UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
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.
ApplyThe 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:
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.
Once licensed, a social studies education graduate is qualified to teach social studies related subjects (e.g. economics, history, government, citizenship) to secondary students in a public, private, or independent school. 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.
To view a detailed Plan of Study for the BA in Social Studies Education degree, please visit the Purdue University Course Catalog.
Purdue admits to individual majors. Transfer students must meet Purdue’s overall transfer criteria, as well as any major-specific requirements. Before you apply, check the closed programs page to confirm this major is open to transfer students. If it is, refer to the information below for major-specific transfer criteria.
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Contact
College of Education, Office of Advising and Recruiting
(765) 494-2345
education-advising@purdue.edu