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CIP 13.1318 Education

Social Studies Teacher Education

IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education · 2025

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Total graduates

1,974

2025 · 215 schools

International share

1.2%

24 international students

Bachelor's degrees

1,481

0.3% international

Master's degrees

479

3.8% international

Overview

Social Studies Teacher Education is a specialized program designed to prepare future educators to teach social studies at various educational levels, primarily in middle and high schools. This field combines elements of history, geography, political science, economics, and sociology, equipping teacher candidates with a comprehensive understanding of the social sciences.

The curriculum typically includes foundational courses in each of these disciplines, along with pedagogical training, which covers teaching strategies, classroom management, and curriculum development. Students often engage in practical experiences, such as student-teaching internships, which allow them to apply their knowledge in real classroom settings under the supervision of experienced educators.

Moreover, social studies teachers play a crucial role in helping students understand their place in a diverse society and develop critical thinking skills necessary for informed citizenship. They explore current events, historical contexts, and cultural perspectives, fostering an environment where students can discuss and debate various social issues.

In addition to content knowledge and teaching skills, programs often emphasize the importance of inclusivity and equity in education, preparing teachers to address the needs of a diverse student population. Graduates of Social Studies Teacher Education programs are typically sought after for their ability to inspire students and encourage civic engagement, making them vital contributors to the educational landscape. Overall, this program is essential for cultivating knowledgeable, thoughtful, and engaged citizens in today’s complex world.

Graduates by year

Graduates by degree level (first and second majors)

AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral

From 2002 to 2025, graduates fell 19% and the international share went from 1.2% to 1.2%.

International share (%)
Graduates by group, 2025
White
78.0%
Asian
2.1%
Hispanic
9.5%
Black
3.7%
Other
5.5%
Intl.
1.2%

Colleges that award this degree

In 2025, 215 schools awarded this degree as a first major. The table lists those in the 2027 U.S. News National or Liberal Arts rankings, plus the unranked schools with the most graduates.

RankSchoolStateGraduatesInternational
#7 University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania 10 0
#16 Brown University Rhode Island 8 1
#31 New York University New York 5 0
#34 University of Florida Florida 4 0
#34 Boston University Massachusetts 8 1
#44 Rutgers University-New Brunswick New Jersey 11 0
#44 Ohio State University-Main Campus Ohio 5 0
#49 University of Rochester New York 4 0
#49 University of Washington-Seattle Campus Washington 13 0
#52 University of Georgia Georgia 53 0
#55 Purdue University-Main Campus Indiana 22 0
#59 Stony Brook University New York 29 0
#59 University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pennsylvania 11 0
#72 Syracuse University New York 2 0
#73 Binghamton University New York 12 0
#85 Fordham University New York 2 0
#85 University at Buffalo New York 38 0
#90 Baylor University Texas 6 0
#90 Texas Christian University Texas 4 0
#100 University of Iowa Iowa 2 0
#109 Temple University Pennsylvania 22 0
#116 University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Oklahoma 13 0
#121 SUNY at Albany New York 9 0
#133 Miami University-Oxford Ohio 27 0
#133 University of Vermont Vermont 11 0
#137 St John's University (NY) New York 14 0
#148 University of Kentucky Kentucky 21 0
#156 CUNY--City College New York 12 0
#156 Duquesne University Pennsylvania 7 0
#169 Bradley University Illinois 7 0
#179 University of Mississippi Mississippi 6 0
#179 CUNY Hunter College New York 26 1
#191 Georgia State University Georgia 19 0
#191 Rowan University New Jersey 3 0
#191 Adelphi University New York 2 0
#191 Hofstra University New York 13 0
#202 East Carolina University North Carolina 21 0
#208 University of North Carolina at Greensboro North Carolina 6 0
#219 Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis Indiana 22 0
#227 Ball State University Indiana 20 0
#227 University of Michigan-Dearborn Michigan 12 0
#227 University of North Dakota North Dakota 4 0
#236 Bethel University Minnesota 4 0
#236 North Dakota State University-Main Campus North Dakota 15 0
#236 Kent State University at Kent Ohio 34 0
#236 Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania 21 0
#250 Nova Southeastern University Florida 4 0
#250 Pace University-New York New York 7 0
#250 University of Wyoming Wyoming 15 0
#262 Central Michigan University Michigan 26 0
#276 Harding University Arkansas 7 0
#276 University of St. Francis Illinois 4 0
#276 Western Michigan University Michigan 18 0
#288 Arcadia University Pennsylvania 1 0
#288 Utah State University Utah 9 0
#299 Utica University New York 2 0
#299 Concordia University Wisconsin Wisconsin 9 0
#308 Oakland University Michigan 13 0
#308 Wilkes University Pennsylvania 7 0
#308 Abilene Christian University Texas 2 0
#317 Ferris State University Michigan 11 0
#317 Emory & Henry University Virginia 1 0
#332 Mercy University New York 13 0
#332 University of Findlay Ohio 3 0
#332 Point Park University Pennsylvania 1 0
#332 University of Lynchburg Virginia 2 0
#342 Mississippi College Mississippi 3 0
#342 University of Akron Ohio 15 0
#342 Cleveland State University Ohio 2 0
#353 University of Michigan--Flint Michigan 6 0
#353 Youngstown State University Ohio 11 0
#353 University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras Puerto Rico 1 0
#365 University of Central Arkansas Arkansas 7 0
#365 Indiana State University Indiana 4 0
#365 Liberty University Virginia 28 0
#365 Eastern Washington University Washington 20 0
#376 Concordia University-Saint Paul Minnesota 3 0
#382 Northeastern State University Oklahoma 8 0
LAC #22 Colgate University New York 1 0
LAC #49 St. Olaf College Minnesota 11 2
LAC #62 Gustavus Adolphus College Minnesota 5 0
LAC #78 Hope College Michigan 7 0
LAC #91 Juniata College Pennsylvania 3 0
LAC #97 Lewis & Clark College Oregon 3 0
LAC #100 SUNY College at Geneseo New York 29 0
LAC #116 Roanoke College Virginia 3 0
LAC #119 Albion College Michigan 2 0
LAC #154 SUNY Old Westbury New York 32 0
LAC #160 Salem College North Carolina 1 0
LAC #172 Brigham Young University-Idaho Idaho 6 0
LAC #184 Indiana University-Southeast Indiana 12 0
— Eastern Michigan University Michigan 42 0
— State University of New York at New Paltz New York 40 0
— CUNY Queens College New York 38 0
— Teachers College at Columbia University New York 36 3
— CUNY Brooklyn College New York 33 0
— SUNY Buffalo State University New York 31 0
— State University of New York at Cortland New York 31 0
— SUNY Oneonta New York 28 0
— State University of New York at Oswego New York 27 0
— University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Wisconsin 26 0
— St. Joseph's University-New York New York 25 0
— Niagara University New York 22 11
— SUNY Brockport New York 21 0
— University of Minnesota-Duluth Minnesota 16 0
— University of Wisconsin--La Crosse Wisconsin 16 0
— Southeast Missouri State University Missouri 14 0
— Northern Michigan University Michigan 13 0
— Minnesota State University-Mankato Minnesota 12 0
— Siena University New York 12 0
— Anderson University South Carolina 12 0
— Western Carolina University North Carolina 11 0
— Minnesota State University Moorhead Minnesota 10 0
— Manhattanville University New York 10 0
— SUNY College at Potsdam New York 10 2
— Capital University Ohio 10 0
— Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg Pennsylvania 10 0
— Arkansas Tech University Arkansas 9 0
— Concordia University Ann Arbor Michigan 9 0
— Saint Cloud State University Minnesota 9 0
— Delta State University Mississippi 8 0

Purple: international students are 25% or more of the school's graduates.

Related jobs and pay

OccupationUS employmentMean hourly wageMean annual wage
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 1,065,210 — $76,320
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 620,090 — $72,030

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Graduate counts: IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education, 2002–2025. Rankings: 2027 U.S. News.