M.T. Secondary History and Social Studies Concentration

 
The M.T. in Teaching with a concentration in History and Social Studies Education is designed to prepare curious, critically thinking passionate future 6-12 grade history/social studies teachers. This program can be completed as part of our VCU extended teacher preparation program for current VCU students, or as a program for students from other institutions who have completed equivalent history, political science, or African American studies undergraduate programs*.

Learning history is the foundation of social and civic engagement and understanding. The responsibility to educate future citizens is critical to the success of our communities and civil society. Students in this program will be asked to think deeply about their own understanding of history, social movements, and how to ensure a diversity of voices are heard in the instruction of history and social studies in our schools.

Learn from who are committed to engaging in critical conversations of today as they leverage cross-institutional resources and partnerships to ensure students maximize their graduate experience.

Prerequisite Course Work*

Each M.T. concentration has unique prerequisite courses. Please see the link below for this concentration’s prerequisite resource. If you would like for your transcripts to be reviewed by our licensure team, please submit this transcript evaluation request. Please allow up to two weeks for a review.

• History/social studies education concentration additional coursework [PDF]

Note: Exact course requirements may vary depending on when you matriculated into the program. We do not offer academic credit for life experience; you will have to take courses, or in some cases, ask that courses be transferred from another institution to VCU; we accept up to six graduate credits of courses that are equivalent to those that we offer in our program.

Main M.T. Secondary Pathway/Course Sequence Plan

Students will exit the program with a full initial Virginia licensure as long as they complete all the required Teacher Preparation testing, and academic program requirements. 

Designed for full-time students and working professionals, this program can be completed in as little as three (3) full-time semesters if students begin in either a spring or summer semester. Students who begin in a fall semester can expect two fall and two spring semesters to complete the program full-time. 

Note: If you cannot take summer courses, your program will be extended by an additional fall and spring semester. 

Curriculum requirements can be found on the link under “Concentrations/VCU Bulletin Info” in the gray admissions box.

CONCENTRATIONS/VCU BULLETIN INFO

Program Concentration

• History/social studies education

PROGRAM BASICS

How to apply: Graduate application
Semester of entry: Spring, summer or fall
Application deadline: Feb. 1 for fall and summer admission, Oct. 1 for spring admission
Late applications reviewed on a case-by-case basis

Resources and Checklists

M.T. Application Resource [PDF]
M.T. Secondary History/Social Studies Resource [PDF]
RTR Teacher Residency Application Checklist [PDF]

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

• VCU Graduate School requirements
• Received or pursuing a bachelor’s degree with a major matching the degree concentration (or an appropriate liberal studies major for those in the early and elementary education concentration)
• Written essay addressing your career interests
• Three letters of recommendation
• Transcripts from previous academic work
• Completion of the Teacher Preparation Application* and required testing requirements for Virginia licensure are found here.
  *VCU extended teacher preparation students have already completed the Teacher Preparation Application as part of your undergraduate program.

FOR MORE IN-DEPTH INFO

• Future Teacher Program Guide - Secondary Teaching [PDF]
• Teaching and Learning academic programs
• Five-year extended teacher preparation program
• Licensure to program comparison chart