Social Studies Teacher Education: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Q: 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).

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

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)

1,963

Total Graduates (2023-2024)

218

Universities & Colleges

Career Pathways

Career & Salary Outlook Schools Offering This Program Related Programs

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

Salary Comparison

Data Source: Salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2024 estimates, based on 2 related occupations. Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics.

*Salary Range Explanation: The salary range represents the 10th to 90th percentile, meaning 80% of workers in this occupation earn within this range. This excludes the lowest 10% and highest 10% of earners to provide a more realistic picture of typical compensation.

Important Disclaimer: Salary data represents national averages and varies by location, experience, employer, and market conditions. These statistics are estimates for general guidance and do not guarantee specific employment outcomes for graduates.

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	Admissions	Location	Control	Website
CUNY Queens College	Bachelor's Postbac Cert. Master's	55	SAT: 1100-1320	Queens, New York	Public	qc.cuny.edu
State University of New York	Bachelor's Master's	43	SAT: 1170-1340 ACT: 24-29	New Paltz, New York	Public	newpaltz.edu
University of Georgia (UGA)	Bachelor's Master's	41	SAT: 1160-1390 ACT: 25-32	Athens, Georgia	Public	uga.edu
State University of New York	Bachelor's	41	N/A	Cortland, New York	Public	www2.cortland.edu
State University of New York	Bachelor's Master's	39	SAT: 1060-1270 ACT: 23-27	Oswego, New York	Public	oswego.edu
University of Iowa	Bachelor's Master's	37	SAT: 1130-1320 ACT: 22-28	Iowa City, Iowa	Public	uiowa.edu
Eastern Michigan University (EMU)	Bachelor's	37	SAT: 910-1170 ACT: 18-26	Ypsilanti, Michigan	Public	emich.edu
Rowan University	Bachelor's Other Award	37	SAT: 1100-1310 ACT: 26-30	Glassboro, New Jersey	Public	rowan.edu
St. Joseph's University (SJNY)	Bachelor's	37	SAT: 1090-1280	Brooklyn, New York	Private	sjny.edu
Stony Brook University (SBU)	Bachelor's Master's	36	SAT: 1320-1490 ACT: 28-33	Stony Brook, New York	Public	stonybrook.edu
Niagara University	Bachelor's Master's	35	SAT: 1030-1240 ACT: 23-27	Niagara University, New York	Private	niagara.edu
Ball State University (BSU)	Bachelor's	32	SAT: 1080-1250 ACT: 25-30	Muncie, Indiana	Public	bsu.edu
SUNY College	Bachelor's Master's	32	SAT: 1200-1380 ACT: 26-31	Geneseo, New York	Public	geneseo.edu
SUNY Old Westbury	Bachelor's Master's	32	N/A	Old Westbury, New York	Public	oldwestbury.edu
Teachers College at Columbia University (TC)	Master's Doctorate (R)	31	N/A	New York, New York	Private	tc.columbia.edu
CUNY Hunter College	Bachelor's Master's Post-Master's	30	SAT: 1210-1470	New York, New York	Public	hunter.cuny.edu
SUNY Oneonta	Bachelor's	30	SAT: 1090-1250 ACT: 23-28	Oneonta, New York	Public	suny.oneonta.edu
Western Michigan University (WMU)	Bachelor's	28	SAT: 990-1220 ACT: 20-27	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Public	wmich.edu
Kent State University	Bachelor's	28	SAT: 1000-1230 ACT: 18-25	Kent, Ohio	Public	kent.edu
CUNY Brooklyn College	Bachelor's Master's	27	SAT: 1140-1420	Brooklyn, New York	Public	brooklyn.cuny.edu
University at Buffalo (UB)	Master's	27	SAT: 1210-1380 ACT: 27-32	Buffalo, New York	Public	buffalo.edu
Purdue University (PU)	Bachelor's	25	SAT: 1190-1460 ACT: 27-34	West Lafayette, Indiana	Public	purdue.edu
Miami University	Bachelor's	23	SAT: 1210-1380 ACT: 26-31	Oxford, Ohio	Public	miamioh.edu
Rutgers University	Master's	21	SAT: 1270-1480 ACT: 28-33	New Brunswick, New Jersey	Public	newbrunswick.rutgers.edu
University of Wisconsin (UWEC)	Bachelor's	21	ACT: 21-27	Eau Claire, Wisconsin	Public	uwec.edu
Emporia State University (ESU)	Bachelor's Postbac Cert.	19	ACT: 18-24	Emporia, Kansas	Public	emporia.edu
East Carolina University (ECU)	Bachelor's	19	SAT: 1050-1200 ACT: 20-26	Greenville, North Carolina	Public	ecu.edu
Minnesota State University	Bachelor's	18	ACT: 22-25	Mankato, Minnesota	Public	mnsu.edu
University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)	Bachelor's	18	SAT: 1020-1210 ACT: 21-29	University, Mississippi	Public	olemiss.edu
University of Akron	Bachelor's Master's	18	SAT: 950-1190 ACT: 18-25	Akron, Ohio	Public	uakron.edu
Temple University	Bachelor's	18	N/A	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Public	temple.edu
Georgia State University	Master's	17	SAT: 1040-1280 ACT: 19-26	Atlanta, Georgia	Public	gsu.edu
Indiana State University (ISU)	Bachelor's	17	N/A	Terre Haute, Indiana	Public	indstate.edu
Ferris State University (FSU)	Bachelor's	17	SAT: 890-1120 ACT: 18-26	Big Rapids, Michigan	Public	ferris.edu
SUNY Brockport	Bachelor's Master's	17	SAT: 1070-1240 ACT: 18-26	Brockport, New York	Public	brockport.edu
University of Oklahoma (OU)	Bachelor's	17	SAT: 1140-1330 ACT: 23-29	Norman, Oklahoma	Public	ou.edu
Eastern Washington University (EWU)	Bachelor's	17	N/A	Cheney, Washington	Public	ewu.edu
University of Washington (UW)	Master's	17	N/A	Seattle, Washington	Public	washington.edu
University of Wisconsin (UWL)	Bachelor's	17	ACT: 21-27	La Crosse, Wisconsin	Public	uwlax.edu
Indiana University (IU Indianapolis)	Bachelor's	16	SAT: 1040-1230 ACT: 21-28	Indianapolis, Indiana	Public	indianapolis.iu.edu
College of Staten Island CUNY (CSI)	Master's	16	N/A	Staten Island, New York	Public	csi.cuny.edu
Youngstown State University (YSU)	Bachelor's	16	SAT: 940-1210 ACT: 17-24	Youngstown, Ohio	Public	ysu.edu
Utah State University (USU)	Bachelor's	16	SAT: 1060-1300 ACT: 20-28	Logan, Utah	Public	usu.edu
University of Kentucky (UK)	Bachelor's	15	SAT: 1080-1290 ACT: 21-28	Lexington, Kentucky	Public	uky.edu
Central Michigan University (CMU)	Bachelor's	15	SAT: 960-1210 ACT: 21-27	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Public	cmich.edu
University of Minnesota (UMD)	Bachelor's	15	SAT: 1128-1335 ACT: 23-28	Duluth, Minnesota	Public	d.umn.edu
Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO)	Bachelor's	15	SAT: 850-1030 ACT: 16-21	Cape Girardeau, Missouri	Public	semo.edu
North Dakota State University (NDSU)	Bachelor's	15	ACT: 19-24	Fargo, North Dakota	Public	ndsu.edu
Liberty University	Bachelor's	15	N/A	Lynchburg, Virginia	Private	liberty.edu
University of Vermont (UVM)	Bachelor's	14	SAT: 1250-1420 ACT: 29-32	Burlington, Vermont	Public	uvm.edu
University of Wyoming (UW)	Bachelor's	14	N/A	Laramie, Wyoming	Public	uwyo.edu
Boston University (BU)	Bachelor's Master's Post-Master's	13	SAT: 1400-1520 ACT: 32-34	Boston, Massachusetts	Private	bu.edu
Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM)	Bachelor's	13	ACT: 19-24	Moorhead, Minnesota	Public	mnstate.edu
University of Pennsylvania (Penn)	Master's	13	SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 34-35	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Private	upenn.edu
Northern Michigan University (NMU)	Bachelor's	12	N/A	Marquette, Michigan	Public	nmu.edu
Saint Cloud State University (SCSU)	Bachelor's Master's	12	SAT: 970-1280 ACT: 18-25	Saint Cloud, Minnesota	Public	stcloudstate.edu
CUNY Lehman College	Master's Post-Master's	12	SAT: 860-1220	Bronx, New York	Public	lehman.edu
Manhattanville College	Master's	12	N/A	Purchase, New York	Private	mville.edu
SUNY Buffalo State University	Bachelor's	12	SAT: 960-1190	Buffalo, New York	Public	suny.buffalostate.edu
St. John's University (SJU)	Bachelor's	11	SAT: 1110-1320 ACT: 24-29	Queens, New York	Private	stjohns.edu
Binghamton University	Master's	11	SAT: 1320-1490 ACT: 29-34	Vestal, New York	Public	binghamton.edu
Lewis & Clark College	Master's	11	SAT: 1210-1390 ACT: 28-31	Portland, Oregon	Private	lclark.edu
University at Albany (UAlbany)	Master's	10	N/A	Albany, New York	Public	albany.edu
Northeastern State University (NSU)	Bachelor's	10	SAT: 920-1145 ACT: 18-23	Tahlequah, Oklahoma	Public	nsuok.edu
Calvin University	Bachelor's	9	SAT: 1070-1340 ACT: 22-30	Grand Rapids, Michigan	Private	calvin.edu
Hope College	Bachelor's	9	SAT: 1090-1310 ACT: 26-31	Holland, Michigan	Private	hope.edu
Bethel University	Bachelor's	9	SAT: 1065-1240 ACT: 23-29	Saint Paul, Minnesota	Private	bethel.edu
Hofstra University	Bachelor's Master's	9	SAT: 1210-1380 ACT: 27-31	Hempstead, New York	Private	hofstra.edu
SUNY	Bachelor's	9	SAT: 1060-1290 ACT: 21-28	Fredonia, New York	Public	fredonia.edu
University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG)	Bachelor's	9	SAT: 1100-1280 ACT: 22-27	Greensboro, North Carolina	Public	uncg.edu
Oregon State University (OSU)	Postbac Cert.	9	N/A	Corvallis, Oregon	Public	oregonstate.edu
Duquesne University	Bachelor's	9	SAT: 1160-1350 ACT: 26-31	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	Private	duq.edu
University of Pittsburgh	Master's	9	SAT: 1270-1450 ACT: 29-33	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	Public	pitt.edu
Southeastern Louisiana University (SLU)	Bachelor's	8	ACT: 19-24	Hammond, Louisiana	Public	southeastern.edu
Martin Luther College (MLC)	Bachelor's	8	SAT: 1078-1256 ACT: 22-27	New Ulm, Minnesota	Private	mlc-wels.edu
Siena College	Bachelor's	8	SAT: 1093-1360 ACT: 26-29	Loudonville, New York	Private	siena.edu
Cedarville University	Bachelor's	8	SAT: 1110-1360 ACT: 23-29	Cedarville, Ohio	Private	cedarville.edu
Pennsylvania State University	Bachelor's	8	SAT: 1110-1320 ACT: 26-30	Middletown, Pennsylvania	Public	harrisburg.psu.edu
Anderson University (AU)	Bachelor's	8	SAT: 1090-1290 ACT: 22-28	Anderson, South Carolina	Private	andersonuniversity.edu
Arkansas Tech University (ATU)	Bachelor's	7	SAT: 940-1150 ACT: 17-24	Russellville, Arkansas	Public	atu.edu
University of Central Arkansas (UCA)	Bachelor's	7	SAT: 940-1120 ACT: 19-25	Conway, Arkansas	Public	uca.edu
Bradley University	Bachelor's	7	SAT: 1090-1300 ACT: 25-31	Peoria, Illinois	Private	bradley.edu
Indiana University (IUSE)	Bachelor's	7	SAT: 1010-1190 ACT: 20-26	New Albany, Indiana	Public	ius.edu
Campbellsville University (CU)	Bachelor's Master's	7	N/A	Campbellsville, Kentucky	Private	campbellsville.edu
Adrian College	Bachelor's	7	SAT: 880-1120 ACT: 18-26	Adrian, Michigan	Private	adrian.edu
CUNY City College (CCNY)	Master's Post-Master's	7	SAT: 1220-1460	New York, New York	Public	ccny.cuny.edu
Mercy University	Master's	7	N/A	Dobbs Ferry, New York	Private	mercy.edu
SUNY College	Bachelor's Master's	7	N/A	Potsdam, New York	Public	potsdam.edu
Harding University	Bachelor's	6	SAT: 1050-1280 ACT: 21-28	Searcy, Arkansas	Private	harding.edu
Augustana College	Bachelor's	6	SAT: 1010-1250 ACT: 21-28	Rock Island, Illinois	Private	augustana.edu
Indiana University (IUSB)	Bachelor's	6	SAT: 970-1170 ACT: 21-25	South Bend, Indiana	Public	iusb.edu
St Olaf College	Bachelor's	6	SAT: 1260-1470 ACT: 28-32	Northfield, Minnesota	Private	wp.stolaf.edu
Itawamba Community College (ICC)	Associate's	6	N/A	Fulton, Mississippi	Public	iccms.edu
University of North Dakota (UND)	Bachelor's	6	N/A	Grand Forks, North Dakota	Public	und.edu
Messiah University	Bachelor's	6	SAT: 1100-1340 ACT: 22-30	Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania	Private	messiah.edu
Brown University	Master's	6	SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 34-35	Providence, Rhode Island	Private	brown.edu
University of Florida (UF)	Master's	5	SAT: 1300-1480 ACT: 28-33	Gainesville, Florida	Public	ufl.edu
Grace College and Theological Seminary	Bachelor's	5	SAT: 950-1200 ACT: 20-27	Winona Lake, Indiana	Private	grace.edu
Taylor University	Bachelor's	5	SAT: 1070-1340 ACT: 23-30	Upland, Indiana	Private	taylor.edu
Northwestern College (NWC)	Bachelor's	5	N/A	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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