What do I major in to be a high school history teacher?

Question

Currently I'm a senior in high school, and I've done a lot of thinking about my future career. I've finally decided that I want to be a high school history teacher. My question now is: What do I major in? I obviously should know a lot about my subject, but at the same time, I also need a teaching certificate. So what do I get exactly? A history major or a major in education?

Answer 1

Education with a concentration in history, but speak with an admissions counselor or advisor at the university you are interested in attending.

Answer 2

I majored in political science although if I knew that I would be a history teacher it would have been history. I believe that if you are going to teach history on a secondary level that you should be well grounded in your subject . So get a BA in History. I had not taken any education courses since I decided to go into teaching during the last half of my senior year. I took 14 credits in summer school and began teaching in September. I had a fellowship and was supposed to have half a program of teaching sharing the other half with another fellow. My college could not get me a job so i found a full time job myself. I finished my Masers degree that May and continued and earned my doctorate two years after that while continuing my full time high school teaching.

Answer 3

every college is different, so you need to make sure you ask when you first meet with an academic advisor at your college.

most likely, you will need to double major in History and Secondary Education. Some schools offer a teaching certificate program, but don't actually declare it a major, so you would have to declare History as your major and then also be enrolled in the teaching certificate program.

Answer 4

I am a history teacher and the easiest way to be qualified is to major in social studies education. Although there are few SS jobs, you can not be hired to teach only one area - social studies incompasses government, American and World history, psychology, economics, sociology, geography, and sometimes anthropology - so you get a general major/license in social studies. Majoring in history does not qualify you to teach anything other than history, therefore you can not receive a teaching license.

It is much easier to major in education in order to become "highly qualified" and receive your state license. If you major in history, THEN complete a transition to teaching program, you will pay much more and have to take additional courses to earn your license, instead of completing your bachelors, pass an exam, and receive your license all together.

I completed a program that let me bypass nearly all of the education courses and focus on taking social studies credits, plus I started teaching earlier and longer as a student teacher.

Check out Indiana University's Community of Teachers program http://education.indiana.edu/~comteach

Answer 5

Obviously you need to major in history, but you MUST check to be sure that your college of choice has a secondary education teaching program.

When I graduated, I received a Bachelor's Degree in English with Secondary Licensure.

You'll take a ton of history classes, and then as you get older you'll begin taking education classes, finishing off with a practicum or intership for a semester.

CALL THE COLLEGE TO BE SURE. I know a guy who majored in history at Syracuse and wanted to teach, and then got to the end with no education classes...he ended up selling cell phones.

Answer 6

I TOTALLY disagree with the other answers... major in HISTORY with a minor/ emphasis in education. When you go through teacher credentially (required under No child left behing - don't worry you will get to know and love it!) It will be easier to get a credential in history with a degree in history. BUT, may i advise.... why history? and THINK about where you live....(sorry but...) if you live in the south-ish area there are NO teaching jobs for history. (my bf just got a history teaching credential and the people in kentucy basically laughed at her for wanting to find a job there....) ALSO, there are so many damn english teachers, there is no demand for it. how do you feel about math and science? again sorry, but that is where the jobs are at.

ask a teacher or two where you live what teaching jobs are in demand and their advise... you might be surprised at how much they want to help you.

Here is one more thing to consider.. a company called AmeriCORP (americacor?) is a program all over the country that has college aged kids tutoring/ helping out elementary aged kids. GREAT PROGRAM. it does notpay much at first.. BUT after two year orsomething they will give you lots of money for college, you get ons of experience (which is more useful than anything- and you learn that education major stuff first hand) AND when you become a teacher, you will get pushed up on the pay scale. instead of starting at the bottom, you will get year 2 pay your first year. not a huge difference at first, but the difference between year 3 and year 5 pay is substantial.

bottom line, major in your subjct matter-- NOT EDUCATION!! you will learn all of that stuff.

Answer 7

Don't listen to anyone but Stephanie and Gary. You must major in History with a concentration in Education, not the other way around. In fact, in some states, you can become alternatively certified and skip the education courses altogether. If you don't want to coach, you may also consider a major in Government as well.

Answer 8

Education with a major in history. Get with a counselor. That is what they are there for.

Answer 9

Education and history.

Answer 10

major in education with a minor in history