College Credit Plus (MAHG) - Master's

College

College of Arts & Sciences

Department

History and Political Science Department

Degree

Program Type

Graduate

Have Questions?

Improve your Teaching and your Professional Marketability

With many states and school districts now offering College Credit Plus programs—college-level courses on high school campuses—teachers need courses that can prepare you for the challenge of college-level instruction. Whether your state calls it College Credit Plus, Dual Enrollment, Dual Credit, Postsecondary Education Option or another name, Ashland’s graduate courses in American history and government are suitable for secondary school teachers seeking additional expertise, as well as College Credit Plus pathways to qualification as community college adjunct instructors.

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Teachers attending College Credit Plus class

Getting Started

In higher education, hiring institutions determine the qualifications required for potential instructors. Typically, this is a master’s degree in the subject area to be taught OR a master’s degree in any field plus 18 hours in the subject area. Consult the hiring institution for their exact requirements. We strongly encourage you to contact the community college your school district has partnered with before you begin your studies.

Looking to earn a master’s degree to be qualified to teach College Credit Plus courses?

K-12 teachers who want to be qualified to teach college-level courses on a high school campus or as an adjunct instructor at a community college can choose either the M.A. in American History and Government or the M.A. with a Specialization in Teaching American History and Government. It’s a good idea to contact the hiring institution to determine exactly which Ashland courses will best prepare you to become an adjunct instructor.

Learn more about Ashland's Master of Arts in American History and Government and Master of Arts with a Specialization in Teaching American History and Government degree programs today.

Already have a master’s degree in education or another field?

If you already have a Master of Education or similar degree, you may be able to qualify as a College Credit Plus instructor by taking graduate courses in American history or government. Please contact the hiring institution to determine exactly which Ashland courses will best prepare you to become an adjunct instructor.

Enrolling on a non-degree basis is easy. View the schedule of upcoming courses. When you are ready to enroll, apply online for admission as a College Credit Plus/Dual-Enrollment student.

Planning Your College Credit Plus Curriculum

Your College Credit Plus program should be guided by the college-level subjects you plan to teach. The College Credit Plus pathway for an adjunct history instructor will be a little different from a government instructor. Our faculty advisors are available to work with you, your administration and your district's higher education partner to find the right courses for you.

To help you get started, we've created a list of suggested courses for future history instructors and those suggested for future government instructors. We strongly suggest choosing courses in consultation with the community college where you will work. Have questions about our courses or need sample syllabi? Feel free to contact us at mahg@ashland.edu or 419-289-5411.

Teachers planning to become postsecondary American history instructors should focus their studies on courses covering the breadth of the American experience. It is suggested that your course of study cover the entirety of US history. While you are not required to take courses in chronological order or in any particular sequence, be sure you take courses covering the colonial and founding era, the 19th century, and the 20th century.

Course Number	Course Title	Credit Hours
HIST 501	The American Revolution	2
HIST 502	The American Founding	2
HIST 503	Sectionalism and Civil War	2
HIST 505	The Progressive Era	2
HIST 506	The Rise of Modern America, 1914-1945	2
HIST 507	Lincoln	2
HIST 601	Sources of the American Regime	2
HIST 602	European Discovery and Settlement	2
HIST 603	Colonial America	2
HIST 604	The Early Republic	2
HIST 605	The Age of Enterprise	2
HIST 607	America during the Cold War	2
HIST 608	Civil War and Reconstruction	2
HIST 609	World War II	2
HIST 610	American Foreign Policy	2
HIST 611	The American Way of War	2
HIST 613	Postwar America, 1944-1973	2
HIST 614	Contemporary America, 1974 to present	2
HIST 620	The Reform Tradition in America	2
HIST 621	Race and Equality in America	2
HIST 622	Religion in American History and Politics	2
HIST 623	Gender and Equality in America	2
HIST 624	American Culture and Society	2
HIST 630	American Statesmen	2

Teachers planning to become postsecondary American government instructors should focus their studies on courses addressing the nature and philosophy of government in America as well as courses exploring the structure and operation of the federal government.

Course Number	Course Title	Credit Hours
POLSC 502	The American Founding	2
POLSC 507	Lincoln	2
POLSC 601	Sources of the American Regime	2
POLSC 610	American Foreign Policy	2
POLSC 611	The American Way of War	2
POLSC 620	The Reform Tradition in America	2
POLSC 621	Race and Equality in America	2
POLSC 622	Religion in American History and Politics	2
POLSC 623	Gender and Equality in America	2
POLSC 631	American Political Rhetoric	2
POLSC 632	The American Presidency I, Washington to Lincoln	2
POLSC 633	The American Presidency II, Johnson to the present	2
POLSC 641	The Supreme Court	2
POLSC 642	Political Parties	2
POLSC 643	Constitutional Rights and Powers	2
POLSC 644	The Congress	2

In addition to the courses above, most semesters will also include several special topics courses, including:

HIST/POLSC 510 - Great American Texts
HIST/POLSC 630 - American Statesmen
HIST/POLSC 660 - Topics in American History and Government

The topics of these courses will vary from semester to semester. Certain sections may be appropriate preparation for teaching government, others for history and some equally appropriate for both disciplines.