Obtaining State of Iowa Certification to Teach History and Social Sciences
The information below is for those of you who want to obtain State of Iowa certification to teach history or social sciences. We encourage you to visit our offices and ask questions about the program. We also offer suggestions on how to prepare application materials for entering the social studies education program.
Students at The University of Iowa obtain State of Iowa certification by completing the program in secondary social studies education. A person must apply to enter the program. The program accepts applications three times during the academic year: October 15, March 15 and June 15. Applications are available at the Division of Curriculum and Instruction office, N259 Lindquist Center or the College of Education Student Services Office, N310 Lindquist Center.
With few exceptions, a candidate for admission must have a minimum 2.7 cumulative GPA. However, the program is competitive. We have more applicants than we can accommodate. Typically, in order to gain admission, applicants must have a 3.0 GPA or higher.
To obtain State of Iowa certification undergraduate social science students must complete their major (with a minimum of 30 semester hours) plus 15 semester hours in one of the following areas outside their major: American history, world history, American government, geography, economics, psychology, sociology, or anthropology. An undergraduate history student must complete his or her history major (and must also complete at least 15 semester hours in U.S. history as well as at least 15 semester hours in non-U.S. history), plus 15 semester hours in one of the following areas: American government, geography, economics, psychology, sociology, or anthropology. Completing a major and 15 semester hours in one or more of the above areas allows a certified teacher to teach these subjects in the State of Iowa.
Upon acceptance to the social studies education program, teacher candidates must complete 22 semester hours of education courses. To enroll in these courses, a person must first be accepted into the social studies education program or some other teacher certification program. The required education courses are:
7S:190 Orientation to Secondary Education (1 SH)
7S:195 Teaching Reading in the Secondary Content Areas (1 SH)
7P:075 Educational Psychology and Measurement (3 SH)
7B:180 Human Relations for the Classroom Teacher (3 SH)
7U:100 Mainstreaming the Exceptional Learner (3 SH)
7S:102 Technology in the Classroom (2 SH)
7S:100 Foundations of Education (3 SH)
7S:111 Introduction and Practicum: Social Studies (3 SH)
7S:170 Methods: Secondary Social Studies (3 SH)
The following courses constitute student teaching. The first course (7S:187) is a weekly seminar, held in the evening, during the sixteen week student teaching semester.
7S:187 Seminar: Curriculum and Student Teaching (3 SH) Section 95 (Social
Studies)
7S:191 Observation and Laboratory Practice in the Secondary School (6 SH) Section
95
7S:192 Observation and Laboratory Practice in the Secondary School (6 SH) Section
95
It is important to note that undergraduate students pursuing secondary school certification must also complete a college level mathematics course. Most, but not all, courses to meet the GER in Qualitative and Formal Reasoning satisfy requirement. These include: 22M:009; 22M:010; 22M:011; 22M:013; 22M:015; 22M:016; 22M:017: 22M:021: 22M:025: 22M:031; 22S:002; 22S:008; 22S:25; 22S:030; 22C:005; 22C:016.
Again, if you have questions, please come and visit. Our office, phone numbers, and email addresses are below. We will look forward to talking with you.
Bruce Fehn
Social Studies Education
Office: N285 Lindquist Center
Phone: 335-5367
bruce-fehn@uiowa.edu
Greg Hamot
Social Studies Education
N283 Lindquis Center
Phone: 335-5382
gregory-hamot@uiowa.edu
*Applies to students entering the social studies education program March 15, 2003 and after.