Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

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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Focus on non-traditional education and prepare for educational roles outside traditional K–12 schools
Work in a rewarding field before completing formal certification requirements
Experience high-impact practices, including a capstone course that is designed around your area of interest

Interdisciplinary 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