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Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies

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The Social Studies major is designed for students who want to teach at either the elementary or secondary level. Students double major with Education. Our program covers a variety of subjects, including history, anthropology, political science and geography. This provides students with the broad content knowledge necessary to be successful teachers. Social Studies is a skills based major which focuses on critical thinking, writing, analysis and information literacy.

Studying at Caldwell University has many advantages. Our department offers small class sizes with experienced faculty who are committed to your success. We offer a student centered experience which is challenging yet approachable. Our unique Dominican heritage is clearly evident in our courses as we seek the “truth” through fact finding, dialogue and engagement.

Special opportunities for Social Studies majors include a variety of internship and cooperative education programs available with local government administrators, the New Jersey Historical Society, and the Grover Cleveland Birthplace. A Washington Semester program is available through American University, and study abroad options are possible. Independent study projects in all areas of history and political science are open to majors. Students may aspire to membership in Phi Alpha Theta, the international history honor society, and to Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society.

A degree in Social Studies prepares students to teach at the elementary or secondary levels. The job market could not be hotter for teachers with many school districts offering lucrative signing bonuses. Teaching is a rewarding occupation as you serve the community while at the same time secure a comfortable lifestyle for yourself. There can be nothing more beneficial and satisfying than preparing the next generation of students to tackle the many challenges of modern society.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the B.A. in Social Studies, students will be able to:

  1. Utilize the skills and apply the concepts of historical thinking.  These include understanding and explaining historical arguments, explaining causation and change over time, and using historical context to enhance their understanding of past events.
  2. Read, interpret, analyze and contextualize primary sources of various kinds.
  3. Conceive of a meaningful research question and locate and use appropriate sources to develop a response which moves beyond description to analyze issues in a critical and systematic way.
  4. Write a well-organized research paper which clearly presents both argument and evidence and includes correct citations.
  5. Demonstrate a knowledge of the content areas included in Social Studies.
Statement of Outcomes Assessment

As a requirement for graduation, all department majors must complete one of the senior seminars designated for their specific discipline. In order to fulfill the Department’s Outcomes Assessment requirement, students must also enroll in HI/PO 492 Research Seminar at the same time they are taking one of the senior seminars. In HI/PO 492 majors will be required to complete a substantial research paper according to guidelines that are uniform across the department. The outcomes assessment process is designed to demonstrate student ability to use appropriate sources, to understand historical interpretation, to research effectively, to organize a large body of information in a meaningful way, to write clearly, to revise written work based on faculty input, and to discuss research results comfortably and intelligently before a wider audience. In keeping with standard university policy, all majors must earn a final grade of C or better in both the senior seminar and in HI/PO 492. If a student receives a grade of C or better in HI/PO 492 but fails to achieve that grade in their senior seminar then the student will need to take another senior seminar in order to complete major requirements. Should a student receive a C or better in their senior seminar but fail to achieve that grade in HI/PO 492 the student will be offered the opportunity to take an incomplete for the course so that they can continue to work on their research project until it is of sufficient quality. Results of the process each year are used to improve the department curriculum and strengthen course requirements, especially in the area of student research and writing.

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