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). 

At Purdue University, the social studies education program includes coursework across all social science content areas with a specific focus on the content areas of history, civics and government, and economics. You also have the option for a content concentration in Psychology or Sociology. Your preparation includes a combination of coursework and clinical experiences in secondary school classrooms, culminating in student teaching during your final year.

Clinical practice occurs in a variety of settings:

• Rural, urban, and suburban schools in the local community and around Indiana
• Local community organizations serving youth
• Established school partners around the US and internationally

Students who successfully complete all requirements of a teacher preparation program that is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the Indiana Department of Education are eligible for licensure in the state of Indiana. Purdue has interstate licensing agreements with the other 49 U.S. states, which means graduates will be able to teach in Indiana and any other state in the country

Once licensed, a social studies education graduate is qualified to teach social studies related subjects (e.g. economics, history, government) to secondary students in a public, private, or independent school.