History, STEP

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Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP): History

The Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP) at Oakland University is an extended program of study leading to certification. Generally, eligibility for admission to the STEP requires a GPA of 3.00 in both the major and minor, and an overall GPA of 2.80. No single major or minor course grade may be below C. Since admission to this program is highly competitive, it is anticipated that successful applicants will have a GPA in history courses of at least 3.40 (including both OU and transfer credits). Second undergraduate major or degree candidates completing a major and/or minor may be required to complete additional coursework at Oakland University beyond the stated minimums. In any case, all history students interested in STEP:History should consult early and often with the history department’s undergraduate adviser. Students in this program must complete the requirements for a B.A. degree in the College of Arts and Sciences and concurrently fulfill the requirements listed below:

1. A minimum of 44 credits including

2. At least 28 credits must be numbered 3000 or above and must include

HST 3010 - Historical Thinking and Writing (4) (must be completed with a minimum grade of B)
HST 4980 - Historical Research Seminar (4) (must be completed with a minimum grade of B)
One course in American history
One course in European history
One course in African, Asian, Middle Eastern, or Latin American history

3. No more than 12 credits in independent study (HST 3920 and HST 4995) may be counted toward the major.

4. At least 20 credits in history courses must be taken at Oakland.

5. Required education courses

A sequence of undergraduate coursework in education is required, including:

SED 3000 - Introduction to Secondary Education (4) (must be completed prior to STEP application; includes a required field experience)
FE 3010 - Educational Psychology for K-12 Educators (4) may include a field experience)
DLL 4197 - Digital Technologies in the Secondary Classroom (4)
RDG 4238 - Disciplinary Literacies (4) (includes a required field experience)
SE 4401 - Introduction to Students with Special Needs (4) (may include a required field experience)
SED 4100 - ST: Teaching Secondary in the Minor Methods (4) (pedagogy course that includes a required field experience)
SED 4200 - ST: Teaching Secondary of the Major Methods (4) (pedagogy course that includes a required field experience)
SED 4951 - Internship I: Pre-Student Teaching (4)
SED 4952 - Internship in Secondary Education (8)

6. Secondary teaching minor or endorsement concentration

A program in STEP must also include a 20-28 secondary teaching minor or an endorsement concentration. Teaching minors available to History STEP students include biology, chemistry, economics, English, teaching English as a second language (TESL), mathematics, physics, and political science; the endorsement concentration in social studies may be elected by History STEP students only. See below for information on this concentration.

Additional information

Further details on program admission requirements and procedures can be found in the School of Education and Human Services portion of the catalog and by consulting advisers in the Department of History and the School of Education and HumanServices advising office at 363 Pawley Hall, (248) 370-4182, or the School of Education and Human Services web site.

Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP): Endorsement Concentration in Social Studies

Students who are earning a STEP: History major are eligible to also complete the requirements for a social studies (RX) endorsement concentration. Only students who have completed the requirements for a history major may be certified by Oakland University to teach social studies at the secondary level. Generally, a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 is required in the endorsement, with no single grade below C. At least 20 credits must be taken at Oakland. Students interested in the social studies endorsement should consult early and often with the history department’s undergraduate adviser. In addition to completing the requirements for a history STEP major, students must complete the following:

1. Two of the following IS courses

IS 2100 - Perspectives on China (4)
IS 2200 - Perspectives on Japan (4)
IS 2300 - Perspectives on Africa (4)
IS 2400 - Perspectives on India (4)
IS 2500 - Perspectives on Latin America (4)
IS 2600 - Perspectives on Russia and Eastern Europe (4)
IS 2700 - Perspectives on the Middle East (4)

2. Required course

PS 1100 - Introduction to American Politics (4)

3. Required course

PS 1600 - Issues in World Politics (4) or PS 1400 - Comparative Politics (4)