Broad Field Social Studies

Broad Field Social Studies is a comprehensive liberal arts major. Students intending to pursue careers in secondary education must also complete a series of Wisconsin Teacher Certification requirements. Contact the Teacher Education Department for details.

The Broad Field Social Studies program is interdisciplinary and includes course work in Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology.

Certification to teach fusion courses will be granted upon completion of the Broad Field Social Studies program. 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 vital 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
or
HIST 151    U.S. History Through 1877                                3 credits
or
HIST 152    U.S. History Since 1877                                     3 credits
or
HIST 111    Introduction to Modern World History                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       4 credits
or
POLS 150    American National Government                          3 credits
and
POLS 330    U.S. State and local Government                        3 credits

2. Completion of an area emphasis by either

a. A Secondary Education Major in History, Political Science, or Sociology. Broad Field core courses may, where appropriate, be applied to the major.

b. A Secondary Education Minor in Psychology, plus the Social Studies Methods course (PSYC 339). Broad Field core courses may, where appropriate, be applied toward the minor.

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 emphasis.

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