History & Social Science Education Major
American Historical Association, the Woodrow Wilson Foundation, and other academic organizations have recently drawn attention to the critical importance of attracting increased numbers of talented and ambitious undergraduates at major research institutions into high school and middle school teaching. It is an occupation particularly suited to those who want their future profession to be one that presents both an intellectual challenge and makes a difference in society.
The History Department designed the Bachelor of Arts, History and Social Science Education major (HSSE) to emphasize those courses in its curriculum that will be of most use to a teacher of social studies. All of the courses, save one, are drawn from the regular curriculum in history, economics, and political science. In other words, your liberal arts interests will not be compromised. At the same time, you will be taking the courses that will help you in your future profession. The one course especially created for HSSE is History 488, a seminar on teaching history that all majors are required to take in their senior year.
This major will not provide you with a waiver of the single subject tests, though it will make it much easier for you to succeed when you take them. The major can be combined with the progressive degree BA/MA program that would enable qualified students to take all the requisite education courses they will need for certification and obtain a master’s of teaching degree at the end of their fifth year.
Specific Requirements
Required Courses:
History 300: Approaches to History
History 349: Colonial North America 1600-1760
History 240g The History of California
History 360: 19th Century U.S. History
History 361: 20th Century U.S. History
History 440: Early Modern World History
History 441: Modern World History
Economics 203: Principles of Microeconomics
Economics 205: Principles of MacroeconomicsOne of the following:
History 101: The Ancient World
History 102: Medieval Civilization
History 103: The Emergence of Modern Europe
History 180: Introduction to Islamic Civilization
History 275: The Worlds of the Silk Road
History 335: History of Japan to 1550
History 338: China to 960 A.D.
History 339: China, 960 to 1800One of the following:
History 104: Europe & Its Influence Since 1750: From the Rise of Democracy to the Age of Extremes
History 280: The Modern Middle East
History 333: Korea: The Modern Transformation
History 336: History of Japan, 1550 to 1945
History 340: History of China Since 1800One of the following:
History 272: Native History and Historians: Mexico and Peru to 1615
History 370: Spanish America, 1492-1821
History 372: Modern Latin AmericaOne of the following:
Political Science 100: Theory and Practice of American Democracy
Political Science 300: Principles, Institutions, and Great Issues of American Democracy
Political Science 340: Constitutional LawRequired Capstone Seminar:
History 488: Teaching History in the Secondary Schools
Contact the History Department for further information:
Professor Elinor Accampo, Director of Undergraduate Studies
accampo@usc.edu, 213-740-1649
Dr. Joseph Styles, Student Advisor
styles@usc.edu, 213-740-1659