Social Studies

Social Studies teachers cover a lot of ground -- social relationships and the functioning of society through the teaching of history, government, economics, civics, sociology, geography, and anthropology At Dominican University we are focused on helping teachers develop an integrated approach to teaching Social Studies. Our courses cover everything from Ethnic Studies to the Civil War, our Positive Community Impact Series and much more. Our goal is to help teachers apply these subjects in a way that impacts their students present and future lives and teaches them to think critically about the world they live in. Many of our courses are focused on hands-learning and field trips that allow the teacher-learner to embrace subjects such as California History, for example, first-hand. For social studies teachers it is a unique opportunity to join an academic community of learners and professionals who are here to help you excel both academically and professionally. Our programs and services offer affordable, dynamic and practical course offerings for teachers throughout the United States and around the world.

How to Teach Social Studies Effectively

Teaching Social Studies presents teachers with a unique set of challenges not always found in other disciplines. Students need to see Social Studies are relevant to them and their future. Teachers must ask themselves how their particular curriculum can shape students' lives. How they can apply the knowledge in their own lives?

Methods of Teaching Social Studies

Social Studies education has always been about instruction that brings the past into relation to the present. But methods of teaching social studies have evolved as the country and the world have evolved. Teaching about the past and applying it to the present in terms of developing critical thinking skills has always been at the core of Social Studies education and is perhaps more important now than ever. While sometimes less content can be more in the sense of not overwhelming students with a barrage of historical facts, online resources are available at your fingertips. There a wealth of free guides and activities available for teachers. These classroom resources cover everything from the Ancient Greeks and the creation of Democracy to the Aztecs and the effects of exploration. Learn how to use them in the context of the present. A wide array of standards also guide educational practices. That includes the Common Core State Standards. The National Council for the Social Studies(NCSS), and various state discipline specific standards provide discrete indications of how social studies should be taught. The Standards emphasize that students should be taught to critically examine appropriate source materials.

Integrated Approach to Teaching Social Studies

Many of our Social Studies courses focus on the connecting different disciplines with different perspectives and focus on the development of strategies that can be applied in the classroom. Teaching Social Studies as an integrated subject can mean looking at historic events like The New Deal and the Great Society and exploring them in the context of Ethnic Studies as an example. Through Community Partnership Building you can learn foster collaboration and communication while partnering with local businesses. As educators, you can show students how to make a bigger impact on their community through combined efforts.

Be an Inspired Teacher

To be an effective Social Studies teacher means being an inspired teacher. Get out of the classroom and take in historical sites so as to be able to better explain history in context. This could mean visiting California museums to craft a unique approach to Asian Studies or the period of Spanish Colonization, as examples. Or it could mean a weekend in Washington D.C. touring various museums such as the Smithsonian Museums or the National Museum of Women in the Arts. The NMWA offers world-class exhibitions and a collection of more than 5,000 objects. Contact your local Museum curator and arrange an educational tour with the idea of bringing your students. At Dominican University our aim for the Social Studies teacher is largely based on inspiration that can be strategically used in the classroom. We will show you how.