Social Studies Teacher Education: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed for aspiring educators, this program equips students with the knowledge, pedagogical skills, and certification readiness needed to teach social studies across K–12 grade levels. It emphasizes the integration of historical, political, economic, and cultural perspectives to foster critical thinking and informed citizenship in diverse learning environments.
- World History: Explores major civilizations, global events, and long-term societal developments across continents and time periods, emphasizing interconnectedness and historical causation.
- United States History: Examines the evolution of American society, government, and culture from colonial times to the present, with attention to key turning points and diverse narratives.
- Political Science: Investigates governmental systems, political ideologies, civic institutions, and the processes of policy-making and governance at local, national, and international levels.
- Economics: Focuses on the principles of supply and demand, resource allocation, economic systems, and the impact of fiscal and monetary policies on individuals and societies.
- Geography: Develops spatial reasoning and understanding of physical and human landscapes, including environmental interactions, population patterns, and regional development.
- Civics and Government: Prepares future educators to teach the structure and function of democratic institutions, the rights and responsibilities of citizens, and the foundations of constitutional governance.
- Curriculum and Instruction Methods: Emphasizes evidence-based teaching strategies, lesson planning, assessment design, and differentiated instruction tailored to diverse learners and standards-based frameworks.
Social Studies Teacher Education Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Social Studies Teacher Education Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Social Studies Teacher Education degrees, including Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education and Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 1,692,910 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 25-2031 | $64,580 | $47,330 - $104,670 | 1,072,540 | N/A |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 25-2022 | $62,970 | $47,050 - $100,980 | 620,370 | N/A |
Social Studies Teacher Education Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $48,690 in Oklahoma to $99,395 in Washington—a 104% difference. The highest-paying states include Washington, California, and New York. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 1,692,910 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Social Studies Teacher Education by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Social Studies Teacher Education programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Social Studies Teacher Education is found at CUNY Queens College (55 graduates), State University of New York, New Paltz (43 graduates), University of Georgia (UGA) (41 graduates), State University of New York, Cortland (41 graduates), and State University of New York, Oswego (39 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,665 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CUNY Queens College |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
55 | Queens, New York | Public | qc.cuny.edu |
| State University of New York |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
43 | New Paltz, New York | Public | newpaltz.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
41 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| State University of New York |
Bachelor's
|
41 | Cortland, New York | Public | www2.cortland.edu |
| State University of New York |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
39 | Oswego, New York | Public | oswego.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
37 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| Eastern Michigan University (EMU) |
Bachelor's
|
37 | Ypsilanti, Michigan | Public | emich.edu |
| Rowan University |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
37 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| St. Joseph's University (SJNY) |
Bachelor's
|
37 | Brooklyn, New York | Private | sjny.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
36 | Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| Niagara University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
35 | Niagara University, New York | Private | niagara.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| SUNY College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
32 | Geneseo, New York | Public | geneseo.edu |
| SUNY Old Westbury |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
32 | Old Westbury, New York | Public | oldwestbury.edu |
| Teachers College at Columbia University (TC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
31 | New York, New York | Private | tc.columbia.edu |
| CUNY Hunter College |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
|
30 | New York, New York | Public | hunter.cuny.edu |
| SUNY Oneonta |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Oneonta, New York | Public | suny.oneonta.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| Kent State University |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| CUNY Brooklyn College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
27 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | brooklyn.cuny.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Master's
|
27 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| Miami University |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Oxford, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Master's
|
21 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWEC) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | uwec.edu |
| Emporia State University (ESU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
19 | Emporia, Kansas | Public | emporia.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| Minnesota State University |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Mankato, Minnesota | Public | mnsu.edu |
| University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) |
Bachelor's
|
18 | University, Mississippi | Public | olemiss.edu |
| University of Akron |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
18 | Akron, Ohio | Public | uakron.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Master's
|
17 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| Indiana State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Terre Haute, Indiana | Public | indstate.edu |
| Ferris State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Big Rapids, Michigan | Public | ferris.edu |
| SUNY Brockport |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
17 | Brockport, New York | Public | brockport.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OU) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Norman, Oklahoma | Public | ou.edu |
| Eastern Washington University (EWU) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Cheney, Washington | Public | ewu.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Master's
|
17 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWL) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | La Crosse, Wisconsin | Public | uwlax.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| College of Staten Island CUNY (CSI) |
Master's
|
16 | Staten Island, New York | Public | csi.cuny.edu |
| Youngstown State University (YSU) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Youngstown, Ohio | Public | ysu.edu |
| Utah State University (USU) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Logan, Utah | Public | usu.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Central Michigan University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Mount Pleasant, Michigan | Public | cmich.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMD) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Duluth, Minnesota | Public | d.umn.edu |
| Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Cape Girardeau, Missouri | Public | semo.edu |
| North Dakota State University (NDSU) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Fargo, North Dakota | Public | ndsu.edu |
| Liberty University |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| University of Vermont (UVM) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Burlington, Vermont | Public | uvm.edu |
| University of Wyoming (UW) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Laramie, Wyoming | Public | uwyo.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
|
13 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Moorhead, Minnesota | Public | mnstate.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Master's
|
13 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| Northern Michigan University (NMU) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Marquette, Michigan | Public | nmu.edu |
| Saint Cloud State University (SCSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
12 | Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Public | stcloudstate.edu |
| CUNY Lehman College |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
12 | Bronx, New York | Public | lehman.edu |
| Manhattanville College |
Master's
|
12 | Purchase, New York | Private | mville.edu |
| SUNY Buffalo State University |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Buffalo, New York | Public | suny.buffalostate.edu |
| St. John's University (SJU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Queens, New York | Private | stjohns.edu |
| Binghamton University |
Master's
|
11 | Vestal, New York | Public | binghamton.edu |
| Lewis & Clark College |
Master's
|
11 | Portland, Oregon | Private | lclark.edu |
| University at Albany (UAlbany) |
Master's
|
10 | Albany, New York | Public | albany.edu |
| Northeastern State University (NSU) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Tahlequah, Oklahoma | Public | nsuok.edu |
| Calvin University |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Private | calvin.edu |
| Hope College |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Holland, Michigan | Private | hope.edu |
| Bethel University |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | bethel.edu |
| Hofstra University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
9 | Hempstead, New York | Private | hofstra.edu |
| SUNY |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Fredonia, New York | Public | fredonia.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Public | uncg.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
9 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| Duquesne University |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | duq.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Master's
|
9 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| Southeastern Louisiana University (SLU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Hammond, Louisiana | Public | southeastern.edu |
| Martin Luther College (MLC) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | New Ulm, Minnesota | Private | mlc-wels.edu |
| Siena College |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Loudonville, New York | Private | siena.edu |
| Cedarville University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Cedarville, Ohio | Private | cedarville.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Middletown, Pennsylvania | Public | harrisburg.psu.edu |
| Anderson University (AU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Anderson, South Carolina | Private | andersonuniversity.edu |
| Arkansas Tech University (ATU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Russellville, Arkansas | Public | atu.edu |
| University of Central Arkansas (UCA) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Conway, Arkansas | Public | uca.edu |
| Bradley University |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Peoria, Illinois | Private | bradley.edu |
| Indiana University (IUSE) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | New Albany, Indiana | Public | ius.edu |
| Campbellsville University (CU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
7 | Campbellsville, Kentucky | Private | campbellsville.edu |
| Adrian College |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Adrian, Michigan | Private | adrian.edu |
| CUNY City College (CCNY) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
7 | New York, New York | Public | ccny.cuny.edu |
| Mercy University |
Master's
|
7 | Dobbs Ferry, New York | Private | mercy.edu |
| SUNY College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
7 | Potsdam, New York | Public | potsdam.edu |
| Harding University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Searcy, Arkansas | Private | harding.edu |
| Augustana College |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Rock Island, Illinois | Private | augustana.edu |
| Indiana University (IUSB) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | South Bend, Indiana | Public | iusb.edu |
| St Olaf College |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Northfield, Minnesota | Private | wp.stolaf.edu |
| Itawamba Community College (ICC) |
Associate's
|
6 | Fulton, Mississippi | Public | iccms.edu |
| University of North Dakota (UND) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Grand Forks, North Dakota | Public | und.edu |
| Messiah University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania | Private | messiah.edu |
| Brown University |
Master's
|
6 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | brown.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Master's
|
5 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| Grace College and Theological Seminary |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Winona Lake, Indiana | Private | grace.edu |
| Taylor University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Upland, Indiana | Private | taylor.edu |
| Northwestern College (NWC) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Orange City, Iowa | Private | nwciowa.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Social Studies Teacher Education programs
How much can I earn with a Social Studies Teacher Education degree?
Salaries for Social Studies Teacher Education graduates vary by role and location. Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earn a median of $64,580 annually, while Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earn around $62,970. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Washington average $99,395 compared to $48,690 in Oklahoma. Approximately 1,692,910 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Social Studies Teacher Education programs?
Currently 218 accredited institutions offer Social Studies Teacher Education degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include CUNY Queens College (55 graduates), State University of New York, New Paltz (43 graduates), and University of Georgia (UGA) (41 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Social Studies Teacher Education growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 3,015 in 2010 to 1,963 in 2023-24. This represents a 35% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Social Studies Teacher Education degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, . Related occupations employ approximately 1,692,910 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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