Social Studies combines the depth of the history major with the breadth of insights gleaned from the social sciences. In this way, students will not only study history, but will also examine aspects of anthropology, sociology, psychology, and geography.
The resulting integration ensures a broad knowledge base and strong research skills. Graduates will be well prepared for graduate school and work in research, government, politics, and education. Most importantly, our professors are committed to mentoring their students in college academics and the Christian faith.
Alumni Profiles
Read about these Bethany alumni who majored in Social Studies during their time at BLC.
Daniel Kneeland (’17)
Daniel Kneeland (B.A. Broad Field Social Studies, Dec. 2017 graduate) has accepted a full-time teaching position at Jackson County Central
Angela Heidelberger (’08)
Angela, a 2008 Bethany graduate, works as a real estate loan assistant at Pioneer Bank and is also one of
Mary Ramirez (’10)
In addition to her work as a senior proposal writer for Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Mary is also a branded contributor
Careers in Social Studies
The Social Studies major allows students to gain a broad perspective on the human condition as taught through the various social sciences and history. This prepares students for a variety of careers by providing them with transferable skills in critical thinking, scholarly research, and effective communication, while also fostering a well-rounded perspective in which to understand past events in relation to present lives.
Social Studies Majors frequently pursue the following careers:
- Education — Teacher/professor, program administrator, admissions counselor, museum education coordinator
- Government — Legislative aide, foreign service officer, lobbyist, policy advisor
- Museum — Archivist, museum guide, historic preservationist, living history interpreter
- Research — Grant writer, information specialist, library specialist
- Pre-law — Attorney, paralegal, legal researcher
- Media — Communications director, public relations officer, journalist
Internships
Students majoring in social studies or history (related major) have the option of completing an internship during the course of their study. The faculty work closely with students to determine the best internship arrangement for their academic and career goals.
In recent years, student interns have conducted research and assisted in the development of museum displays at the Blue Earth County Historical Society.
Other students participated in research, writing, and editing for the Evangelical Lutheran Synod Historical Society, culminating in the publication of a 450-page anthology: Telling the Next Generation: The Evangelical Lutheran Synod’s Vision for Christian Education, 1918-2011 and Beyond (ELS Historical Society, 2011).
Contact for more information
Professor – History
Director of Apologetics and Worldview Studies – Religion
507-344-7787
HH 308
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Social Studies Faculty
Additional information is available on the BFSS Department page.
| Name | Title | Office / Phone | Courses | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Nick Kaminsky HH 306 507-344-7843 | Online Instruction | HH 306 507-344-7843 | |
| Ryan MacPherson HH 308 507-344-7787 | ProfessorDirector of Apologetics and Worldview Studies | HH 308 507-344-7787 | |
 | David Reagles HH 302 507-344-7733 | Assistant Professor | HH 302 507-344-7733 |
|
David ReaglesAssistant Professor
HH 302
507-344-7733
- Human Geography
- Ancient Medieval Europe
- Modern World Civilizations
- Medieval Europe
- French Revolution through Napoleon
- Britain, 1688-1901
- Imperialism and Globalization
- Topic: Global History of Sports
- International Study Tour: England
- Introduction to Historical Researchand Writing
- Senior Seminar I
- Senior Seminar II
- Introduction to InterdisciplinaryStudies
- Interdisciplinary Studies Internship
Mission Statement
The social studies major allows students to systematically study not only history but also a variety of disciplines in the social sciences that complement history. History, by its very nature, is interdisciplinary, and this is most clearly expressed in this social studies major.
Program Learning Outcomes
- To identify the values and goals of important people of the past as they sought to influence their world.
- To identify chief characteristics of past world civilizations.
- To explain the roles of people, ideas, institutions, and actions in shaping historical developments.
- To apply critical thinking skills to the analysis of primary and secondary sources, including both written and visual media.
- To summarize the human and physical geography of major world civilizations, from ancient times to the present.
- To formulate a broad, historical perspective on world history, in order to become an historically informed participant in present-day American and global civic life.
- To polish with professional competence a work of formal academic writing, including documentation in the accepted style of the discipline, and to present a summary of one’s research orally.
- To demonstrate an ability to integrate multiple social studies disciplines (e.g., economics, political science, sociology, psychology) into the study of history.
Students should declare social studies as their intended major as early in their college career as possible by filing a Declaration of Major/Change of Advisor form with the registrar. The student should simultaneously switch to an advisor in the History Department. The advisor will provide the student with an application for formal acceptance into the major, which generally occurs at the end of the sophomore year.
Students must complete at least two history and two social science courses from the required lower division courses with no less than a “C+” in each course. Students must also have a GPA of 2.0 or above. Students will be notified of formal acceptance into the major by the chair of the History Department, who will also notify the registrar.
Students who seek state licensure for secondary level (grades 5–12) teaching of social studies must first meet all requirements for “Entry into the Education Major” (see education major) as well as all requirements for the social studies major. These students are required to take the courses listed below with an asterisk (*) and must pass them with a “C+” or better.
The Social Studies major consists of 48 credits, 12 of which simultaneously fulfill General Education Core Requirements. Thus, the net credit load is 36. This allows students ample time to pursue a minor or even a second major.
Lower-Division Electives (18 credits)
- HIST111 Ancient Medieval Europe or HIST122 Modern World Civilizations 3 cr
- HIST207 History of USA I or HIST208 History of USA II 3 cr.
- ECON203 Principles of Macroeconomics or ECON204 Principles of Microeconomics 3 cr.
- GEOG101 Physical Geography or GEOG102 Human Geography 3 cr.
- PLSC105 American Government or PLSC106 World Politics 3 cr.
- PSYC230 Cross Cultural Psychology or SOCL101 Introduction to Sociology or
SOCL240 Criminal Deviance and Justice 3 cr.
Upper-Division Electives (21 credits)
Choose one:
- RELG316 Comparative World Religions 3 cr.
- RELG350 Islam 3 cr.
- RELG425 Eastern Religion/Spirituality in America 3 cr.
- RELG435 Intertestament Period 3 cr.
- RELG489 International Study Tour 3 cr.
Choose one:
- ECON330 International Economics 3 cr.
- PSYC330 Psychology of Adult Development (pre-req: PSYC120 Human Growth and Development) 3 cr.
- PSYC340 Social Psychology (pre-req: PSYC100 General Psychology) 3 cr.
- SOCL330 American Minorities 3 cr.
Choose two thematic courses:
- HIST370 Imperialism and Globalization 3 cr.
- HIST385 Western Legal Traditions 3 cr.
- HIST405 Native American History 3 cr.
- HIST430 The American Civil War and Reconstruction 3 cr.
- HIST450 Civil Rights Movement 3 cr.
- HIST460 Religion in American History 3 cr.
- HIST470 The Supreme Court and the American People 3 cr.
Choose two event courses:
- HIST333 Medieval Europe 3 cr.
- HIST340 Renaissance and Reformation Eras 3 cr.
- HIST350 French Revolution through Napoleon 3 cr.
- HIST355 Britain, 1688-1901 3 cr.
- HIST356 Britain, 1901-Present 3 cr.
- HIST360 Early and Imperial Russian History 3 cr.
- HIST410 The Era of the American Revolution 3 cr.
- HIST420 Constitution and Early Republic 3 cr.
Complete two additional electives:
- One additional Upper-Division Elective 3 cr.
- One additional Lower- or Upper-Division Elective 3 cr.
Capstone Sequence (6 credits)
Choose one:
- HIST493 Senior Seminar I (1.5 cr.) and HIST494 Senior Seminar II (1.5 cr.) – 3 cr.
- HIST499 History Internship 3 cr.
Recommended Religious Studies Electives
When completing the Religion component of the General Education Core Requirements, students majoring in Social Studies are encouraged to consider these courses as strong complements to the subject matter of their major.
- RELG223 The Life of Christ 3 cr.
- RELG224 History of Israel 3 cr.
- RELG226 Acts of the Apostles 3 cr.
- RELG300 History of Christian Thought I: Post-Apostolic Fathers to Chalcedon, courselink id=”RELG301″], and RELG302 History of Christian Thought III: Enlightenment, Modern, Post Modern – 3 cr. each
- RELG320 Luther: His Ongoing Significance 3 cr.
- RELG330 Christian Social Thought 3 cr.
- RELG350 Islam 3 cr.
The minor in social studies requires 21 credits, distributed as follows.
Lower-Division Electives (9 credits)
Choose one:
- HIST111 Ancient Medieval Europe 3 cr.
- HIST122 Modern World Civilizations 3 cr.
- HIST207 History of USA I 3 cr.
- HIST208 History of USA II 3 cr.
Choose one:
- ECON203 Principles of Macroeconomics 3 cr.
- ECON204 Principles of Microeconomics 3 cr.
- PLSC105 American Government 3 cr.
- PLSC106 World Politics 3 cr.
Choose one:
- GEOG102 Human Geography 3 cr.
- PSYC230 Cross Cultural Psychology 3 cr.
- SOCL101 Introduction to Sociology 3 cr.
- SOCL240 Criminal Deviance and Justice 3 cr.
Upper-Division Electives (12 credits)
Choose one:
- RELG316 Comparative World Religions 3 cr.
- RELG350 Islam 3 cr.
- RELG425 Eastern Religion/Spirituality in America 3 cr.
- RELG435 Intertestament Period 3 cr.
- RELG489 International Study Tour 3 cr.
Choose one:
- ECON330 International Economics 3 cr.
- PSYC330 Psychology of Adult Development (pre-req: 120) 3 cr.
- PSYC340 Social Psychology (pre-req: 110) 3 cr.
- SOCL330 American Minorities 3 cr.
Choose one:
- HIST370 Imperialism and Globalization 3 cr.
- HIST385 Western Legal Traditions 3 cr.
- HIST405 Native American History 3 cr.
- HIST430 The American Civil War and Reconstruction 3 cr.
- HIST450 Civil Rights Movement 3 cr.
- HIST460 Religion in American History 3 cr.
- HIST470 The Supreme Court and the American People 3 cr.
Choose one:
- HIST333 Medieval Europe 3 cr.
- HIST340 Renaissance and Reformation Eras 3 cr.
- HIST350 French Revolution through Napoleon 3 cr.
- HIST355 Britain, 1688-1901 3 cr.
- HIST356 Britain, 1901-Present 3 cr.
- HIST360 Early and Imperial Russian History 3 cr.
- HIST410 The Era of the American Revolution 3 cr.
- HIST420 Constitution and Early Republic 3 cr.
To view the most recent course list and requirements for the elementary education major, please consult the Academic Catalog.
Senior Seminar Project
Students majoring in social studies produce a senior thesis during the final semester of their college career. This capstone project involves research, writing, and an oral defense, similar to a master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation. In HIST493 Senior Seminar I and HIST494 Senior Seminar II, each student works closely with a research advisor. Two other professors also read and comment on the student’s thesis. If the student produces a research paper of exceptional quality, it will be filed in the senior seminar papers collection of the college library.
True to the interdisciplinary nature of the social studies major, students must incorporate not only historical methodology but also other techniques drawn from one or more of the social sciences: economics, geography, political science, psychology, or sociology.
In recent years, social studies majors have successfully defended senior thesis papers on the following themes:
- The NAACP’s Impact on Three Civil Rights Organizations: The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and the Black Panther Party
- The Evolution and Impact of the British Invasion
- The Battle of the Bulge: Bastogne and the German Objective
- May It Please Mr. Madison, the Supreme Court Has Incorporated Your Fifth Proposal: An Examination of the Adoption of the Bill of Rights and Incorporation Doctrine
- The Early Christian Church: A Reflection of Society
- The Berlin Crisis of 1961: The Threat of Nuclear War and the Almost Annihilation of Mankind
- Joseph Stalin: A Man’s Portrayal and Its Effects on a Nation
- Creating a Robber Baron: Intellectual Movements, Personal Beliefs, and John D. Rockefeller, Sr.
- A Historical Perspective on King Arthur from the First and Last Days of His Life
- Longships upon the Liffey: The Viking Settlement in Dublin during the Ninth Century
- A History of Professional Wrestling and How World Wrestling Entertainment Became One of the Top Businesses in Sports Entertainment
- From Roosevelt to Roosevelt, American Progressivism Takes Root: The Progressive Era’s Unraveling of the American Constitution
- Latvia: Behind the Dark Shadow of the Iron Curtain into the Light of Freedom
- Grunge: Kurt Cobain and Grunge’s Lasting Legacy
Next Steps
Interested in studying at Bethany? Scheduling a campus visit is a great way to see what we have to offer. You can meet professors or sit in on a class too! Contact our admissions office to learn more.