Social Studies
Frequently Asked Questions
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1. Becoming Highly Qualified
2. Professional Development
Question: What does "Highly Qualified" mean?
Answer
- Highly Qualified (HQ) is a term used to define whether teachers have met specific teacher professional development standards. It is a term that is most closely associated with the provisions in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), more commonly referred to as No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Quite often excellent, veteran teachers with years of experience and wonderful pedagogy are still not deemed HQ under the provisions of this law. Nevertheless, there are a number of steps teachers can take to become HQ in social studies.
- Please note that with the recent requirement that all new endorsements in the NCLB areas will require passage of the PRAXIS assessment, anyone granted an endorsement after 2007 will automatically be HQ.
Question: What is the PRAXIS test?
Answer
- The PRAXIS is a nationally-normed assessment of content and pedagogy. The USOE has approved some tests in some areas as indicators of Highly Qualified status. Tests approved by Utah.
Question: Does passing the PRAXIS mean I have earned the endorsement?
Answer
- No. Course work is also required. Not all endorsements require the PRAXIS, just NCLB areas where there is a PRAXIS. Endorsement Requirements
Question: Where Can I Find More Information?
Answer
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Question: What courses are required for which endorsements?
Answer
- History: United States History (Exploration to 1877), United States History (1877 to Present), World History (Ancient), World History (Modern), Utah History, 2 Specialized History courses, and Teaching Methods in Social Studies.
- Geography: Physical Geography, World Cultural/Human Geography, Utah Geography, 2 Specialized Geography Courses, and Teaching Methods in Social Studies.
- Political Science: Introduction to Political Science, National Government, State Government, Law-Related Education, 2 Specialized Political Science courses, and Teaching Methods in Social Studies.
- Utah Studies: Utah History, Utah Geography, Specialized Utah Studies course, and Teaching Methods in Social Studies. (Teachers who teach three or more Utah Studies courses must have a history endorsement or equivalent.)
- Social Studies Composite: United States History (Exploration to 1877), United States History (1877 to present), World History (Ancient), World History (Modern), Utah History, 2 Specialized History Courses, Physical Geography, World Cultural/Human Geography, Utah Geography, Political Science (minimum of 4 semester hours), Sociology or Anthropology (minimum of 4 semester hours), Psychology (minimum of 4 semester hours), Economics (minimum of 4 semester hours), and Teaching Methods in Social Studies.
- Psychology: Introduction to Psychology, Psychological Research or Measurement and Evaluation, Social Psychology, 2 Specialized Psychology courses, and Teaching Methods in Social Studies.
- Economics: Principles of Economics (Macro), Principles of Economics (Micro), Economic History, 2 Specialized Economics courses, and Teaching Methods in Social Studies.
- Sociology: Introduction to Sociology, Social Organizations, Social Psychology, 2 Specialized Sociology courses, and Teaching Methods in Social Studies.
- Anthropology: Physical Anthropology, Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, Prehistory of Archaeology, 2 Specialized Anthropology courses, and Teaching Methods in Social Studies.
Question: Where can I take endorsement classes?
Answer
- You can take endorsement classes at any accredited higher education institution or the USOE Professional Development courses that are offered through out the year (especially during the summer). The USOE courses are on a 3-year rotation. Here is a list of schools that offer some, if not all, of the courses required for an endorsement.
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