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Become an Outstanding Social Studies Teacher

You're a history buff who wants to bring history to life for junior and senior high school students. At IUP, you'll discover how to become a history teacher who can show kids how the past can teach us today.

IUP's well-respected Social Studies BSEd program will prepare you to earn your Pennsylvania Teaching Certification to teach grades 7–12.

You'll benefit from our knowledgeable professors, who are experts in different topics of history, such as:

  • Colonial America
  • Early China
  • Recent US
  • The Civil War
  • The Cold War
  • The Roman Empire

Why Major in Social Studies Education at IUP?

The social studies education program is highly regarded throughout the region and the state of Pennsylvania. IUP graduates are widely known as excellent teachers who use teaching best practices to excel in the classroom.

You’ll become a teacher who is thoughtful and collaborative, because our program is built on:

  • A collegial cohort system
  • Intensive field experience
  • Research-based instruction

What You’ll Learn

During your freshman and sophomore years, you’ll fulfill your core curriculum requirements for the College of Education and Communications. You’ll study the seven fields of social studies:

  • Anthropology
  • Civics/Government
  • Economics
  • Geography
  • History
  • Psychology
  • Sociology

During your junior and senior years, you’ll start the pre-teaching and student teaching phase of your coursework. This four-semester professional experience sequence culminates with a full semester as a student teacher.

To see the requirements leading to teaching certification, see the section titled “3-Step Process for Teacher Education” in the College of Education and Communications section of the undergraduate catalog.

Imagine Your Future

Talented and compassionate social studies and history teachers are in high demand. With your social studies education degree, you can get a job almost anywhere in the US teaching history and social studies at the secondary level.

Along with your teaching salary, social studies and history teachers report earning more than $2,000-$15,000 per year as a club sponsor, a coach, or a tutor. And you'll have time to get a summer job if you choose.

The overall well-being of teachers is high, though teaching can be stressful at times. Teaching offers:

  • A strong work/life balance.
  • A consistent schedule during the week.
  • Time to pursue graduate degrees or special research projects.
  • Great benefits (if you teach in the public schools, including a state pension).

Similar Occupations

  • Career and Technical Education Teachers
  • Computer Science Teacher
  • Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers
  • Librarians and Library Media Specialists
  • Preschool Teachers
  • School and Career Counselors and Advisors
  • Social Workers
  • Special Education Teachers
  • Teacher Assistants

Career opportunities

  • Intermediate Grades
  • Middle School
  • High School

Secondary Social Studies Teacher

$62,360

Median salary, 2022

1,042,090

Number of jobs, 2022

Classes and Requirements

As a student in the BSEd in Social Studies Education program, you'll follow a course sequence that prepares you to be a credentialed social studies and history teacher in Pennsylvania.

The course requirements are set up in four categories:

  • Education Methodology classes
  • Liberal Studies classes
  • Social Studies-related classes
  • Upper-level History classes

You’ll take most of your liberal studies and social studies survey classes during your first two years of college.

In your junior and senior years, you'll take your history and educational methodology courses and begin the four-semester professional experience sequence. Your professional experience education is in two parts:

  • Two semesters of pre-student teaching, including public school observations.
  • One semester of full-time student teaching.

You need a 3.0 GPA to enter the Social Studies Education BSEd program and are expected to maintain a 3.0 GPA in all of your coursework.

Teacher Certification Requirements

All students seeking teacher certification must meet the requirements of the Three-Step Process for Teacher Education.

Full Academic Catalog Listing

The course catalog is the official reference for all our degree and course offerings. Check it out for a full listing of the classes available and requirements for this degree.

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Research Opportunities for Students

In the social studies education program, you’ll benefit from conducting research with your professors. You’ll practice collaborating with others and learn how to think critically about:

  • Historical questions.
  • Primary source material.
  • What it means to make history relevant to junior high and high school students today.

You’ll also have the opportunity to serve as a mentor and judge for National History Day. This fun event brings more than 200 high school students to IUP to present their historical projects.

The Mission of the Social Studies Education Program

We prepare IUP graduates to teach middle and secondary students how to make informed and reasoned decisions as citizens of a diverse and democratic society in an interdependent world.

To do that, we focus on graduating committed, knowledgeable, and competent teachers.

Committed teachers recognize individual differences, respect the dignity and worth of all human beings, and believe that all students can learn. They know the concepts generated by social and cognitive scientists that apply to teaching and learning.

Knowledgeable teachers create lessons and activities that support their students’ intellectual, social, and personal development. They understand the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline and create learning experiences that make the subject matter meaningful for students.

Competent teachers evaluate the effects of their choices and actions on others. They use technology to enhance learning and are always seeking to grow professionally.

Complementary Majors and Minors

Similar Majors

  • History, BA

Minors that are a good fit

  • Educational Psychology
  • English
  • Geography
  • Political Science
  • Sociology
  • Anthropology
  • Psychology
  • Economics
  • Special Education

Earn Your Subject Level Certification

Your Pennsylvania Teaching Certification can prepare you for the PRAXIS II subject level tests. By passing PRAXIS II, you'll be certified in technical instruction in Pennsylvania.

Student Club for Social Studies Education Majors

Social studies education students have their own club: the Future Social Studies Educators Association. When you become a member, you can connect with other students and develop your skills in leadership and teaching.

Club members:

  • Conduct workshops on how to improve your skill sets.
  • Hear guest speakers talk about teaching social studies.
  • Host roundtables on current issues in social studies education.

If you’re interested in joining, contact the club’s advisor.

Have a Bachelor’s Degree? Earn Your Teaching Credentials

If you already have a bachelor’s degree and want to become a social studies teacher, IUP offers you the opportunity to get your secondary education teaching credential. Our faculty will work with you to complete the program in the fastest time possible.

If you’re interested in teaching grades 7–12 social studies, contact the History Department.

Want to Transfer to IUP for the Social Studies Education Program?

As a transfer student, it’s easy for you to finish your degree in social studies education at IUP. It's important to get in touch with the History Department early, preferably at the start of your sophomore year. We’ll help you make the transfer as smooth as possible.

Make New Friends in Your Cohort

College can be intimidating at times. Knowing you’ll have a group of students going through the social studies education program with you will help.

You'll start your program with other freshman students—your cohort—in Introduction to Secondary Social Studies. You'll find that having a cohort helps you get to know other social studies education majors, who will become your friends and support group while at IUP.

Seeking Help from Social Studies Professors

Your professors want you to do well. But in order to get their help, you’ll need to ask.

Asking for help can be tough, but finding out how to get support is a big part of what you learn at college. Here are some tips on how to get your professors' help:

  • You’ll be assigned a professor who will be your advisor. Your advisor will explain the advising process. Use your advisor as a valuable resource.
  • Go to your advisor's office hours. Every professor has time set aside each week to meet with you. You can also set up an appointment.
  • Email your professors with any questions or stay after class to speak with them.
  • Don’t be afraid! It can be scary to ask for help from someone you don’t know well, but remember that professors are here to help you.

Take the Basic Skills Test

All education students seeking teacher certification in Pennsylvania are required to complete the “3-Step Process for Teacher Education.” This is described in the College of Education and Communications section of the undergraduate catalog.

Step 1 is successful completion of the following:

  • Pre-professional Academic Performance Assessment (PAPA)
  • Praxis Core
  • SAT and/or ACT exams with the minimum passing scores established by the Pennsylvania Department of Education
  • An approved course substitute

Some students may need to take the Basic Skills Test to meet this requirement. Talk with your advisor about your options.