Best Bachelor's in Social Science Teacher Education Programs in 2026

Florida State University's Social Science Education program in the School of Teacher Education awards a Bachelor of Science and is a Florida state-approved educator preparation program that leads to eligibility for a Florida professional certificate in Social Science, grades 6 to 12. Students complete between 33 and 36 semester hours of social science coursework and a fifteen-week, off-campus student teaching experience in Florida schools (SSE 4944, 12 credits). It is structured as a combined BS/MS pathway; the graduate portion must be completed to fully meet state-approved program requirements. As a bachelor's degree in social science teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Florida.

Offered through USF's College of Education, this 120-credit Bachelor of Science in Social Science Education prepares candidates to teach middle and high school social studies. Coursework spans history, economics, political science, and related disciplines paired with pedagogy. Students complete practicum placements and a full-time teaching internship, and the program leads to Florida teacher certification in Social Science for grades 6 through 12. The department notes courses are delivered in person, online, and in hybrid formats. As a bachelor's degree in social science teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Florida.

Auburn's B.S. in General Social Science Education prepares candidates to teach social studies in grades 6-12 and pairs the education degree with a major in history. Using a problem-based inquiry approach, candidates study economics, geography, history, and political science and complete guided clinical experiences and residencies in public school classrooms alongside skilled social studies teachers. The program is offered on campus only. Earning a bachelor's degree in social science teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Alabama's secondary school teachers.

Brigham Young University's Social Science Teaching (BS) draws on history, geography, political science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, and economics, combined with a professional education component. Students complete methods coursework and a student teaching placement or academic internship in secondary education. The program meets Utah's educational requirements for a secondary teaching license with a social studies composite endorsement. It is delivered on campus in Provo. As a bachelor's degree in social science teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Utah.

Built for students who want to teach the full range of social studies in grades 6 through 12, the University of Delaware's Social Studies Secondary Education program lets candidates ground their preparation in a content major they care about, whether that is history, political science, economics, or another social science paired with a social studies education concentration. Rather than front-loading theory, it moves candidates through four stages of professional development so classroom skills build gradually across the four years. Timing matters here: students apply by February of junior year and step into a full spring of student teaching as seniors, which makes the final year the clear capstone. All coursework is delivered on campus. The program is accredited by the National Council for the Social Studies and CAEP, and completion leads to certification to teach every social studies course in the 6 through 12 band. A bachelor's-level path in social science teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Delaware.

Marywood's B.A. in History Secondary Education is a 120-credit, on-campus undergraduate program in which students major in both their content specialty and education to prepare for Pennsylvania secondary certification in history and social studies, grades 7-12. Coursework develops curriculum and lesson planning, classroom management, and assessment through methods classes and a sequence of field experiences, including a junior-year practicum. The program culminates in a senior-year student teaching seminar and a nine-credit student teaching placement. This bachelor's-level social science teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Pennsylvania.

Brigham Young University-Hawaii offers a Social Science Education BA through the Teacher Education Program in the Faculty of Education & Social Work, preparing students for a career teaching grades seven to twelve. The 120-credit program pairs the major with two required academic minors, alongside general education and religious education credits. Field experiences are integrated throughout professional courses, followed by Pre-Student Teaching (SCED 491) and a 14-credit Student Teaching capstone (SCED 492). The curriculum meets Hawaii Teacher Standards Board performance standards. No grade below C-minus is accepted in education major courses, and a course may be retaken only once before removal from the major. Graduates of this social science teacher education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.

The University of Mary's History and Social Studies Education degree, offered as a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science, prepares teachers for grades 5 through 12 and takes a deliberately broad approach to the field. Through the Liffrig Family School of Education and Behavioral Sciences and the university's arts and sciences faculty, students combine history with subjects such as economics, political science, and geography, so they can teach across the social studies or concentrate in one area. Practicum placements let candidates observe experienced classroom teachers and practice lessons with real students before they lead classes of their own. All of the university's education programs meet CAEP standards and are accredited by the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board. Graduates become eligible for North Dakota licensure, with broad reciprocity in other states. This bachelor's-level social science teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in North Dakota.

Elmhurst University's Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, delivered on campus through the Department of Education, prepares candidates to teach social science to students in grades 5 through 12. The program leans on early, school-based field placements, giving future teachers real classroom time well before their culminating student teaching. Students can broaden their reach by adding optional ESL and bilingual endorsements, a useful edge in diverse Illinois schools. The department points to a strong track record, noting that its education graduates are in demand and that more than 1,700 Elmhurst alumni now teach across the state. Together these pieces make for a grounded, practice-heavy route into the social science classroom. Graduates of this social science teacher education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.

Southern Utah University's Social Science Teaching Composite, available as a B.A. or B.S., is made for future teachers who want breadth across the social sciences rather than a single subject. Offered through the Department of Teacher Education in the College of Education and Human Development, the composite major draws on multiple disciplines and counts as one of SUU's approved teaching majors for secondary licensure, leading to a Utah license for grades 7-12. Alongside that broad content, candidates complete at least 30 to 32 semester hours of professional education coursework. The clinical capstone pairs an 8-credit secondary student teaching practicum with a 2-credit academic-department component, so students practice both general pedagogy and subject-specific instruction. Together the pieces build toward a single secondary teaching credential. This bachelor's-level social science teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Utah.

Olivet Nazarene University's Bachelor of Science in Social Science Education is built for students who want to pass a love of history, culture, and politics on to the next generation. The subject-area coursework ranges widely across fields such as sociology, government, geography, and Western civilization, paired with the practical work of lesson planning and classroom management. That breadth suits a discipline where teachers often move between related subjects. Before stepping into a classroom of their own, candidates complete 100 to 130 hours of field experiences and then spend 60 supervised days teaching, so preparation is grounded in real practice rather than theory alone. The program leads to Illinois teacher licensure in the social sciences, readying graduates to lead students through the human story. Earning a bachelor's degree in social science teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Illinois's secondary school teachers.

Pacific Union College offers a bachelor's program in Social Science Teacher Education at its campus in Angwin, California. The program prepares candidates to teach social science at the secondary level, combining study of the subject area with preparation for the classroom. Instruction is delivered on campus. As a bachelor's degree in social science teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in California.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln offers a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education (grades 6-12) with integrated social studies content, housed in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education within the College of Education and Human Sciences. The program is delivered on campus and leads to teacher licensure. A bachelor's-level path in social science teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Nebraska.

Evangel University's Social Science Education program prepares candidates to teach grades 9-12 and draws its content from across the behavioral and social sciences rather than a single discipline. Students study in areas such as American history, state and local government, and psychology, building the broad foundation a social studies classroom actually demands. A distinctive emphasis runs through the coursework as well, with attention to integrating a Christian worldview into how the social sciences are taught. Candidates move from field experiences into student teaching, gaining real classroom time before they finish. Housed in the Department of Education and approved by Missouri's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the on-campus program leads to teacher certification for those planning to teach in the state. Graduates of this social science teacher education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.

The University of Nevada, Reno takes an unusually integrated approach to preparing social science teachers through its PackTeach pathway, which sends graduates out with two full degrees rather than one. Students earn a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, a pairing coordinated with the College of Education and Human Development so that subject depth and teaching craft develop together. The dual structure signals the program's belief that strong social studies teachers need genuine command of their content, not just method. Delivered on campus, the traditional format keeps students close to their instructors and cohort throughout. Graduates are prepared for secondary licensure covering grades 7 through 12. A bachelor's-level path in social science teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Nevada.

Dickinson State University's Bachelor of Science in Education in Composite Social Science Education takes a broad view of the social studies classroom, combining a core in history, psychology, and sociology with two further areas chosen from economics, geography, or political science. Shaped by the Department of Social Sciences and the School of Education, the 114 to 119 credit program can be completed in Bismarck or online through DSUlive, making it workable for students in different situations. Admission to Teacher Education and a semester of student teaching keep expectations clear and consistent. A middle school pedagogical endorsement is available for those who want to teach younger students as well. Nationally accredited by CAEP, the program leads to licensure for grades 6 through 12. Earning a bachelor's degree in social science teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of North Dakota's secondary school teachers.

Boise State University's Bachelor of Science in Political Science Education brings together two units, drawing its subject depth from the School of Public Service and its teaching preparation from the College of Education. That collaboration means candidates study government seriously while learning how to bring it to life for adolescents. Classroom readiness is built in stages, with fieldwork blocks across the final semesters that move from an early field placement to an internship and then a semester of student teaching where candidates gradually take over instruction. Graduates earn Idaho certification to teach American Government and Political Science in grades 6-12. A secondary endorsement in History, Economics, or Sociology broadens the range of courses they can eventually lead. Earning a bachelor's degree in social science teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Idaho's secondary school teachers.

The University of Northern Iowa's Social Science Teaching B.A. prepares broad, versatile educators, readying candidates to teach across several disciplines in grades 5-12 through the Department of History. The degree requires at least 120 hours and balances its parts deliberately, combining 51 major hours with 22 hours of professional experiences and 18 hours of educator essentials so subject depth and teaching skill grow together. Fieldwork is woven throughout, from teaching internships and methods courses to a 12-credit student teaching capstone in the senior spring, giving candidates steady exposure before they lead a classroom. Graduates earn either Iowa's All-Social Science Endorsement or the Basic Social Science Endorsement, depending on the breadth they pursue. The major is also part of UNI's Three-Year Pathway initiative, an option for students who want to reach the classroom sooner. This bachelor's-level social science teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Iowa.

Saint Norbert College's Bachelor of Arts pathway to social studies teaching is built for students who want a strong grounding in a discipline as well as in the craft of teaching. Candidates pair the college's unified grades 4-12 Teaching major, housed in Teacher Education, with an academic focus of their choosing. That focus can be a single discipline such as economics, history, or political science, or the broader Broadfield Social Studies major, which deliberately spans several fields so future teachers can move comfortably across the social studies curriculum. The Broadfield route reaches into two primary disciplines in depth while sampling several others, and rounds things out with capstone courses on environment and society and on social inequalities. Every one of these certification pathways is approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction for grades 4-12 licensure. Earning a bachelor's degree in social science teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Wisconsin's secondary school teachers.

Nebraska Wesleyan University's History-Social Science Education major is jointly run by the History and Education departments, a partnership that keeps deep subject study and teaching practice in close conversation. The interdepartmental degree spans the social sciences, reaching across fields such as history, economics, geography, and political science, then adds education methods aimed specifically at teaching those subjects in grades 7-12. Candidates complete supervised teaching in a secondary school, working alongside classroom teachers, and attend a biweekly seminar that gives them regular space to reflect as they go. At 82 to 88 hours, the program is substantial, and it leads to a Social Science 7-12 endorsement. The education program carries accreditation from the Nebraska Department of Education, the Higher Learning Commission, and NCATE. A bachelor's-level path in social science teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Nebraska.

Montana State University's B.S. in Secondary Education, Social Studies Broadfield Option, gives future teachers grounding across the social sciences, drawing together economics, geography, psychology, sociology, and political science under one endorsement. Administered through the Department of Education, the degree runs at least 120 credits and places real weight on place and history, with coursework devoted to American Indian history and Montana's Seven Essential Understandings. Candidates move from paired practicum courses into a 12-credit student teaching term, a sequence that lets them build classroom judgment before taking full responsibility. The Teacher Education Program follows both Montana Board of Public Education and CAEP standards, and it prepares candidates for a grades 5-12 endorsement, with the final scope determined by the Montana Office of Public Instruction. This bachelor's-level social science teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Montana.

Winona State University's Social Science History (Teaching) program, awarded as a Bachelor of Teaching, prepares candidates to teach social studies in Minnesota secondary schools across grades 5-12. Housed in the History and Legal Studies Department within the College of Liberal Arts, it lets students shape their focus by choosing an emphasis in Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, or Sociology. The classroom side runs through the College of Education, where candidates observe and practice teaching social studies in real secondary settings and must be admitted to the college to continue the professional education sequence. Everything is built to align with Minnesota Board of Education requirements, so students stay on track toward licensure. A Major Map keeps the path clear, helping candidates complete the degree in four years. This bachelor's-level social science teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Minnesota.

Mount St. Mary's University pairs deep subject study with time in real classrooms in its Social Studies program leading to Certification in Secondary Education for grades 7 to 12. Offered through the Anthony F. and Alice G. Agnone School of Education, the curriculum ranges across topics such as legislative participation and globalization while keeping field work close at hand, so candidates test ideas with students as they learn them. Because the coursework follows a set sequence, students typically start education classes as early as freshman year. It is a Maryland-approved certification program that also satisfies requirements in other states, and the department notes that a background in social studies can lead to work beyond the classroom in nonprofits, government agencies, museums, and libraries. A bachelor's-level path in social science teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Maryland.

Oklahoma Baptist University's Bachelor of Science in Education in Social Sciences Education is a traditional on-campus program that prepares candidates for a grades 6-12 social sciences teaching endorsement. Housed in the Henry F. McCabe Family School of Education, it follows the practice-heavy rhythm the school is known for, layering 85 to 120 hours of observation and practicum across four years so candidates grow comfortable in a classroom well before they lead one. That fieldwork culminates in a 14-week student teaching internship in the senior year, which students may complete within 50 miles of campus or abroad. The reach into other cultures suits a field concerned with history, geography, and civics. The School of Education is nationally accredited through CAEP, with each licensure area accredited by the state of Oklahoma. Earning a bachelor's degree in social science teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Oklahoma's secondary school teachers.

Indiana Wesleyan University's Bachelor of Science in Social Studies Education leads to Indiana secondary teaching certification for the middle and high school levels and is offered through the School of Teacher Education. As one might expect at this Christian university, the curriculum is faith-integrated, and it deliberately prepares candidates for both public and religious school settings, widening the range of classrooms they can step into. The path to licensure runs through a student teaching semester, where students assemble a standards-based portfolio and sit for a defense interview. The program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and recognized by the National Council for the Social Studies, giving graduates a credential backed by both a general and a subject-specific stamp of approval. Graduates of this social science teacher education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.