Social Studies Education
The Social Studies Education Department at Manhattanville College prepares undergraduate and graduate students to work with secondary students in middle school or high school as future teachers of grades 5-12. The social studies include several disciplines as its content: history, economics, political science, geography, and anthropology. Grades five and six are added to the traditional secondary 7-12 because our students enjoy the flexibility that dual certification offers for the middle and high school levels.
Download the SOE Catalog.
The Social Studies department recognizes the intellectual and emotional components of teaching as mutually supporting. Teachers have the potential to act as the responsible adults to challenge and support the learning and well being of their students.
Classroom Community
Dr. Rick Heckendorn is chair of the Social Studies Education Department. The general approach in Dr. Heckendorn’s courses is to put forth the proposition that every teacher has the opportunity to create a classroom community where each student in the class is involved and participates. This classroom community is founded upon mutual respect and trust. There needs to be emotional and physical safety in order for students’ voices to ring out. Each student’s success will be more likely to occur if the teacher continually addresses six key components: planning, content, strategies, caring, flexibility, and formative assessment.
Choice
Choice is an important part of the Social Studies methods course. Students have options among several presentation opportunities to demonstrate both their knowledge and enthusiasm for the social studies content. This also serves as an outlet for students’ personal creativity as they prepare to involve their own students actively. The varied experiences utilized in social studies methods courses include: singing original songs, writing and acting out historical dialogues, making floor-sized maps that are kinesthetically appealing, showing visuals to inspire intensive discussion and debate through the use of open-ended questions, and working collaboratively to create station lessons involving a variety of audio and visual materials and computer technology. No one person does it all, but the eyes and ears of all in the classroom are opened and expanded as the creativity of new teachers is unleashed and shared.
Final Welcome and Encouragement
You might be just the person who would like to make a difference in young people’s lives as a teacher. You might be the person who is willing to take the challenge of finding a rewarding career that offers individual cognitive work and collaborative possibilities. You might be the person who will be able to become the link between young people and your subject matter. Come join our quest and find out more about Manhattanville College and our undergraduate and graduate programs leading to teacher certification.
Certification Options
Chairperson: Rick Heckendorn, Ed.D. - heckendornf@mville -323-3207