BSEd in Social Studies Education
Gain the knowledge and skills to teach secondary students about the complex, culturally rich world of the 21st century.
Working closely with fellow students and faculty, you’ll delve into subject-area explorations, learn teaching methods, and develop classroom skills through student teaching experiences while earning certification to teach social studies in Georgia schools.
Highlights
- Limited enrollment of 35 students ensures small class sizes
- Offers four areas of emphasis: economics, history, geography, and political science
- Earns Georgia certification to teach social studies in grades 6-12
- Joint bachelor’s/master’s degree available through the Double Dawgs B.S.Ed./M.Ed. Pathway
Curriculum
Our limited-enrollment social studies education program explores the broad topics of social studies—with inquiries into history, economics, geography, and politics—along with effective strategies for teaching those concepts to middle and high school students.
During the course of the program, all candidates will have an opportunity to work with children in each of the grade bands as required by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. The grade bands are 6–8 and 9–12.
As part of a clinically based program, you will spend significant time observing and working with experienced teachers in partner schools as well as with a small group of fellow students, doctoral candidates, and faculty. Choose one of the following areas for special emphasis:
- Economics
- History
- Geography
- Political science
You enter this restricted major in the Spring of your junior year with an introduction to social studies education. Studies continue in the Fall of your senior year with 15 hours of seminars and related clinical experience.
You spend most of your final Spring semester student teaching in a local middle or high school, planning lessons, leading classes, and assessing students under the supervision of experienced teachers. Weekly seminar meetings with faculty and graduate students reinforce and refine those real-world lessons.
Additional information and disclosures regarding state licensure for professional practice in this field can be found at the UGA Licensure Disclosure Portal .
Learn more about the Social Studies Double Dawgs Pathway
The Social Studies Education program has Double Dawgs pathways that offer students the opportunity to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in five years or less to save time and money while positioning themselves for success after graduation.
Admissions Requirements
In typical cohort years, this program admits approximately 20-30 students, and in most years, is highly competitive. Candidates whose grades do not represent their future potential should use the essay portions of the application to make the case for admission.
Prior to application, you should consult with the Office of Undergraduate Advising in 612 Aderhold Hall. They can advise you on how to arrange your program of study prior to application, so you are well-positioned for enrollment if accepted.
Minimum Eligibility Criteria
- Overall minimum GPA of 2.80 (GPA of 3.50 or higher preferred)
- Completion of Core Areas I-V
- Completion of EDUC(EPSY) 2130, EDUC 2110/EDUC 2110H, and EDUC 2120 **
- No grade lower than C in Core Area VI
- Completion of the following University requirements by the end of the semester of application
- Completion of (1) Federal and Georgia Constitution and (2) U.S. and Georgia History University requirements by the end of the semester of application (Note: You may only take the exemption exams for these subjects a certain number of times. Please consult with the UGA Testing Center to ensure your timeline works.)
**Those courses are not eligibility requirements for students pursuing the Double Dawg pathways in A.B. History/ M.A.T. in Social Studies Education or A.B. Political Science/M.A.T. in Social Studies Education.
Course Prerequisites
- ESOC 5010, 5020, 5030, 5040 and/or 5060
Special Requirements Upon Admission
- Minimum grade of C or higher in all social studies education program courses
- Overall GPA of 3.0
- Teacher certification candidates must (1) earn a GaPSC Pre-Service Certificate prior to beginning field experience and (2) complete several assessments prior to certification
How to Apply
Part 1: Apply to the University of Georgia
Students must be accepted to UGA before entering into a College of Education program.
Part 2: Apply to the B.S.Ed. in Social Studies Education
You are ready to apply to the social studies education major when you have completed or are currently completing the minimum eligibility requirements. If you are in the process of completing the required core coursework, you may be provisionally accepted contingent upon satisfactory completion of the required courses while maintaining the required minimum 2.80 GPA for admission.
Spring 2025 Major Admissions Timeline
Applications for the Spring 2025 cohort will open on Friday, August 16, 2024.
- Application Opens – Friday, August 16, 2024
- Application Closes – Friday, September 13, 2024, at 5 p.m.
- Decisions Released – Monday, September 30, 2024
Application Materials
- MFE COE Major Application
The application for the Spring 2024 cohort will remain open until the deadline. - Required Application Materials. In the application, you will be required to upload the following items:
- Essay
In the application, you will be asked to upload an essay between 1,200-1,500 words in length. Please save your response in a single PDF file using the naming formatLast Name, First Name_Semester_Essay. - Unofficial Transcript
Applicants should upload a copy of their unofficial transcripts in a single PDF file using the naming formatLast Name, First Name_Semester_Transcript.
- Essay
Selection Process
Applications are evaluated by a committee of program faculty members. Candidates are rank-ordered based on a combination of their overall GPA and their responses to the essay. Candidates in the application pool are then ranked in response to rubric scores, which are tabulated by each participating faculty member.
Simply meeting the minimum eligibility criteria does not guarantee acceptance to the program. Applicants who are not accepted may apply again in the next application cycle.
Admission Decisions
Admission decisions will be made by October for Fall admission. You will be notified about the admission decision via email by the program coordinator or other program contact.
Admission Contact
Mary Frances Early College of Education 604G Aderhold Hall University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602Student Outcome Data
Academic Advisors
AB History
BSEd Social Studies Education
Additional Resources
Please use our online form if you have any questions for the department. Please be as specific as possible so that we may quickly assist you.
The College’s programs are taught by dedicated faculty who are experts in a range of areas and are passionate about helping students succeed both in their programs and professionally.
Almost all in-state students begin their studies at UGA paying limited tuition or fees. Please note that these amounts are subject to change and are meant to give prospective students an idea of the costs associated with a degree at the University of Georgia College of Education.
Students may qualify for a variety of assistantships, scholarships, and other financial awards to help offset the cost of tuition, housing, and other expenses.
Successful teacher candidates are always thinking about their emerging position as a social studies teacher. We work to provide varied contexts and avenues to ensure immediate teaching success.
Our advisors help you choose your program and use the services offered by the university. If you are interested in the B.S.Ed. program, you should declare social studies education as your intended major through the Office of Undergraduate Advising in 612 Aderhold.
See for yourself how much UGA College of Education has to offer! Schedule a tour of campus to learn more about the UGA student experience.