INSTEP Master of Arts in the Teaching of Social Studies for In-service Teachers
A three-year, summer Master of Arts program for experienced teachers of social studies that may lead to New York State Certification in Social Studies 7-12th grade. The INSTEP program prepares teachers to become proficient in dealing with topics as they relate to social studies teaching and learning with a particular emphasis on theory and practice. Contact Program Coordinator, Ashley Taylor, for details (
amt2161@columbia.edu).
I. Admission
Admission requires that students be experienced teachers of social studies in middle or high schools
II. Program of Study
A minimum of 32 points is required. Some students' coursework may exceed the minimum number due to professional goals, special interests, or requirements of the NYS professional teaching certification. No more than 12 points of graduate credit from other faculties at Columbia University may be applied to the minimum point requirement, and no graduate credits will be accepted from other institutions.
A student enrolled in the 32 point master's degree program should plan a program of study in close coordination with an advisor.
Specifically, students are expected to enroll in:
A. The following are required courses:
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A&HW 5037 Advanced Methods of Teaching Social Studies (3 points)
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A&HW 5931 Guided Investigations in Teaching Social Studies (should be taken three times over the course of three summer sessions-'"1 point, 1 point, and 2 points)
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A&HW 5232 Fieldwork in Social Studies Teacher Education (1 point taken in January between the second and third years of the program. This course supports preparation of the master's thesis requirement, which is an Action Research Project.)
B. One of the following:
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A&HW 5031 Teacher Education in the Social Studies (3 points)
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A&HW 6530 Curriculum Development, Research and Supervision (3 points)
C. Social Studies Content with Pedagogy Courses (12 points)
D. Courses in Professional Development offer students the opportunity to take classes in various areas related to general pedagogy. It is a Teachers College requirement that these courses must be completed outside the A&HW (Social Studies) designation-in other words, they cannot be completed in Social Studies courses, but rather completed through one of the other departments or programs at Teachers College. While students have some flexibility in choosing particular courses to take, students must take one course in each of the following broad categories, for a minimum of two (2) points each:
1. Literacy – HSBK 5099: Writing Interventions Theory and Practice, or
A&HE 4050: Literature and Teaching (with co-requisite A&HW 4038)
2. Special Education
3. Psychology
