Broad Field Social Studies is a comprehensive liberal arts major designed specifically for students who intend to teach within the social studies disciplines at the Early Adolescence-Adolescence Level (EA-A). Certification to teach also requires completion of a series of Wisconsin Teacher Certification (DPI) requirements. 

The Broad Field Social Studies program is interdisciplinary and includes course work in Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology.  Broad Field Social Studies students must also complete a concentration in History, Political Science or Psychology. The Broad Field Social Studies Major is a comprehensive major that fulfills both the major and minor requirements for graduation.

The Broad Field Social Studies major prepares students to teach in their area of concentration and to teach "fusion" courses. Fusion courses are defined as those that integrate several social studies disciplines and require composite preparation in social studies. Civics, social problems, American problems, area studies, and contemporary issues are examples of fusion courses.

Coursework in Broad Field Social Studies may also be used, where appropriate, to fulfill the university's General Education requirements. Students majoring in Broad Field Social Studies are urged to work in close cooperation with their academic advisors to ensure efficient completion of the program.

The Broad Field Social Studies major requires a minimum of 57 semester credits to be fulfilled in the following fashion:

1.         Completion of the following core courses

            ECON 235       Economics and Society - 3 credits
            PSYC 101        Introduction to Psychology - 3 credits 
            SOCI 101        Introduction to Sociology - 3 credits
            ANTH 101      The Human Experience - 3 credits

            HIST 151        U.S. History Through 1877 - 3 credits
            or
            HIST 152        U.S. History Since 1877 - 3 credits

            GEOG 100       World Regional Geography - 3 credits
            or
            GEOG 102       Cultural Geography  - 3 credits

            POLS 230       U.S. National, State, and Local Government - 3 credits

            or both of the following:

            POLS 150       American National Government - 3 credits
            and
            POLS 330       U.S. State and Local Government - 3 credits

2.         Completion of a concentration in History, Political Science, or Psychology. Broad Field Social Studies core courses may, where appropriate, be applied to the area of concentration. 

3.         Completion of a total of six credits of electives in two different social science disciplines (ECON, PSYC, POLS, SOCI, ANTH, HIST, or GEOG) outside the area of concentration.

4.         Additional elective credits, if necessary, in any of the disciplines within the Broad Field Social Studies major other than the area of concentration to reach a total of 57 credits.

Students pursuing the Broad Field Social Studies-History concentration must complete all requirements for the History Teaching Major at the Early Adolescence-Adolescence Level (EA-A). See the History section of the catalog for details.

Students pursuing the Broad Field Social Studies-Political Science concentration must complete all requirements for the Political Science Teaching Major at the Early Adolescence-Adolescence Level (EA-A). See the Political Science section of the catalog for details.

Students pursuing the Broad Field Social Studies-Psychology concentration must complete all requirements for the Psychology Teaching Minor at the Early Adolescence-Adolescence Level (EA-A) plus the Social Studies Methods course (SSEd 339). See the Psychology section of the catalog for details.

This minor, which is open only to students majoring in Elementary Education, is designed to provide breadth and sufficient depth across the broad range of social studies disciplines. The following strands serve as the foundation for the social studies array and choices: "People, places and environments"; "Time, continuity, and change"; "Power, authority, governance and responsibility"; "Production, distribution, exchange and consumption"; and "Individuals, institutions, and cultures." The minor is to be planned by the student in consultation with his or her advisor. A written plan for the minor must be filed with the advisor at the time of the student's application for admission to the Teacher Education programs. Any modifications in the plan may be made only with the advisor's consent. This minor must be taken in connection with Wisconsin MC-EA licensure (ages 6-12/13; grades 1 - 7/8th) which requires completion of TED 407 and appropriate student teaching. This minor equips a prospective teacher to support the Wisconsin Model Academic Standards for Social Studies.

Required courses:

A minimum of 24 credits to include one from each of the following discipline categories. Students should make sure that within the minor they have had a Western and non-Western history/contemporary culture course experience. One-third of the credits (eight) must be at the 300 level or higher and should be chosen only with the concurrence of the student's advisor.

History, Western experience courses:
HIST 151, 152, 230, 231 or any other western experience history course approved by the student's advisor.

History, non-Western experience courses:
HIST 160, 161, 219, 220, 225, 240, 241, 281, or any other non-Western history course approved by the student's advisor.

Geography:
GEOG 100, 102 (both non-Western experience courses), or any other geography course approved by the student's advisor.

Economics:
ECON 235, 250, 251, or any other economics course approved by the student's advisor.

Political Science:
POLS 230 or any other political science course approved by the student's advisor.

Anthropology:
ANTH 315 (non-Western), or any other anthropology course approved by the student's advisor.

Psychology:
PSYC 101, or any other psychology course approved by the student's advisor.

Sociology:
SOCI 101 or any other sociology course approved by the student's advisor.