Social studies is a broad field which includes a variety of sub-topics such as history and geography so a Masters in Social Studies Education will allow you to specialize in your area of greatest interest and start providing even more valuable learning experiences to your students. A teacher with a Masters is able to go the extra mile for students, providing in-depth lessons and covering little-known topics with flair and expertise.

Below you’ll find our tips after we gave a thorough look at some of the better Masters in Social Studies Education around the country. There’s a good chance that one of the programs highlighted below will tick all the boxes of what you’re looking for in a program.

The Best Masters in Social Studies Education Programs

The Steinhardt School at New York University is a haven for some of the best minds in education and the social sciences. The Master in Social Studies Education program at Steinhardt represents the culmination of many years of work and development from some of the world’s top thinkers in this field. This is a one-year program designed for practicing teachers at the secondary and middle school levels.

The University of North Carolina – Pembroke is another leading institution in the field of social studies graduate programs. The UNC – Pembroke Masters in Social Studies Education has a wide selection of specialized concentrations, allowing you to really hone in on a particular subject. The course will help develop your analytical and research skills while also giving you some of the fundamentals of curriculum design and school leadership.

Indiana Bloomington is the other school we feel deserves recognition for its Masters Degree in Social Studies Education. This program covers the history of the education system, as well as psychological and sociological aspects of teaching social studies. In addition to developing you knowledge of particular areas of social studies, this course gives you a thorough grounding in student psychology so you can better deal with a wide variety of situations and personality types in the classroom. This course is split up into core coursework, thesis writing and your own choices for elective study.

Masters in Social Studies Education Online

Missouri University Online is the first place you should be looking if you want to complete your Masters in Social Studies Education online. This degree has a strong focus on curriculum as well as teaching – in other words, it will give you an in-depth look at how a curriculum is put together in addition to giving you actual techniques to use in the classroom. The program takes a broad view of social studies in an international context. Bear in mind that if you’re not a certified teacher, you’ll have to arrange certification separately as it’s not included as part of this Masters program.

Saint Joseph’s University also runs an online Masters Degree in Social Studies Education which may appeal to you. This is technically a Secondary Education degree which offers a specialization in social studies, so if you’re currently a high school teacher this would be the perfect online program for you. Saint Joseph’s also offers discounted programs for people in the military.

Western Governors University’s Masters of Arts in Teaching Social Science is another program worthy of mention. Designed for K5-12 level teachers, this NCATE accredited program is ideal for teachers yet to receive certification or teachers who feel their Bachelor’s degree simply isn’t enough.

Using Your Masters Degree in Social Studies Education

Once you’ve achieved your Masters Degree in Social Studies Education, what are your options for putting it to use? Obviously, if you’re already working in a social studies teaching position, it will enhance your skills as a teacher and likely increase your salary in the long term. It will also make it easy for you to pick and choose jobs if you decide to go to another school. If you’re between jobs, a Masters in social studies education will give you the edge over competing teachers who only have a Bachelor’s degree.