Social Foundations in Teacher Education: A Contemporary Snapshot

Abstract

Over the past several decades, changes in the nature of the teacher training and the expectations of schools have resulted in changes to the curriculum at the university level. Within the scope of pre-service training, there have historically been courses in social foundations, methods and assessment, and finally field experience. An increased emphasis on pedagogy and assessment has meant the decrease of study within the social foundations areas and an increase in the specific pedagogical courses. The aim of this study was to better understand the current status of social foundations study in teacher education programs. The results show that social foundations courses at the undergraduate level are substantially diminished and that this important sub-discipline primarily mostly lives at the graduate level now. The results of this research are discussed for the professional implications it holds for teachers and the profession of teaching. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.17.1.10