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Social Studies Education: M.T. - Master of Teaching

Do you want to be a Social Studies teacher in middle or high school, teaching history, civics, economics, and geography? Apply now to join our Teacher Education community, consistently ranked among the best secondary education programs in the country.

At a Glance

Program Results

M.T. - Master of Teaching

—Social Studies Education

Initial licensure in Virginia with an endorsement in History and Social Sciences 6-12.

Program Type

  • Full Time

Location

  • In-Person

Application Deadline

Summer entry:

  • February 1 (early notification deadline)
  • April 1 (final deadline)

About This Program

Our programs reflect the depth of our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as we work together with our students toward actualizing a more just society. By drawing upon the expertise of experienced educators and community partners, we prepare teacher candidates to honor and grow the assets and resources that students bring to classrooms and schools. We lead with integrity, committed to student, family, and community success and well-being. We are equity-oriented teacher educators, collaborators, and innovators.

  • Our top-ranked program blends in-depth instruction on principles of teaching and learning with clinical experiences that prepare candidates to be responsive to students’ diverse needs. 
  • The Master of Teaching program is a one-year, cohort-based program that runs from June through the following May each year.
  • Candidates complete internships under the guidance of highly qualified mentor teachers and clinical coaches. These internships are completed in different schools to give candidates diverse experiences as they prepare for their teaching career. 
  • This is a post-graduate program for applicants who have already completed an undergraduate degree. 

Program Overview

Admission Requirements

Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores are NOT required as part of the application process. International students must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. Scores must not be more than 2 years old. Applicants who have or will have earned an undergraduate degree from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction do not need to provide TOEFL or IELTS scores. 

Additional admission requirements that apply specifically to this program are listed below

Applicants must possess an undergraduate degree prior to matriculation. Applicants are expected to have a minimum GPA of 2.7 with a 3.0 GPA in the major, though applicants not meeting this requirement will be considered. Faculty review applications holistically and will consider academic record, goals, relevant experience, and letters of recommendation.

Applicants should hold a degree in a social science. They must meet or be prepared to meet the following content studies requirements:

  • American History I
  • American History II
  • World History I
  • World History II
  • American Politics
  • Microeconomics
  • Physical Geography
  • Cultural Geography

Students may apply to the program prior to completing these content requirements. Reach out to the contact at the bottom of this page with questions about these requirements and to request a transcript review. 


Visit our Graduate Admission page for the full admission process.

Information for Current UVA Undergraduates
If you are a current UVA undergraduate, view our Information for Current UVA Undergraduates page for info on admission into this program.

Graduate Admission

Application for admission is made to the School of Education and Human Development Office of Admission & Enrollment. For more information about the graduate admission process, please visit our Graduate Admission page.

Graduate Admission

Summer Coursework

To learn more about specific courses taken as part of the completion of this degree, visit the graduate record website. These webpages represent the official repository for academic program requirements. 

Required Coursework:

  • EDLF 5011: Adolescent Learning and Development*
  • EDIS 5000: Exceptional Learner*
  • EDIS 5020: Foundations of Learning and Teaching
  • EDIS 5800: Understanding Educational Contexts
  • EDIS 5830: Languages and Literacies Across the Disciplines

*With prior approval, students may transfer coursework to meet the adolescent development and exceptional learner requirements. Students who meet these requirements prior to the program will not be required to retake these classes. 

By August 15, complete licensure training modules and take the following exam: Praxis Social Studies (5581)
 

 

Social Studies Education Course Descriptions

Information on courses that are part of the M.T. in Social Studies Education curriculum can be found on the UVA Graduate Record website.

Curriculum

Fall Coursework

To learn more about specific courses taken as part of the completion of this degree, visit the graduate record website. These webpages represent the official repository for academic program requirements. 

Required Coursework:

  • EDIS 5030: Creating Effective Learning Experiences and Environments
  • EDIS 5070: Designing Technology-Enhanced Instruction
  • EDIS 5820: Assessment of and for Learning
  • EDIS 5600: Teaching Social Studies in Secondary Schools I
  • EDIS 5856: Content Area Seminar in Social Studies
  • EDIS 5866: Clinical Experience in Social Studies Education

For Internship I, students are placed in a local science classroom, working alongside a mentor teacher three days per week. Placements begin in mid-August and continue through the end of November. 
 

Social Studies Education Course Descriptions

Information on courses that are part of the M.T. in Social Studies Education curriculum can be found on the UVA Graduate Record website.

Curriculum

Spring Coursework

To learn more about specific courses taken as part of the completion of this degree, visit the graduate record website. These webpages represent the official repository for academic program requirements. 

Required Coursework:

  • EDIS 5601: Teaching Social Studies in Secondary Schools II
  • EDIS 6991: Professional Field Project
  • EDIS 5876: Internship Seminar - Social Studies
  • EDIS 5886: Teaching Internship - Social Studies

In Internship II, also known as “student teaching,” students are placed in a new science classroom. Students attend during contract hours every day from the first week of January to the end of April. 

Social Studies Education Course Descriptions

Information on courses that are part of the M.T. in Social Studies Education curriculum can be found on the UVA Graduate Record website.

Curriculum

Additional Program Details

In 2024, the UVA School of Education & Human Development is ranked #8 for best graduate schools of education in the country by U.S. News and World Report.

The school also ranked #5 in secondary teacher education for graduate schools of education.

African American Teaching Fellows

African American Teaching Fellows (AATF) works to recruit, support, and retain African American teachers to serve the public schools of Charlottesville City and Albemarle County. Fellows become part of a network of African-American educators in the region, participate in a teacher-leader summer institute, receive mentorship and support from local teachers and administrators, and receive $5,000 toward the cost of tuition. Fellows commit to teaching in the Charlottesville/Albemarle area for several years after graduation.

Read more about AATF on their website; applications are typically due in January
Learn more about Executive Director Tamara Wilkerson
Hear from AATF's Program Director, Jaime Duke-Hawkins, and two AATF fellows

M.T. in Social Studies Education News

All School News

Program Faculty

All Program Faculty
Jennifer Chiu

Jennifer Chiu

  • Associate Professor
Tonya R Moon

Tonya R. Moon

  • Professor
Jennifer S Pease

Jennifer S. Pease

  • Associate Professor
Stephanie D van Hover

Stephanie D. van Hover

  • Professor
Peter Youngs

Peter Youngs

  • Chair, Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education
  • Professor

Contact Us

Reach out to us with questions about the requirements for this program and to request a transcript review. 

Disclosures

As a member of the State Authorizations Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), the University of Virginia (UVA) is authorized to provide curriculum in a distance learning environment to students located in all states in the United States except for California. (34 CFR 668.43(a)(6)& 34 CFR 668.72(n)). Although California does not participate in SARA, it allows students to enroll in out-of-state programs.

Upon completion of the Master of Teaching program at the UVA School of Education and Human Development, graduates may be eligible for initial professional licensure in another U.S. state by applying to the licensing board or agency in that state. Please visit the University’s state authorization web pages to make an informed decision regarding which states’ educational requirements for initial licensure are met by this program. (668.43(a)(5) (v)(A) - (C))

Enrolled students who change their current (or mailing) address to a state other than Virginia should update this information immediately in the Student Information System as it may impact their ability to complete internship, practicum, or clinical hours, use Title IV funds, or meet licensure or certification requirements in the new state. (34 CFR 668.402).