Keith Mack
If you have a law degree and are considering a career change to become a history teacher, you may be in luck. While the requirements to become a history teacher vary across different states and grade levels, it is generally necessary to have a bachelor's degree with a major or minor in history or social science, as well as a teaching license. This is the minimum requirement to teach history at the middle or high school level. If you already have a bachelor's degree in law, you may need to take additional history and teacher-training courses to meet your state's teaching requirements. Some states may even require you to earn a master's or doctoral degree in education to teach more advanced courses or at higher education levels. It is also worth noting that most schools prefer to hire teachers with experience, so gaining experience through internships or paraprofessional positions can increase your chances of securing a full-time teaching job.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Education | A bachelor's degree in history or social science is required to teach in middle or high school. A master's degree or Ph.D. is needed to teach at a community college or university. |
| Experience | Most schools prefer teachers with experience, but internships and paraprofessional positions can provide new graduates with valuable experience. |
| Certification | All teachers in the US need a state teaching license. Alternative certification is available for lawyers transitioning to teaching, and some states offer alternative routes to certification. |
| Salary | The median annual wage for history teachers varies depending on factors such as grade level, advanced degrees, and location. In California, the average annual salary is approximately $68,636. |
| Skills | In addition to subject knowledge, history teachers should be great storytellers and incorporate technology into their lessons. |
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What You'll Learn
- Law degree holders can teach history at K-12 with alternative certification
- A bachelor's degree in history or education is the minimum requirement to teach history in middle or high school
- A master's degree is required to teach history at community colleges
- A doctorate is required to teach history at universities
- History teachers can advance into administrative roles
Law degree holders can teach history at K-12 with alternative certification
If you hold a law degree and want to teach history at the K-12 level, you may be able to pursue alternative certification options instead of returning to school for a bachelor's degree in history or education. While the requirements to become a history teacher vary by state, here is some general information about alternative certification and the steps you can take to transition into teaching.
Alternative Certification
Alternative certification offers a route to teaching for individuals with a bachelor's degree who did not complete a traditional teacher preparation program. This option is particularly relevant for law degree holders interested in teaching history, as it may allow them to leverage their legal knowledge and qualifications to transition into the education field.
State Requirements
It is important to note that each state has specific requirements for teacher certification. While some states may offer alternative certification programs, others may require additional education or training. Be sure to check with your state's Department of Education to understand the specific requirements and alternatives available.
Subject Matter Competency
In addition to meeting certification requirements, you will need to demonstrate competency in the subject matter you intend to teach. This may involve taking and passing a state certification test that assesses your knowledge of history and your teaching skills. Some states may also require you to complete continuing education courses or sit for a competency exam, such as the PRAXIS II, to ensure you meet the necessary standards.
Gaining Teaching Experience
To become a history teacher, it is essential to gain practical teaching experience. Consider completing an internship or working as a paraprofessional in a school setting. These opportunities will allow you to apply your legal knowledge to the teaching context, develop essential skills, and determine if teaching is the right career path for you.
Career Advancement
As a law degree holder transitioning into teaching, you may find opportunities for career advancement within the education field. Your legal knowledge and experience can be valuable assets for moving into school administration roles or teaching law-related subjects at the postsecondary level. However, advancing into administrative positions or teaching at the community college or university level may require additional education, such as a master's or doctoral degree.
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A bachelor's degree in history or education is the minimum requirement to teach history in middle or high school
If you want to become a history teacher in middle or high school, you will need at least a bachelor's degree in history or education. This is the minimum requirement to teach at this level.
A bachelor's degree in history will give you the subject knowledge required to teach history to middle and high school students. You will learn about historical events and contexts, and develop an understanding of how to interpret and analyse the past. This degree will also provide you with valuable critical thinking and analytical skills, which are essential for teaching history.
On the other hand, a bachelor's degree in education will give you a strong foundation in teaching methodologies, curriculum design, and classroom management. This degree will prepare you for the practical aspects of teaching and help you develop the necessary skills to create engaging and effective lessons for your students.
In addition to a bachelor's degree, it is important to gain practical teaching experience. Consider completing an internship or student teaching placement to apply your knowledge in a classroom setting and develop your teaching skills. This will not only make you a more competitive candidate but will also help you determine if teaching is the right career path for you.
It is worth noting that the requirements to become a history teacher may vary slightly depending on the state and school you are applying to. Some states may require additional certification or a master's degree, especially if you want to teach in a community college or more advanced setting.
Finally, while a law degree is not specifically mentioned in the requirements to become a history teacher, it can still be a valuable asset. A law degree demonstrates critical thinking, research, and analytical skills, which are all beneficial for teaching. Additionally, your legal knowledge may be useful in understanding and navigating school policies and regulations, and could even facilitate a move into school administration later in your career.
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A master's degree is required to teach history at community colleges
While a law degree may be useful in teaching history at the middle or high school level, it does not meet the requirements to teach history at community colleges. To teach at this level, you will need at least a master's degree, preferably in history or education, and 18 graduate credit hours in history.
Each state has its own teacher certification guidelines, and teaching history at the middle or high school level requires a four-year degree. If you already have a bachelor's degree in any subject, you can take additional history and teacher-training courses to meet your state's teaching requirements. Some states may require you to earn a master's degree in education.
However, to teach at the community college level, a master's degree is typically the minimum requirement. This means that you can have a master's degree in one subject, such as English, and then take 18 graduate credit hours in history to be qualified to teach history. This is known as having a "master's degree in the subject area." Obtaining a master's degree typically takes about two years, and the coursework focuses on a specific topic through classroom study, research, and lectures.
While each community college may have slightly different requirements, it is essential to check with the specific institution or the Department of Education in your state to ensure you meet the necessary qualifications. Additionally, some colleges may require the degree to match the courses being taught.
It is worth noting that teaching at the college level, even at community colleges, implies that you should be an expert in your field. Therefore, a master's degree or higher is often expected to demonstrate this level of expertise.
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A doctorate is required to teach history at universities
To become a history teacher, you'll need a bachelor's degree in education with a major or minor in history or social science. This is the minimum requirement to teach at a middle or high school level. If you already have a bachelor's degree in a different subject, you can take additional history and teacher training courses to meet the requirements for teaching history. These requirements vary depending on the state you're in, so it's important to check with your state's Department of Education.
If you want to teach history at a university, you will need to pursue a doctorate or a Ph.D. in History. Doctorate programs prepare you to teach at both public and private universities and can also lead to careers as researchers, analysts, or writers. These programs typically take between two to five years to complete and involve working closely with an advisor to prepare a dissertation on a specific topic, which you will defend at the end of the program.
Doctoral degrees allow you to conduct original research in your field and are a requirement for teaching and administrative positions at the university level. While some jobs in higher education, such as teaching at the community college level, may only require a master's degree, a doctorate is generally necessary for university-level instruction.
It's worth noting that there are online bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. programs available, offering flexibility for those with work or personal commitments that make it difficult to attend traditional classroom settings. These online programs are fully accredited, and your credentials will be recognized by future employers as long as they are earned from an accredited institution.
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History teachers can advance into administrative roles
To become a school administrator, you will need at least a bachelor's degree and a teaching credential. Most school administrators also hold a master's degree in educational administration or educational leadership, and some have a Ph.D. or Ed.D. in the field. In addition, many states require administrators to pass an exam, such as the PRAXIS Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision exam. To qualify for more advanced education administration positions, you will likely need to earn a master's degree, which usually takes two years to complete.
School administrators are senior or executive leaders who are responsible for developing, leading, and advocating for innovation in education, including curriculum and finances. They also play a strategic and operational leadership role, with an emphasis on strategic alignment. Administrators may be principals, vice principals, specialists, coordinators, or head teachers, among other roles.
If you are interested in advancing into a university setting, you may consider pursuing a position as a university dean, chief academic officer, director of development, or director of continuing education. These positions often require a doctoral degree, such as an EdD or PhD, depending on the specific career path.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need a bachelor's degree in history or social science and a teaching license. If you want to teach in a public school, you must have at least a bachelor's degree. To teach at a community college, you will need a master's degree, and to teach at a college or university, you will need a Ph.D.
If you have a bachelor's degree in another subject, you may need to take additional history and teacher-training courses to meet the requirements of your state. Some states may also require you to sit for a competency exam in history.
Legal knowledge can be beneficial when making instant decisions about whether something violates the law or school policy. It may also help you move into school administration later on.
First, determine which level you want to teach as certification can be specific to grade. Next, obtain your bachelor's degree and complete a teacher preparation program. Then, complete an internship to gain experience and build your skills. Finally, pass any necessary certification tests and apply for your teaching license.
The salary of a history teacher can vary depending on factors such as experience, education level, and the specific school district. In California, the average annual salary for history teachers is approximately $68,636, with entry-level positions yielding $54,800 and higher-level positions earning upwards of $79,950.
