History Teacher

GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY; Boise (ID); On-site; Full time

Job description

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Overview

What Is a History Teacher?

A history teacher instructs students at the middle and high school levels. They focus on teaching classes in social studies and history. History teachers educate secondary school students about specific time periods, events and movements, exploring different cultures, political systems and trends over time.History teachers prepare their students to take standardized tests and pursue further studies at the postsecondary level.

In addition to teaching students about U.S. and world history, history teachers prepare students for life after high school.They seek to instill critical thinking, analytical reasoning, communication skills and other soft skills in their students, preparing them to enter the job market.

84%

Percentage of people surveyed who believe history is as important to study as business or engineering (See disclaimer 1 )

What Does a History Teacher Do?

History teachers focus on teaching social studies and history classes at the secondary level. They may also teach related classes, such as geography, civics, government, anthropology and economics. Some history teachers may offer Advanced Placement (AP) history classes, which enable high-performing high school students to earn college credit while in high school. History teachers prepare students for the next grade level, as well as for life after high school.

What is a history teacher’smain job responsibility? Common tasks include:

History teachers develop lesson plans and create assignments.

History teachers deliver class lectures and encourage students to participate in classroom discussions.

Student Assessments

Teachers must grade students’ assignments and exams to assess their progress.

Classroom Management

History teachers strive to create a welcoming classroom experience, manage student behavior appropriately and encourage engagement.

Teachers keep parents and guardians informed of their students’ progress and behavior.

Administration and Development

Administrative tasks include attending faculty meetings, and history teachers may also seek professional development opportunities.

Education

What Experience and Education Does a History Teacher Need?

When considering how to become a history teacher, it’s important to note that not all teachers may follow the same path. Some may come to the profession after having worked in a different field, for example. Despite variations in career pathways, all aspiring history teachers need to meet the basic education requirements, as well as state-mandated licensure and certification requirements for those who plan to teach in public schools. (See disclaimer 2 )

High School Diploma

All aspiring history teachers start their journey by earning a high school diploma. There are no specific classes you must take in high school to become a history teacher, although you should work with your school counselor to ensure that you stay on track toward meeting graduation requirements. Consider taking additional history classes and related electives if available, and look for relevant extracurricular activities to participate in.

College Degree

Secondary school educators are generally expected or required to hold a bachelor’s degree . A degree program that leads to initial teacher licensure will include a student teaching experience. (See disclaimer 2 )

Student Teaching

As part of your degree program, you may complete one or more student teaching placements. (See disclaimer 2 ) During your student teaching experience, you will observe an experienced teacher in the classroom before transitioning to working with students and delivering class lectures.

State Licensure/Certification

Every state requires public school teachers to obtain a state-issued license or certification. It’s important to research the requirements for the state in which you plan to teach. While licensure requirements vary, they generally include: a bachelor’s degree, completion of a student-teaching experience, a background check and certification exams. (See disclaimer 2 )

Best Degrees for a History Teacher

The ideal degree for a future history teacher focuses on both pedagogy and history-specific knowledge. It should align with career goals, such as obtaining initial teacher licensure, and it should cover a breadth of topics — from ancient history to modern U.S. history and beyond. An ideal degree program may also explore state-specific history as well as regional themes.

In summary, the best degrees for a history teacher will cover topics such as:

Historical research methods

Methods of teaching history

Instructional planning

Student assessment

Advocacy and professional ethics

Historical methodologies and major historians

Political, social, cultural and economic history

Ancient and modern history

GCU Recommends These Degree Programs for History Teachers

Bachelor of Arts in History for Secondary Education

Initial Program – Leads to Initial Teacher Licensure

Initial Program – Does Not Lead to Initial Teacher Licensure

Master of Education in Secondary Education

with an Emphasis in Humanities (Does Not Lead to Initial Teacher Licensure)

Initial Program – Does Not Lead to Initial Teacher Licensure

Master of Education in Secondary Education

with an Emphasis in Humanities (Leads to Initial Teacher Licensure)

Initial Program – Leads to Initial Teacher Licensure

Graduate Certificate of Completion in History

What Skills Does a History Teacher Need?

History teachers need to develop a good rapport with students to encourage engagement with the lesson plans and classroom activities. They need to be able to work well with other teachers, administrators and parents, and they need to use data-driven instructional methods. Because of this, a blend of both hard and soft skills is preferable.

History teachers typically work in middle and high schools . (See disclaimer 4 ) There are some nontraditional work environments in which a teacher’s skills may prove useful, as well. Transferable skills may lead to opportunities across different industries.

In middle schools, history teachers teach foundational history knowledge and competencies, including research skills.

Public and Private High Schools

History teachers in public and private high schools teach advanced research skills and history concepts and contribute to students’ college readiness.

History teachers in government agencies may influence education policies and public school resources.

Nonprofit Organizations

Nonprofit community organizations may hire history teachers to work with groups of students, such as at-risk students.

Projected number of job openings for high school teachers from 2024 through 2034 (See disclaimer 7 )

Advancement Opportunities for a History Teacher

After gaining experience as a history teacher, you might serve as a mentor to new teachers and student teachers. You might pursue career advancement as a lead teacher. Other advancement opportunities may require additional education and professional credentials, such as becoming a school principal , instructional coordinator, school librarian or school counselor . (See disclaimer 2 )

Explore More on History Teachers

Learn more about becoming a history teacher and what you can expect from the teaching career pathway. Explore the following blog articles.

What Degree Do You Need To Be a Teacher?

Dive into the educational requirements necessary to pursue a teaching career.

Learn about your potential career options after earning a degree in history education.

Teacher Certification Test — What You Need To Know

Get a breakdown of what you can expect on the teacher certification test, including which competencies are tested and how to prepare.

Take the First Step Toward Becoming a History Teacher

Follow your passion for history by becoming a history teacher. Apply at GCU today and earn your education degree.

If you are seeking licensure/certification, please refer to the "Accreditation and Compliance/State Disclosures” link for the specific program of interest’s website for your location and/or employment state’s licensure requirements, per 34 CFR 668.14(b)32 and 668.43(c).

• The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), High School Teachers , as of May 2024, retrieved March 2026. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as high school teachers, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It is very unlikely that a median salary will reflect an entry-level salary. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
• COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective August 2025, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, High School Teachers , retrieved March 2026.