Social Studies Secondary Education

About the Major

Social studies education majors develop skills and knowledge in areas including history, geography, government, sociology, and economics. You will be able to apply what you learn through methods of teaching and learning with children from grades 5 through 12. You will be in the field early during your studies and will be able to start learning in actual community classrooms. This major fully equips you to teach your own class of diverse students in any urban, suburban, or rural school.

Skills and abilities this major develops include: cultural competency, teaching, problem solving, lesson planning, and inclusivity (IUPUI School of Education, 2019).

Engaged Learning Experiences

Regardless of your major or future career, engaged learning is vital to your present and future. It makes you more marketable for jobs and professional schools upon graduation, it enables you to build deeper connections with faculty and staff in your field of study, and it makes your learning personal by connecting your interests and values with the curriculum from your classes. Check out the three ideas below for places to get started, or learn more at IUPUI’s Institute for Engaged Learning website.

Student Organizations

Students interested in education tend to be a passionate bunch. We are home to a number of organizations dedicated to different facets of teaching and education.

Service Learning

You can add to your built-in student teaching experience through community engagement. From service projects to conferences, you get a head start on lifelong learning.

Study Abroad

Study abroad is much more than a trip—it’s an intellectual and cultural adventure that will change the way you see the world, other people, and yourself.

Opportunities After Graduation

Most graduates with a social studies education major teach in public or private middle or high schools. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook (2018), the outlook for secondary education teachers is projected to grow 8% from 2016 to 2026, which is an average pace. IUPUI School of Education graduates have many opportunities to work in the area after graduation, especially in the Indianapolis Public Schools district.

The average starting salary for IUPUI School of Education graduates was $40,411, and the median salary was $41,000, for the May 2019 graduating cohort. The median salary of a high school teachers in Indiana was $53,150 (Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2020).

(This section is intended for informational purposes, not prediction of actual salary.)

Education majors often pursue advanced degrees in the following areas: administration, English language, law, reading, special education, business, school counseling, psychology, and higher education.

Quick Facts

Sample Coursework

Survey of economic issues and problems
Indiana history
Examining self as teacher
Using computers in education
Diversity and learning
Teaching students with special needs
Field experience
Teaching and learning in high school

Possible Careers

Adult literacy teacher
Education administrator*
Museum curator
Museum program coordinator
Guidance counselor*
Instructional coordinator
Nonprofit manager

*These careers require further education or training.

Where could I work?

Carmel Clay Schools
Indiana Historical Society
IPS
Indianapolis Museum of Art
IUPUI
Nonprofits

Complementing Interests

SSocial

EEnterprising

IInvestigative

Get your interest code

Where to Get More Information

IUPUI School of Education

National Education Association

American Federation of Teachers

Arts, Humanities, and Human Services Cluster

This major is part of the Arts, Humanities, and Human Services (AHHS) cluster. The AHHS cluster is the academic home of University College students pursuing majors in art and design, education, general studies, journalism, liberal arts, and social work. The AHHS cluster partners with students on their academic advising and career plans to guide them into their degree-granting schools.

Learn about the AHHS cluster

Learn about other clusters

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