Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Community Education Specialization Online
Work with children and young adults in a variety of non-traditional educational settings.
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Request InfoInterdisciplinary Social Sciences Community Education Specialization, B.A. Overview
The fully online bachelor’s degree program with interdisciplinary social sciences community education specialization from the University of West Florida provides a broad view of issues related to educating children and youth in high-poverty communities. The Community Education specialization provides you with a framework to address the diverse learning needs of underprivileged children and youth while evaluating programming used in community education. Throughout your degree program, you will learn to apply universal design for learning to create educational programming that ensures accessibility to learners of all ages with diverse needs.
High-impact practices are emphasized in the ISS community education degree, including:
- Collaboration: Participate in collaborative learning experiences and activities as you develop knowledge of informal education—UDL principles in particular
- Service learning: Engage in service learning in an informal and community-based setting of your choice
- Field instruction: Develop an awareness and appreciation of the unique features of each community and educational context
- Diversity: Explore diversity in the cultures, languages and needs of participants in informal and community-based settings
Graduates of this specialization are prepared to work in a variety of community-based settings or agencies that provide educational programming for children and youth. You will be able to plan and deliver flexible educational programs in informal and community-based educational settings. Some of these settings include museums, environmental education centers, summer camps, afterschool programs, houses of worship and nonprofit organizations.
This program does not lead to teacher certification in the state of Florida.
Candidates for This Program Include:
- Those who want to work with people in some educational capacity outside the traditional K–12 school system
- Students seeking a rewarding area of work that is also in high demand
- Future educators fulfilling a high demand in faith-based and nonprofit organizations
You Will Be Able To:
- Plan developmentally appropriate interactions based on goals identified for all learners in community environments
- Use critical thinking skills to evaluate environments and to demonstrate decision-making and problem-solving skills
- Model clear and acceptable oral and written communication
- Meet community needs while demonstrating ethical and professional practices, leadership and collaborative skills with colleagues and community members
Courses and Requirements
The University of West Florida’s B.A. in ISS Community Education online program includes a total of 120 credit hours. After completing 60 credit hours in general education, plus prerequisites, you will need to complete a core of 45 credit hours in major courses. Then, you can choose 15 credit hours of advisor-approved electives to specialize your knowledge or pursue a complementary minor.
Students must satisfy 60 credit hours of general education requirements. The general education requirements are the basic studies that provide students with a broad educational foundation and are essential requirements for all baccalaureate degree programs. Included in the general education requirements are subjects in communication, mathematics, social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, multicultural studies and lower-level electives. If interested in the bachelor’s in interdisciplinary social sciences program, you can direct your electives toward the following common prerequisites.
Common Prerequisites (6 credit hours)
Students are required to take two introductory courses in social sciences. It is recommended that students take 1000/2000-level courses required in their chosen specializations.
- EDF 3234 - Applied Foundations of Education
3.0 Credit Hours
Applied Foundations of Education
The course focuses on principles of growth and development from birth through adolescence. Students examine personal, social and moral development as well as cognitive learning and motivation. The course contains an emphasis on learners from diverse backgrounds and with special needs.
- EDG 4064 - Teaching at Risk Learners
3.0 Credit Hours
Teaching at Risk Learners
This course is designed for individuals who will facilitate community-based education programs for children, youth, and families living in poverty. The course explores the impacts of poverty on education, health, and well-being of individuals, as well as ways to reduce these impacts. Emphasis is placed on the role of community educators in implementing effective educational programs and strategies that improve outcomes for disadvantaged children and youth.
- EDG 4077 - Learning In Community Education Environments
3.0 Credit Hours
Learning In Community Education Environments
Students will explore the variety of settings that offer community learning opportunities such as museums, science discovery centers, child care programs, outdoor programs, adult and continuing education. The demands of these environments are varied and are often considered ?free-choice? education options. Therefore, the skills and tools for communicating messages to varied audiences in these settings can be very different from the traditional classroom instruction. We will explore and practice motivation, communication, interpretation. design, evaluation, and promotion.
- EDG 4334 - Universal Design for Learning in Community Learning Environments
3.0 Credit Hours
Universal Design for Learning in Community Learning Environments
This course will prepare students to use the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework to create learning experiences for a wide variety of learners in non-classroom settings such as child care settings, museums, after-school programs, adult learning centers, and libraries. Specifically, students will explore UDL principles including multiple means of representation, action and expression, and engagement. Students will use UDL resources and strategies for planning and evaluating inclusive learning experiences with an emphasis on at risk student populations.
- EDG 4373 - Integrated Arts and Contemporary Educational Tools
3.0 Credit Hours
Integrated Arts and Contemporary Educational Tools
Prepares students to effectively integrate the arts and contemporary tools into instruction delivered in K-12 classrooms and community settings. Emphasis is on engaging learning experiences for learners that are designed to deepen and integrate their knowledge and understanding of subject matter across disciplines and support teaching and learning in inclusive settings.
- EDG 4931 - Capstone Seminar in Community Education
3 Credit Hours
Capstone Seminar in Community Education
This course provides opportunity for students to demonstrate their achievement of the goals of community education. The course is designed as a student-centered, content-related learning experience and serves as a summary and synthesis of the experiences in the education program. The process and products of the course are designed to assess cognitive, affective, and dispositional outcomes appropriate to the students' chosen focus of study. Prerequisite: EDG 4077 AND EDG 4944 AND EDG 4947
- EDG 4944 - High Impact Practice Practicum
3.0 Credit Hours
High Impact Practice Practicum
Students will complete a 10-week high-impact learning experience that integrates service learning and reflection to support career success. The overarching intent of the course is to make linkages between academic content, and applied service learning experience, and students' career plans. Co-requisite: EDG 4947.
- EDG 4947 - High-Impact Practice Seminar
3.0 Credit Hours
High-Impact Practice Seminar
This seminar course will present the concept of high-impact practices (HIPs) with an emphasis on collaborative assignments, service-learning, and self-reflection. Students will investigate, analyze, and apply HIPs in varied community education settings. Learning activities will include students working collaboratively to develop a service learning project to address a community need. Co-requisite: EDG 4944.
- EEX 3070 - Methods in Inclusion and Collaboration
3.0 Credit Hours
Methods in Inclusion and Collaboration
This course is required for all education majors. The course provides students with background knowledge related to Special Education issues including laws and regulations, terminology, disability categories, and common educational practices. Students are also challenged to learn the skills necessary to work collaboratively within an educational environment to include students with disabilities, while meeting their individual educational, behavioral, and social needs. Evidence-based instructional and behavior strategies will also be presented.
- TSL 4080 - ESOL Principles and Practices
3.0 Credit Hours
ESOL Principles and Practices
The course provides an overview of information and skills concerning the education of students who are English Language Learners (ELL). The course focuses on cross-cultural understanding and methods of teaching English to speakers of other languages, as well as curriculum and materials to support such work. It provides an introduction to linguistics and builds capacity with regard to working with families of students learning English. Offered concurrently with TSL 5085 and graduate students will complete additional higher-level work.
Choose one of the following (3 credit hours each)
- DEP 2004 - Human Development Across the Lifespan
3 Credit Hours
Human Development Across the Lifespan
Survey of major themes and recent findings in the area of human development across the life span. Emphasis will be on the major transitions from fetal development through death in the physical, cognitive, social and emotional domains. The impact of ethnic, gender and cultural factors on development will be examined. Meets general education requirement in social sciences.
- DEP 3103 - Child Development
3.0 Credit Hours
Child Development
Development and behavior of children from infancy to adolescence from two viewpoints: age periods (prenatal, infancy, preschool, school) and areas (physical, intellectual, personality, etc.).
- DEP 4305 - Psychology of Adolescence
3.0 Credit Hours
Psychology of Adolescence
Social, emotional, biological, and intellectual elements of adolescence. Addresses the transitions from childhood to adolescence and from adolescence to adulthood. Application of theories is stressed. Option for partial credit via field experiences.
Choose one of the following (3 credit hours each)
- EDG 4442 - Effective Learning Environments
3.0 Credit Hours
Effective Learning Environments
This course focuses on strategies for creating and maintaining effective learning environments with activities related to building relationships, organizing groups, developing and implementing rules and procedures, teaching effectively, utilizing positive behavior support strategies, and implementing individual behavioral interventions.
- ESE 4322 - Instruction, Management, and Assessment: Secondary Education
3 Credit Hours
Instruction, Management, and Assessment: Secondary Education
This course provides an introduction to the teacher’s role in managing the classroom, instruction, and evaluation as it relates to teaching the essential secondary (grades 6-12) school competencies. Models of teaching are briefly introduced to support new teachers in developing a broader perspective regarding teaching practice and their implications for classroom management. Throughout the course, students will investigate the effective (authoritative) teacher perspective with respect to each model with the following teaching-learning goals in mind: 1) Organizing the classroom for a productive learning environment; 2) Building positive student-teacher relationships for culturally responsive instruction; 3) Handling challenging circumstances with effective strategies; 4) Supporting students with special needs; and 5) Assessing and evaluating student understanding and skills.
Choose one of the following (3 credit hours each)
- LAE 3314 - Literacy for the Emergent Learner
3.0 Credit Hours
Literacy for the Emergent Learner
This course introduces pre-service teachers to the development of early literacy from birth through the primary grades. It focuses on the development of language skills, phonological awareness, word identification, fluency, and comprehension. Students will examine theories of early literacy development along with effective practices for instructing young children.
- EDG 4323 - Methods of K-12 Literacy Instruction
3 Credit Hours
Methods of K-12 Literacy Instruction
This course provides K-12 pre-service teachers with dynamic methods of planning, presenting, and assessing literacy instruction for all learners. Course content and learning activities focus on applying knowledge and skills related to effective teaching and learning in the various content areas.
Choose one of the following (3 credit hours each)
- RED 3310 - Literacy Instruction for the Intermediate Learner
3.0 Credit Hours
Literacy Instruction for the Intermediate Learner
This course prepares educators for effective literacy instruction in the intermediate grades. Learning activities focus on research based instructional approaches that incorporate the major components of reading, including word study, guided reading, and guided writing. Additionally, students will examine instruction that provides appropriate accommodations for students with special needs. Prerequisite: LAE 3314
- EEX 4772 - Personal, Social and Employment Skills for Exceptional Students
3.0 Credit Hours
Personal, Social and Employment Skills for Exceptional Students
A primary goal of this course is building capacity with regard to identifying holistic needs, as well as strategies to promote and maximize independence, to identify career goals that are consistent with the career aptitudes and interests of children and youth. Related components of this focus include: self-awareness, self-determination, transition planning for independent living, selective placement and social skill development. Emphasis throughout is placed on identifying access points to available community, state and federal resources. A required field experience requires students to develop a Transition Plan for an at-risk youth or adult that is an application of the essential course content.
Choose one of the following or contact your advisor for other program options (3 credit hours each)
- EDG 4351 - Educational Assessment
3 Credit Hours
Educational Assessment
This general assessment course is designed for all students in Teacher Education and focuses on assessment concepts that are critical for good teaching. Topics include (1) measurement issues to determine assessment quality; (2) teacher-constructed assessments such as paper and pencil assessments, informal assessments, and performance and product assessments; (3) interpreting standardized assessments commonly used in public schools; (4) using assessment data to develop instructional plans; and(5) using specialized assessment tools to meet varied student needs.
- EEX 4772 - Personal, Social and Employment Skills for Exceptional Students
3.0 Credit Hours
Personal, Social and Employment Skills for Exceptional Students
A primary goal of this course is building capacity with regard to identifying holistic needs, as well as strategies to promote and maximize independence, to identify career goals that are consistent with the career aptitudes and interests of children and youth. Related components of this focus include: self-awareness, self-determination, transition planning for independent living, selective placement and social skill development. Emphasis throughout is placed on identifying access points to available community, state and federal resources. A required field experience requires students to develop a Transition Plan for an at-risk youth or adult that is an application of the essential course content.
- SCE 4310 - Teaching Science in the Elementary School
3.0 Credit Hours
Teaching Science in the Elementary School
This course incorporates current research and best practices in science education to prepare prospective teachers to foster meaningful science learning in the elementary (K-6) classroom. In the course, prospective teachers reflect on and develop their competence in the three dimensions of science learning, and their understanding of the nature of science. They also explore subject-specific pedagogy with an emphasis on planning inquiry-based instruction that engages elementary learners in experiencing and explaining phenomena, and builds on their prior knowledge. Furthermore, the course develops prospective teachers' awareness of strategies to assess science learning, and promote equitable participation of underrepresented populations in science learning experiences. A material and supply fee is assessed for an elementary science materials kit. A material and supply fee is assessed for an elementary science materials kit.
- SSE 4113 - Social Studies for Elementary Teachers
3.0 Credit Hours
Social Studies for Elementary Teachers
This course will provide students with instructional strategies and materials for teaching a contemporary program in social studies in the elementary school. Students will creatively interact with history, geography, civics and economics. Particular attention will be paid to citizenship education, multicultural understandings and 21st century models for teaching social studies.
- TSL 4081 - Teaching English to ESOL Students
3.0 Credit Hours
Teaching English to ESOL Students
This is the second in a sequence of two courses designed to provide students with knowledge and skills related to the education of English Language Learners (ELLs). The course addresses cross-cultural communication and methods of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) with emphasis on second language acquisition theories, the role of applied linguistics in second language teaching and learning, and the assessment of ELL students. Prerequisite: TSL 4080
- EDF 3234 - Applied Foundations of Education
Choose 15 credit hours of advisor-approved electives (3000-level or higher), including at least 12 credit hours of courses not offered by the School of Education. Students are encouraged to develop an additional area of expertise and pursue a complementary minor (e.g., psychology, community health promotion or child welfare).
Admission Requirements
Prior to applying to UWF’s online B.A. in ISS Community Education specialization, you must:
- Successfully complete all prerequisite courses with a grade of C or better
How to Apply
To apply for admission to this program, you first need to submit an application for undergraduate admission (plus a $30 application fee) and be accepted for admission into the University of West Florida. In addition, you must:
- Submit official transcripts from all institutions previously attended whose accrediting agency is included on the list of UWF approved accrediting agencies
- Submit ACT or SAT scores
- Complete the residency application form for tuition purposes
- Complete the departmental application form
Have questions about this program or the admissions process? Contact our undergraduate admissions team at admissions@uwf.edu.
Costs & Financial Aid
| Component | Cost | Total* |
|---|---|---|
| In-State Tuition | $218.98 per credit hour | $26,277.60 |
| In-State Tuition with Maximum Transfer Credits (Up to 90) | $218.98 per credit hour | $6,569.40 |
| Full Out-of-State Tuition | $648.37 per credit hour | $77,804.40 |
| 75% Out-of-State Tuition Waiver | $341.67 per credit hour | $41,000.40 |
Tuition waivers cover up to 75% of the non-resident portion of your tuition and are available to non-Florida residents (including international students) admitted to online programs and registered for online courses in active pursuit of that degree or certificate. You must pay all other assessed tuition and fees. Review Tuition Waiver Information to learn more.
Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. Fees are charged per semester unless otherwise noted. This program takes up to 48 months to complete, depending on course availability and applicable transfer credits.
Refer to UWF Cost of Attendance Estimates and Financial Literacy for more information on UWF costs and financial aid.
* Tuition and fees are subject to change.
Alabama Differential Out-of-State Tuition
Residents of Alabama are eligible for Alabama Differential Tuition, a reduced out-of-state tuition rate. For more information and to verify residency status for tuition purposes, new undergraduate students should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and new graduate students should contact the Graduate School. Current enrolled students should contact the Office of the Registrar.
Active Duty Military
All active-duty members of the U.S. military who are residing or are stationed outside the state of Florida shall have all (100%) out-of-state fees waived by the university. Contact the Military & Veterans Resource Center to apply for the Active Duty Military Out-of-State Waiver.
UWF Short-Term Financial Assistance
The University of West Florida provides eligible students with an alternative to paying the full amount of tuition at the beginning of each term in the form of an installment payment plan or a short-term loan.
Military Students
UWF is a Military FriendlyⓇ School proudly serving active-duty U.S. military members and veterans. As UWF has been a participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program since 2011, you could be eligible to receive free tuition with your military benefits.
See How We Can Serve YouFinancial Aid
Funding your college education should not empty your wallet. We offer various financial aid options for our online students, including loans, scholarships and grants for degree-seeking students.
Learn More About Financial AidCareer Outcomes
Upon completion of our online social sciences degree program, you can pursue a variety of careers in education that do not require licensure.
* Salary and job information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and PayScale.com.
After School Coordinators
After school coordinators work past the end of the school day (typically 3 to 5 p.m.) to provide education and enrichment. The programming can include test preparation, tutoring, crafts, study hall and other activities. These employees will communicate with teachers, administrators and parents. Their average salary is $35,750.
Preschool Teachers
Preschool teachers instill language, motor and social skills for children 5 and younger. These teachers work with small groups of children, alternate play with educational activities and communicate with parents regarding their child’s development. In 2021, preschool teachers made a median annual salary of $30,210. Jobs are expected to grow 15 percent through 2031.
Museum Educators
Museum educators provide informed, entertaining programming that aligns with the mission of the museum. These professionals sometimes collaborate with individual schools or colleges and may even teach in-person classes. Museum educators might also oversee a staff of other employees or volunteers. Their average yearly salary is $35,629.
Nonprofit Education Coordinators
Education coordinators in nonprofit organizations must be excellent communicators. They could be responsible for educating members of the nonprofit organization, working to raise community awareness, enacting educational campaigns and evaluating educational initiatives. The average yearly salary for nonprofit education coordinators is $46,230 in 2023.