How to Become a Social Studies Teacher

History teachers can inspire students to have a love of history.

Making the decision to become a social studies teacher can be a worthwhile endeavor and lead to a very rewarding career. This is especially true for those who love to read and study history, economics, government and geography. Teaching provides you with the opportunity to impart the knowledge you have gained and inspire that same love of these subjects in your students. Becoming a social studies teacher requires a college education and also requires you to obtain licensing and certification in the state in which you teach.

Instructions

1. Enroll in courses at the college of your choice and complete your general education requirements. You can enroll at a four-year institution where you plan to eventually obtain your bachelor's degree, or you can enroll at a community college and get your general education requirements taken care of. The advantage to the community college is usually the lower tuition costs that you incur while completing your general education requirements. If you decide to go the community college route, you can obtain an associate degree in history, economics, government or some other area related to social studies.

2. Pursue electives in fields related to social studies or that are taught in the public school system as part of the social studies curriculum. Many people think of social studies as the study of just history and government, but in some states social studies can encompass other topics like economics and geography. Having a broad background in all of these topics will not only prepare you for your certification exams, but also make you more marketable to potential employers.

3. Complete your bachelor's degree studies at a college or university with a teacher education program. Teacher education programs provide you with an opportunity to pursue studies in the field in which you intend to teach, along with course in how to teach those subject, course in child developmental psychology and other subjects related to the practice of teaching. Check with your state board of education for a list of approved teacher education programs. Failing to do so could result in having to take a longer path to becoming a social studies teacher.

4. Complete any student teaching requirements mandated by the state. Most teacher education programs will include these in their curriculum. Student teaching will allow you to gain hands-on experience teaching your subject.

5. Take and pass your state's certification examinations. In most states these are referred to as Praxis exams. Most states will require at least two of these exams; some states, like Oklahoma, require three. The exams typically test you over your knowledge of the broad field of social studies which can include both world and U.S. history and other related topics. The other exams often test you over basic knowledge in reading, writing and math as well as in your understanding of teaching theory and practice. Passing these exams constitutes certification as a social studies teacher in most states.

6. Pass your background check. All states require you to submit to a criminal background check before allowing you to teach in the public classroom. This usually involves getting your fingerprints done. Once you have completed the background check and have met all certification requirements, your state will issue you your teaching license.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Teachers---Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary
• Certification Map: Become a Teacher in Oklahoma