Social Studies Education

  • Major

Social Studies Education majors build a broad base of knowledge and skills across the social sciences and in pedagogy to teach 5th-12th grade students. You'll engage with faculty to learn economics, geography, history, political science, psychology and sociology through an interdisciplinary program that also offers the opportunity for global learning experiences. Future educators in the Social Studies Education program are prepared to serve middle and high school students with varying academic, social, and emotional needs while learning to create a curriculum with engaging experiences that will interest their own students. Field experiences occur three times throughout the program, including a full 16-week student teaching opportunity the semester before graduation. 

For questions about the program, contact Rochelle Dyer at rddyer@stcloudstate.edu. 

University Catalog Program Requirements department icon College of Education and Learning Design Scholarships College of Education and Learning Design Scholarships department icon Center for Economic Education

Program Highlights

  • Coursework and fieldwork develops a strong background in interdisciplinary social science education.
  • Travel and study abroad opportunities through a variety of travel opportunities, including the option to  student teach abroad.
  • An engaged, active Social Studies Club that attends conferences, travels both internationally and domestically and hosts nationally recognized guest speakers.
  • Well-traveled faculty with diverse backgrounds and experiences to bring to the classroom.
  • Interdisciplinary approach prepares students for graduate studies in the social sciences, international fields, and law.

Program Distinctions

  • Innovative co-teaching initiative designated as a 2010 Renaissance Group  "Signature Project," and "Promising Practice" by the National Council  for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
  • Licensure programs approved by Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB). 
  • Membership in Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).

Student Organizations

Popular Careers

  • Social Studies Teacher
  • History/Geography Teacher
  • Economics Teacher
  • Sociology Teacher
  • High School/Middle School Teacher
  • Curriculum Specialist
  • Historic Preservation

Continuing Education

The Social Studies Education Master's degree is the only program in the state that is solely focused on Social Studies Education for in-service teachers who are interested in learning both content and pedagogy related specifically to the field in which they are currently teaching. These courses will bring new perspectives to the various content areas, including ideas on how to work with both state and national standards, and allow you to develop new instructional and assessment strategies for your classroom. Finally, you will have the opportunity to travel and/or study abroad at historic/civic sites both in the U.S. and internationally during summer sessions. Summer opportunities include the option to start with a trip to Alnwick Castle in the United Kingdom with two, three, or five-week options available.

This program is designed to accommodate teachers currently employed fulltime in their field and provides content course options that will give them the ability to teach Senior-to-Sophomore and/or College-in-the Schools courses at the secondary level offering a choice of Economics, Geography, History, or Political Science (government/civics). It also provides an option to choose an Education Technology Integration path if that better suits the needs of the student and their career. Additional certificates can be added to the master's degree to provide the ability to teach in more than one subject. The Social Studies Education Graduate Program application process will be opening soon! Contact Rochelle Dyer for additional information.

Graduate Program Offerings: