The Social Science major is administered by the Department of History. The Social Science Teaching Option prepares students for rewarding careers as professional educators. Graduates of this program earn a license to teach social studies in middle schools and high schools. As part of their training, Social Science majors will be exposed to social science methodology, content, and research. The major enhances the graduate’s reading, writing, and oral skills and the ability to process diverse information into a coherent whole. In particular, the Social Science major will develop an understanding and appreciation of the inter-connectedness of the various social science disciplines. Graduates will also have the opportunity to learn about a wide diversity of cultures and develop a keen appreciation for the aesthetic and intellectual life that they may one day pass on to their own students. The Social Science major is an interdisciplinary program consisting of coursework in the primary Social Science disciplines of History, Political Science, Geography, and Economics (45 credit hours). Students wishing to be licensed to teach social studies in middle school or high school must select the Teaching Option.