Social Studies

About the Social Studies Program

Become a culture interpreter with a major in social studies. The social studies major draws faculty from economics, geography, history, politics, psychology and sociology. Society’s problems are multi-dimensional and have roots far in the past. The aim of the social studies group major is to give the student a well-rounded outlook on life beyond one’s own area of specialty.

Students interested in studying politics may take the major with emphasis on politics, or a minor in political science.

Courses and Requirements

The courses for the 51-hour social studies comprehensive major for secondary certification include such subject areas as introduction to economics, introduction to geography, history of civilization, Michigan history, United States history, geographic information systems and philosophy of history. There is also a 36-hour non-teaching social studies major, a 36-hour social studies group major for elementary certification and a 39-hour social studies group major for secondary certification.

View the course requirements, layout and course descriptions, and learn more about the social studies program at Spring Arbor University, all in the undergraduate catalog.

Career Opportunities

If you’re a culture junkie and like to blog about your insights, then perhaps a career in journalism, politics, education or law should be in your line of sight. Visit our career development page.

On-Campus Opportunities

Spring Arbor University offers a wide range of activities and opportunities for students to get involved and apply what they’re learning in the classroom to real-world contexts. Here are some opportunities that might interest political economy students:

• Interfaith Shelter Ministries – Interfaith Shelter is a homeless shelter located in downtown Jackson. Spring Arbor students spend one day a week serving food and visiting with the people of the shelter. They also lead small group fellowships and organize an annual food and clothing drive. For information about volunteering at Interfaith Shelter, please call 517.789.8735.
• Law and Politics Society – LPS is a non-partisan student organization that wants to educate students about government and political issues and get them involved at a local, state, or national level.
• Model Arab League (event) – Model Arab League is an event sponsored through the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations in which students learn about the politics and history of the Arab world as they study a particular Arab nation and then prepare to “represent” that nation at a mock Arab League summit. Every year, SAU sends a team to the Model Arab League convention held at a participating Michigan university.
• Multicultural and Intercultural Student Organizations – Students of any color or background are celebrated and supported on Spring Arbor University’s campus. With over ten organizations dedicated to fostering a dialogue between various ethnicities and promoting multiculturalism on SAU’s campus, there is something for everyone. Visit the intercultural relations website.