An innovative social studies teacher education program at the University of Tubingen, West Germany, is described. The problems, aims, and structure of the course of study as well as general theories of learning in West Germany are discussed and these educational phenomena are compared with their American counterparts. The paper is presented in four sections. Section I introduces the preconditions, problems, and development of the social studies program. Four subject areas are identified: sociology, political science, law, and economics. Section II discusses specific problems of the project including key concepts, key questions, and creation of a matrix to reflect these elements. Section III compares American and German structures of knowledge and problems of scientific theory. Section IV presents texts from the social studies curriculum. A bibliography is included in the document. (Author/DB)