by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Social Science Teacher Education explores Social Science Teacher Education. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach Specific Social Science Subjects And Programs At Various Educational Levels. Continue reading for the key facts every social science teacher education student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering social science teacher education programs.
In the U.S., social science teacher education is a widely-pursued major, with 550 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Social Science Teacher Education Schools ranking analyzes these 76 schools to determine the best overall colleges for social science teacher education students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of social science teacher education programs later in this article.
Coursework for Social Science Teacher Education emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations social science teacher education graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a social science teacher education program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a social science teacher education major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several social science teacher education degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 430 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 118 |
People currently working in careers related to social science teacher education tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 47.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 34.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 7.2% |
| Master’s degree | 6.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in social science teacher education careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in social science teacher education prepares you for many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to social science teacher education.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to social science teacher education.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 692,039 | -1.4% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of social science teacher education graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $49,919 |
| 4 years | $50,204 |
| 5 years | $56,331 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for social science teacher education graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers social science teacher education grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $83,105 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
With 76 different social science teacher education programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased social science teacher education school rankings to help you.
Those considering social science teacher education, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | 6,964 |
| Reading Teacher Education | 5,986 |
| Music Teacher Education | 4,544 |
| English/Language Arts Teacher Education | 3,018 |
| Mathematics Teacher Education | 2,993 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other | 2,352 |
| Social Studies Teacher Education | 1,963 |
| Art Teacher Education | 1,860 |
| Health Teacher Education | 1,472 |
| Agricultural Teacher Education | 1,051 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
