Social Studies Education Course

Social Studies Education Course, Secondary Education

Junior and senior high school teachers with strong practical teaching skills in social studies (geography and history, civics)

The Social Studies Education Course in the Secondary Education Major trains future junior and senior high school teachers who have a broad perspective and strong liberal arts knowledge, excellent teaching skills mainly in social studies, geography and history, and civics, and the ability to teach students based on the continuum that exists between junior and senior high school. For this reason, students will, after taking their liberal arts and fundamental classes, study subjects related to the teaching profession, will gain knowledge and skills related to school safety and crisis management, and will deepen their study of their fields of specialization in the Social Studies Education Course.

Prospective Students

• Individuals who have adequately acquired fundamental knowledge and skills in the social studies, geography and history, and civics classes they took through high school.
• Individuals who have a strong ambition to acquire the practical educational skills needed to become a junior or senior high school teacher, focusing on social studies, geography and history, and civics.
• Individuals who have a strong desire to work in the teaching profession, and who can maintain the interest in their field.
• Individuals who have a sense of mission and passion to be involved in the growth of children.
• Individuals interested in acquiring skills to communicate with people of diverse ages.
• Individuals familiar with or interested in schools and education based on their own school experience or experience in social studies (geography and history, civics) classes.

We offer a variety of classes that cover fields ranging from geography and history to civics and social studies education. By taking lecture-based classes in each field, students can acquire a broad perspective and liberal arts background related to social studies. By also taking seminar-based or practicum-based classes, students can obtain an even deeper understanding of these fields.

Particularly from their junior year onward, students are divided into various fields of specialization within social studies and are offered increased opportunities to conduct more in-depth study. By offering tailored instruction in small classes for each field, students can develop a broad perspective and deeper level of expertise across all areas of social studies.

In addition to a series of compulsory practicums necessary for the acquisition of practical teaching skills – which consists of an observation-based practicum (freshmen), care-experience training (sophomores), and a basic teaching practicum (juniors) – students accumulate practical skills over their entire four years of university life, through school internships (sophomore through senior years) and a supplementary teaching practicum (seniors). Furthermore, using an electronic portfolio, periodic supervisor interviews are held from the time students enroll in the university until their graduation, and provide support to ensure that they are having a rewarding student experience.

Areas of Study

History, Geography, Philosophy and Ethics, Sociology, Law, Political Science, Social Studies Education