Social studies teachers educate students in the early grades to understand how people interact with each other and their surroundings, how different regions of the world developed over time, and the great variety of economies, political structures and social life. To prepare you for this challenge, the program is broadly interdisciplinary. Beyond the Core Curriculum, which surveys the history of world civilizations from ancient era to the present, you will have the opportunity to choose courses – in anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science and sociology – that explore the formation of political institutions and governments, differing interpretations of history, how people around the world structure their economic lives, and the relationship between human societies and the natural world.<br><br>In addition to a thorough curriculum in Social Studies, you will take specialized education courses and participate in student-teaching. To prepare you for the classroom environment, your coursework will emphasize effective teaching techniques, innovative lesson planning, motivation strategies and student assessment. Your education classes will examine ways that you can use your knowledge to maximize learning outcomes for young students. You will learn how to understand the intellectual, physical and emotional development of teenagers, to encourage peer cooperation and collaboration, to foster student self-esteem and moral development, and to empower parents. You will explore issues of race, ethnicity and gender as they apply to the classroom. The program includes supervised practice teaching in actual classrooms, allowing you to observe certified teachers and interact with children. LIU Post teacher education students enjoy close personal contact with faculty who are dedicated to mentoring the next generation of highly skilled teachers.