International Teacher Education Social Studies 1 (15EC)
This minor is for students who want to explore Geography and History within an educational and international context. It focuses on concept-based learning and how these subjects can be taught in meaningful and engaging ways, connecting classroom learning to global perspectives. The minor helps you strengthen your international profile and prepares you to work in international and interdisciplinary educational settings, including 10–14 education. It is also a valuable choice for anyone interested in teaching, global themes, and international learning. This minor stands out because ITE is the only programme in the world that specifically prepares teachers to teach in an international context, making it a distinctive and future-oriented learning experience.
This minor is offered by the Social Studies department of ITESS (International Teacher Education for Secondary Schools).
Minor content
In Period 1, students follow three courses that combine subject knowledge with education. World History I: Empires introduces students to World History from the agricultural revolution to therise of empires. Students compare societies, work with timelines and maps, conduct historical research, go on a field trip, and present their findings. The Americas focuses on the human and physical geography of North and South America, covering topics such as earthquakes, landscapes, population, and demography. In the Big Project, students learn the the teaching skills and didactical knowledge to design integrated Geography and History lessons.
Period 2 focuses on global perspectives and teaching practice. World History II: Revolutions examines the transition from local to global developments between 1500 and 1800, with attention to revolutions around the world from an internationally minded perspective. Maps & GIS develops map-reading skills and introduces digital tools and GIS as educational resources. In Teaching Social Studies, students design an integrated social studies module that will be implemented in an international school.
It is possible to follow only Period 1 or only Period 2 as a minor.
Subjects:
- World History I:
- The Americas
- Big Project
- World History II: Revolutions.
- Maps & GIS
- Teaching Social Studies
Structure of the minor
By the end of this minor, students can explain and present the core ideas of the Big History Project, using key concepts such as thresholds, scale, claim testing, and collective learning to place historical change within a broader narrative. They understand major human, social, economic, and physical processes in the Americas and how these shape human–nature relationships. Students can interpret the agricultural revolution and the rise of empires using timelines, maps, and fieldwork. They are able to design integrated, concept-based projects that combine multiple subject fields, including active historical thinking and geographical spatial thinking. In addition, they can develop teacher and student guides, create online learning arrangements that support differentiation, design feedback instruments, compare international curricula, and critically reflect on the effectiveness and meaningfulness of their project using the DBE cycle.
Assessment in this minor includes a combination of written tests, professional products, events and portfolios across the modules. For the most up-to-date course information and assessment details, please request the current course guide.
There are no specific requirements for admission to this minor, although it is designed as an educational minor, so all content is taught within an educational context. There are no special access requirements or excluded prior courses. While there may be occasional excursion costs, participation in excursions is never mandatory, and costs are generally low. Students can therefore join this minor without restrictions and benefit from an educational programme that is accessible, engaging, and focused on practical teaching and learning experiences.
