How Prepared are Prospective High School Social Studies Teachers to Infuse Economics in Social Studies Courses?

Abstract

Studies have shown that the more academic preparation in economics high school economics teachers have, the more their students learn economics. What is missing in the literature is the preparation of high school social studies teachers who may never teach an economics course, but may have to infuse economics in other social studies courses. This situation occurs when states impose specific standards in economics, but schools do not offer or require courses in economics. This is currently the situation in Colorado. This study examines the transcripts of prospective social studies teachers who graduated from the University of Northern Colorado between 1994 and 1999. The results indicate that prospective social studies teachers take fewer hours in economics than any other social studiesdiscipline.