies major with a major in one of the following: African American Studies, Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, International Studies, Political Science or Sociology. (Most students choose history.)

Students combine one of the social science majors above with additional coursework that includes:

  • Social sciences courses
  • Courses in adolescent development, teaching methods, etc.
  • The Social Studies Professional Sequence, taken during a student's junior and senior years, involves methods training and field work, and culminates in student teaching during spring semester of senior year.

This preparation leads to initial certification in secondary social studies in a nationally recognized program taught by professional historians and master teachers. Teacher education at SUNY Cortland is also accredited by NCATE (National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education).

The program stresses the need for teachers to be 'human,' to build bridges to their students, to foster trust and communication.

--Student Participant

Over the years I have hired a number of social studies teachers who have completed the professional semester at SUNY Cortland and have seen them turn out to be outstanding educators.

--Secondary School Administrator