Social Studies Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS FOR SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHABLE 

To qualify to teach social studies at the secondary level, applicants must meet two conditions:

1. Possess a recognized four-year Bachelor's degree with 30 units of an acceptable social studies teachable subject.
2. Satisfy specific social studies course requirements.

Note: You must also meet the English Literature and GPA academic requirements to be eligible to apply to the PDP/PLP/AHCOTE program at the secondary level. 

Acceptable Social Studies Subjects and Units

You may qualify for a teachable in social studies if you have 30 units in a social studies area subject (24 of which must be upper division) or have 30 upper division units in two social science areas (with 15 units of upper division in each subject), prior to starting the PDP/PLP/AHCOTE program. 

Departments listed below qualify provided they have a predominately social scientific focus (and not, for example, a linguistic, literary or artistic emphasis). 

• Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Asia/Global Asia
• Classics/Greek & Roman Studies (must be combined with another teachable subject)
• Criminology
• Economics
• Geography
• Gender/Women’s Studies
• History
• Humanities (must be combined with another teachable subject)
• Indigenous Studies
• International Relations/Studies
• Law
• Political Science
• Sociology

Specific Social Studies Course Requirements

There are specific Social Studies course requirements in order for students to qualify for Secondary Social Studies. In addition to units in an acceptable social science area, completion of the following courses (24 units) is required to qualify for Secondary Social Studies. 

The required courses must be in-progress or completed at the time of application. Courses must be completed before the start of the program (PDP/PLP/AHCOTE Fall start: August 31; PLP Spring start: December 31). 

Courses will qualify provided they have a predominately social scientific focus (not for example, a linguistic, quantitative, literary or artistic emphasis).

Notes:

• Coursework related to these disciplines in Canadian studies, Asian studies, gender/women's studies, Indigenous/First Nation studies, religious studies (non-doctrinal nature) and classical studies may be considered. A detailed course outline may be requested by Teacher Education Admissions. Please see the SFU Social Studies Chart of Acceptable Courses for the prerequisite requirements and course options at SFU.
• Courses cannot be 'double counted' – i.e., one course cannot be counted towards different course requirements (e.g., SFU’s GEOG 162 could satisfy the 3 units of Geography, but not also the 3 units of Canadian content)
• Social Science courses from disciplines not listed above may be accepted on a case-by-case basis to satisfy any of the course requirements. These courses must be reviewed by Teacher Education Admissions and will require a detailed course outline to ensure content is applicable to the specific course requirement.
• Courses in or with an Archaeology, Criminology or International Studies theme are not acceptable for these 24 units.