About the Program

Accredited: Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) (formerly NCATE)

Enrollment in all teacher education programs follows the guidelines for "Admission to Teacher Education Programs" found in this catalog. Applicants who do not yet meet all admissions criteria should consult with the department.

The master of science in social studies education (7-12) program helps candidates become educational leaders and innovative change agents as they acquire eligibility for permanent/professional teaching certification for grades 7-12.

The program is based on a model that gives equal weight to pedagogy and content matter. Fifteen credit hours of social studies education/pedagogy and 15 credit hours of history/social sciences are required for the M.S. in education degree. The social studies education/pedagogy portion of the program consists of courses in social studies curriculum, social studies methods, theory, and research methods to address the curricular concerns of the National Council for the Social Studies. The history/social science portion is divided into 9 credit hours of concentration and 6 credit hours of electives. Furthermore, the program links pedagogy and the content area by requiring two block courses (6 credit hours each) so students concurrently take a history and related pedagogy course in the same semester.

At the completion of 12 credit hours of coursework in the program, the student must have achieved a minimum GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale).

Advisement: Each student is assigned an academic adviser. It is imperative that students regularly consult with their advisers. All students must have their programs of study approved by their advisers and the department chair.

Candidates should consult the Teacher Certification website for current seminars and workshops.

Graduation Requirements

1. Successful completion of a master’s thesis (SSE 795)
2. A comprehensive examination
3. Defense of a graduate portfolio.

About the History and Social Studies Education Department Department

302 Cassety Hall
1300 Elmwood Ave
Buffalo, NY 14222
Phone: (716) 878-5412
Fax: (716) 878-3882
https://history.buffalostate.edu/

Admission Requirements

1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale).

2. 36 credit hours in history and/or the social sciences.

3. Initial certificate in Social Studies 7-12

In addition, all applicants should review the Admission to a Graduate Program section in this catalog.

Program Requirements

At least 15 credit hours must be from 600-or 700-level courses.

Required Courses (15 credit hours) *1
History and/or social science courses; 9 more credit hours must be concentrated in a single discipline. 15

Professional Education Courses (15 credit hours)
SSE 502 TEACHING SOCIAL STUDIES *2 3
SSE 513 SEMINAR IN SECONDARY SOCIAL STUDIES 3
SSE 655 SOCIAL STUDIES LABORATORY *2 3
SSE 689 RESEARCH METHODS AND TECHNIQUES IN SECONDARY SOCIAL STUDIES 3
SSE Elective Social Studies Education Elective 3

Master's Thesis, Portfolio Defense, or Comprehensive Examination (0-6 credit hours)
Select one from the following: 0-6
SSE 795 MASTER'S THESIS (1-6)
Defense of Graduate Portfolio
Comprehensive Examination

Total Credit Hours 30-36

*1 Selected under advisement.
*2 Must be taken concurrently with one History content course.

Professional Licensure Disclosure
New York State prides itself in the high quality of its licensed and certified professionals. For the protection of its citizens, each license and certificate has requirements that individuals must meet in order to be licensed or certified in New York State. SUNY’s academic programs leading to licensure or certification are carefully designed to meet and exceed these State requirements. This is a role SUNY plays in protecting the public. Other states frequently have their own requirements, so if your goal is to practice in another state, this disclosure will help you check to see what that state requires.

Enrolled students and prospective students are strongly encouraged to contact their State’s licensure entity using the links provided in the full disclosure document to review all licensure and certification requirements imposed by their state(s) of choice.

Review full disclosure and licensure by state (PDF, 132 KB)