If you majored in History as an undergraduate, and want to go on to teach, you will need to pick a concentration in which to earn your Master’s. Most schools offer a Master of Arts in Teaching, or a Master of Arts in specific subjects relating to History. Your decision will be based, in part, on the requirements in the state where you plan to teach.
Master of Arts in Teaching
Some universities have a school of education that awards the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree, and will offer concentrations in specific subject areas, such as history, English, math and Science. In a university that does not have a school of education, the MAT may be offered by the subject area department. For example, the History department may offer a MAT in history, social studies or American Government . In some states, you must earn a Master’s Degree that automatically leads to state certification; otherwise, the degree must be designed around K-12 education, in your subject area, which in this case, is history or a related subject. In other states, the Master’s Degree needs to be in the subject area that you wish to teach but does not necessarily have to be an education degree. However, you may be required to take education course and to fulfill a student teaching requirement. You will need to consult the education department of the state in which you want to teach, in order to determine the requirements and make a decision about what kind of Master’s Degree to pursue. This page provides direct links to the education departments in all 50 states.
Master of Arts in History and Related Subjects
If you choose to pursue a Master of Arts in a specific subject area, there are several courses of study related to History offered by various universities. At the middle school level, history classes focus on global studies, or the study of world cultures as well as geography. If you wanted to teach middle school, a degree in World History or something similar would prepare you to teach these middle school classes. At the high school level, students continue to study world cultures, before moving on to US History and Government in the higher grades. A Master’s degree in American History or Government would make the most sense if you want to teach high school history.
Choosing a Course of Study
An undergraduate degree in history may qualify you to teach history, so whether you should pursue a Master’s in Education or further your study of history depends largely on the requirements of the state in which you want to teach. Before making this decision, consult with your college advisor and do your research. Find out what the state requires of its’ teachers, and which universities offer the courses of study that you need to be a successful teacher.
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