The courses in this program for students in the Teacher Education program were selected to meet the requirements of the Illinois State Board of Education for Social Studies teachers. The basic major for teachers consists of a 24-semester-credit-hour history field, covering both world and American history, a 9-semester-credit-hour political science field, and 3 semester credit hours each in anthropology, geography and sociology.

For students not pursuing teacher licensure, the general Social Science major consists of a 21-semester-credit-hour option in history, economics, political science, psychology, sociology, anthropology, or criminal justice, along with either an 18-semester-credit-hour option in another of the above fields, or two 9-semester-credit-hour options in two of the above fields.