History Teacher Education: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed for aspiring educators, this program equips students with the pedagogical expertise and deep subject mastery required to teach history effectively across K–12 settings. It integrates rigorous academic training in historical inquiry with practical classroom instruction, fostering critical thinking and effective teaching strategies.
- World History: Exploration of major civilizations, global events, and interconnections across time and geography, emphasizing comparative analysis and cultural context.
- United States History: In-depth study of American political, social, economic, and cultural development from colonial times to the present, with attention to diverse perspectives and historical narratives.
- Historical Research Methods: Training in primary and secondary source evaluation, archival practices, and evidence-based argumentation essential for scholarly and classroom instruction.
- Curriculum Development: Design and implementation of standards-aligned lesson plans, unit frameworks, and assessment tools tailored to diverse learning needs and educational goals.
- Educational Psychology: Application of cognitive and developmental theories to understand student learning, motivation, and classroom dynamics.
- Instructional Technology: Integration of digital tools, multimedia resources, and online platforms to enhance historical learning and engagement in modern classrooms.
History Teacher Education Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
History Teacher Education Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with History Teacher Education degrees, including History Teachers, Postsecondary, Education Teachers, Postsecondary and Secondary 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 1,771,860 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| History Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1125 | $81,500 | $47,730 - $158,140 | 19,860 | N/A |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1081 | $72,090 | $38,650 - $126,450 | 59,090 | N/A |
| 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 |
History Teacher Education Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $55,588 in Florida to $100,528 in California—a 81% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New York, and Rhode Island. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 1,771,860 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 History Teacher Education by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering History 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 History Teacher Education is found at Grand Canyon University (GCU) (120 graduates), Kennesaw State University (KSU) (40 graduates), Appalachian State University (App State) (35 graduates), Utah Valley University (UVU) (32 graduates), and University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) (29 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 819 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon University (GCU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
120 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | gcu.edu |
| Kennesaw State University (KSU) |
Bachelor's
|
40 | Kennesaw, Georgia | Public | kennesaw.edu |
| Appalachian State University (App State) |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Boone, North Carolina | Public | appstate.edu |
| Utah Valley University (UVU) |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Orem, Utah | Public | uvu.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
29 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| Liberty University |
Master's
|
26 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| American College of Education (ACE) |
Master's
|
26 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | ace.edu |
| Central Washington University (CWU) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | Ellensburg, Washington | Public | cwu.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU–I) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Rexburg, Idaho | Private | byui.edu |
| Weber State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Ogden, Utah | Public | weber.edu |
| DePaul University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
14 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Edmond, Oklahoma | Public | uco.edu |
| Salem State University (SSU) |
Master's
|
12 | Salem, Massachusetts | Public | salemstate.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Buena Vista University (BVU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Storm Lake, Iowa | Private | bvu.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Wichita, Kansas | Public | wichita.edu |
| Merrimack College |
Master's
|
10 | North Andover, Massachusetts | Private | merrimack.edu |
| Bucks County Community College |
Associate's
|
10 | Newtown, Pennsylvania | Public | bucks.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNR) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Reno, Nevada | Public | unr.edu |
| Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Richmond, Kentucky | Public | eku.edu |
| Bridgewater State University (BSU) |
Master's
|
8 | Bridgewater, Massachusetts | Public | bridgew.edu |
| Central Michigan University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Mount Pleasant, Michigan | Public | cmich.edu |
| Marist College |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Poughkeepsie, New York | Private | marist.edu |
| Nevada State University (NSU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Henderson, Nevada | Public | nsc.edu |
| University of Arkansas (UAFS) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Fort Smith, Arkansas | Public | uafs.edu |
| Minot State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Minot, North Dakota | Public | minotstateu.edu |
| Valley City State University (VCSU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Valley City, North Dakota | Public | vcsu.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Augustana College |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Rock Island, Illinois | Private | augustana.edu |
| Southern Illinois University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Carbondale, Illinois | Public | siu.edu |
| Northwestern College (NWC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
6 | Orange City, Iowa | Private | nwciowa.edu |
| Boston College (BC) |
Master's
|
6 | Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts | Private | bc.edu |
| Calvin University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Private | calvin.edu |
| College of Staten Island CUNY (CSI) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Staten Island, New York | Public | csi.cuny.edu |
| Tiffin University (TU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Tiffin, Ohio | Private | tiffin.edu |
| Rhode Island College (RIC) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Providence, Rhode Island | Public | ric.edu |
| Piedmont University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
5 | Demorest, Georgia | Private | piedmont.edu |
| Morningside University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Sioux City, Iowa | Private | morningside.edu |
| Saint Ambrose University (SAU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Davenport, Iowa | Private | sau.edu |
| Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Delaware, Ohio | Private | owu.edu |
| Shorter University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Rome, Georgia | Private | shorter.edu |
| Pittsburg State University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Pittsburg, Kansas | Public | pittstate.edu |
| CUNY Lehman College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Bronx, New York | Public | lehman.edu |
| University of Jamestown (UJ) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Jamestown, North Dakota | Private | uj.edu |
| Dakota Wesleyan University (DWU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Mitchell, South Dakota | Private | dwu.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYUH) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Laie, Hawaii | Private | byuh.edu |
| Saint Norbert College (SNC) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | De Pere, Wisconsin | Private | snc.edu |
| Huntingdon College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Montgomery, Alabama | Private | huntingdon.edu |
| Colorado Christian University (CCU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Lakewood, Colorado | Private | ccu.edu |
| Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Nampa, Idaho | Private | nnu.edu |
| McPherson College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | McPherson, Kansas | Private | mcpherson.edu |
| Sterling College (SC) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Sterling, Kansas | Private | sterling.edu |
| Gordon College |
Master's
|
3 | Wenham, Massachusetts | Private | gordon.edu |
| Lesley University |
Master's
|
3 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | lesley.edu |
| The University of Montana (UMW) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Dillon, Montana | Public | umwestern.edu |
| Chadron State College (CSC) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Chadron, Nebraska | Public | csc.edu |
| Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Reno, Nevada | Public | tmcc.edu |
| Baldwin Wallace University (BW) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Berea, Ohio | Private | bw.edu |
| Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Weatherford, Oklahoma | Public | swosu.edu |
| Roger Williams University (RWU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Bristol, Rhode Island | Private | rwu.edu |
| Bryan College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Dayton, Tennessee | Private | bryan.edu |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University (TWU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Athens, Tennessee | Private | tnwesleyan.edu |
| University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Belton, Texas | Private | go.umhb.edu |
| McMurry University (McM) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Abilene, Texas | Private | mcm.edu |
| Southern Utah University (SUU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Cedar City, Utah | Public | suu.edu |
| Western Washington University (WWU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | wwu.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPR) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Public | uprrp.edu |
| Emmanuel University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Franklin Springs, Georgia | Private | ec.edu |
| Reinhardt University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Waleska, Georgia | Private | reinhardt.edu |
| Ottawa University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Ottawa, Kansas | Private | ottawa.edu |
| Ottawa University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Overland Park, Kansas | Private | ottawa.edu |
| Saint Joseph's College of Maine (SJC) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Standish, Maine | Private | sjcme.edu |
| Alma College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Alma, Michigan | Private | alma.edu |
| Hope College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Holland, Michigan | Private | hope.edu |
| Northern Michigan University (NMU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Marquette, Michigan | Public | nmu.edu |
| Montana State University Billings (MSU Billings) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Billings, Montana | Public | msubillings.edu |
| Dominican University New York |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Orangeburg, New York | Private | duny.edu |
| Campbell University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Buies Creek, North Carolina | Private | campbell.edu |
| Dickinson State University (DSU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Dickinson, North Dakota | Public | dickinsonstate.edu |
| University of Mary (UMary) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Bismarck, North Dakota | Private | umary.edu |
| Oklahoma City University (OCU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Private | okcu.edu |
| Arcadia University |
Master's
|
2 | Glenside, Pennsylvania | Private | arcadia.edu |
| Holy Family University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | holyfamily.edu |
| Cairn University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Langhorne, Pennsylvania | Private | cairn.edu |
| Widener University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Chester, Pennsylvania | Private | widener.edu |
| Providence College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | providence.edu |
| Lipscomb University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | lipscomb.edu |
| King University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Bristol, Tennessee | Private | king.edu |
| Lee University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Cleveland, Tennessee | Private | leeuniversity.edu |
| Maryville College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Maryville, Tennessee | Private | maryvillecollege.edu |
| Dallas Baptist University (DBU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
2 | Dallas, Texas | Private | dbu.edu |
| East Texas Baptist University (ETBU) |
Master's
|
2 | Marshall, Texas | Private | etbu.edu |
| Howard Payne University (HPU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Brownwood, Texas | Private | hputx.edu |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | San German, Puerto Rico | Private | sg.inter.edu |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM Gurabo) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Gurabo, Puerto Rico | Private | uagm.edu |
| Williams Baptist University (WBU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Walnut Ridge, Arkansas | Private | williamsbaptistuniversity.com |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about History Teacher Education programs
How much can I earn with a History Teacher Education degree?
Salaries for History Teacher Education graduates vary by role and location. History Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $81,500 annually, while Education Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $72,090. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $100,528 compared to $55,588 in Florida. Approximately 1,771,860 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 History Teacher Education programs?
Currently 132 accredited institutions offer History Teacher Education degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Grand Canyon University (GCU) (120 graduates), Kennesaw State University (KSU) (40 graduates), and Appalachian State University (App State) (35 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 History Teacher Education growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 1,036 in 2010 to 851 in 2023-24. This represents a 18% 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 History Teacher Education degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as History Teachers, Postsecondary, Education Teachers, Postsecondary, and Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education. Related occupations employ approximately 1,771,860 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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