Teaching Social Sciences Emphasis Track Requirements [28 Units]
The Critical Race and Ethnics Studies, Teaching Social Sciences emphasis is designed to prepare UC Merced students for admission to teacher credential programs or to pursue graduate studies in education. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) requires those wanting to teach Critical Race and Ethnics Studies courses at the secondary level to carry a single subject credential in “Social Sciences.” This emphasis satisfies those requirements.
The emphasis offers a direct pathway into teaching credential programs at many local institutions, including a direct pathway into the UC Merced Extension Teacher Preparation Program (TPP). At UC Merced and elsewhere in the state, graduates will be able to access grant funding and become eligible to teach full time on an intern credential while completing classes and other requirements for their full credential. The course of study also provides an exemption to standardized tests (CSET), saving further time and money.
The emphasis covers the six “domain areas” of a Social Science credential described by the CTC: 1. World History, 2. United States History, 3. California History, 4. Principles of American Democracy, 5. Principles of Economics, 6. Geography. In addition, students gain specific expertise in Critical Race and Ethnic Studies to prepare them for a secondary school teaching career.
We strongly encourage Teaching Social Sciences emphasis students to pursue a Natural Sciences Education Minor (NSED). The NSED minor is affiliated with the system-wide CalTeach initiative, articulates directly to the UCM TPP post-baccalaureate teacher credentialing program, and provides coursework and classroom experience beginning at the lower division level.
The NSED minor requires 24 units. However, 12 of those units (4 lower-division units and 8 upperdivision units) are embedded within the emphasis. By completing the remainder of the NSED minor, students will graduate with accelerated preparatory coursework and can earn a single subject credential in a single summer and succeeding semester with the UCM TPP and other programs.
