by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Social Studies Education involves the study of Social Studies Teacher Education. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach General Social Studies Programs At Various Educational Levels. Read on to learn the important information every social studies education major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering social studies education programs.
Across the country, social studies education is a widely-pursued major, with 1,963 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Social Studies Education Schools ranking analyzes these 218 schools to determine the best overall colleges for social studies education students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of social studies education programs later in this article.
Coursework for Social Studies Education build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations social studies education graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a social studies education program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a social studies education major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several social studies 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 | 8 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,423 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 529 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 3 |
People currently working in careers related to social studies education tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 71.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 15.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 5.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.5% |
| Master’s degree | 2.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.8% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in social studies education careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in social studies education can lead to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to social studies education.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to social studies education.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of social studies 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 studies education graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers social studies education grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $83,105 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
With 218 different social studies education programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased social studies education school rankings to help you.
Students interested in social studies 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 |
| Art Teacher Education | 1,860 |
| Health Teacher Education | 1,472 |
| Agricultural Teacher Education | 1,051 |
| Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education | 1,022 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
