Social Studies Education

Purdue University in West Lafayette

Earn a degree in social studies education and put your interest in history, geography, politics, civics and government to work. A social studies education degree will enable you to teach social studies at the secondary level (grades 5-12). Social studies education is an interdisciplinary integration of several social sciences including economics, government and citizenship, historical perspectives, psychology and sociology.

The social studies education program will prepare you to become a teacher through a combination of coursework and supervised experiences, called “clinical practice,” in middle and high school classrooms.

Clinical practice can occur through a variety of ways:

• On or around Purdue’s campus
• Partnerships with the Indianapolis Public School Urban Experience
• Travel outside of Indiana to Texas, Arizona, New Mexico or even internationally

Students who successfully complete all requirements of a teacher preparation program that is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation and the Indiana Department of Education are eligible for licensure in the state of Indiana.

Once licensed, a social studies education graduate is qualified to teach social studies related subjects (e.g. economics, history, government and citizenship) to secondary students in a public, private or independent school. Purdue has interstate licensing agreements with the other 49 U.S. states, meaning graduates will be able to teach in Indiana and any other state in the country.