Bachelor's in Middle Grades Social Studies Education

Help students understand the past, engage with the present, and shape the future with a Bachelor’s in Middle Grades Social Studies Education at UNC Greensboro. Designed for aspiring teachers of grades 6–9, this program combines a strong foundation in history, civics, geography, economics, and political science with extensive classroom experience. Students will learn to create engaging, inquiry-based lessons that inspire critical thinking, informed citizenship, and meaningful discussion while gaining the skills and confidence to earn North Carolina teacher licensure and lead middle school social studies classrooms.

Bachelor’s in Middle Grades Social Studies Education Program Distinctions

The Middle Grades Social Studies Education program holds accreditations and affiliations from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI).

The curriculum is designed specifically for grades 6–9, preparing future teachers to help middle school students develop historical thinking, civic engagement, geographic literacy, and critical analysis skills. Students complete coursework in history, political science, economics, geography, and social studies pedagogy to build both content expertise and effective teaching practices.

Students in UNCG’s program participate in multiple supervised field experiences and internships prior to their full-time student teaching requirement. These placements in a wide range of school settings allow future educators to connect educational theory with classroom practice while gaining confidence as instructors.

The Middle Grades Social Studies Education Student Experience

The educational preparation program maintains close partnerships with local public schools, giving students repeated opportunities to work alongside experienced mentor teachers and university faculty while developing their instructional skills.

Students in the Middle Grades Social Studies Education program may have the opportunity to collaborate with faculty on research in areas including:

• Teaching politics and civic education
• Educational psychology
• Equity in education
• Student belonging
• Online education

These opportunities help students connect current educational research with effective classroom practice.

School of Education students have access to two unique resources – the Michel Family Teaching Resources Center (TRC) and the Student Educator Learning Factory (SELF) Design Studio. The TRC is a model school library media center that offers a large collection of picture books, young adult fiction, nonfiction, board books, kits, and manipulatives. The TRC also offers professional resources that can be useful in creating lesson plans and study guides for North Carolina teacher exams. The SELF Design Studio is a dynamic makerspace where students engage in hands-on learning and creative exploration. You will find 3D printers, robotics, art supplies, and circuitry kits in the SELF Design Center.

Be sure to meet with your academic advisor each semester for more details pertaining to your program of study.

School of Education Academic Support Hub

Middle Grades Education majors have access to the School of Education’s Academic Support Hub services. The Hub provides no-cost tutoring and licensure exam preparation to our undergraduate students.

Services include:

• Praxis Core Preparation
• Praxis Math CKT Preparation
• Pearson Reading Exam Preparation
• American Sign Language Lab

UNCG School of Education Scholarships

Each year, the School of Education awards over $1 million in scholarships and graduate assistantships to students.

The Spartan Education Scholars program includes scholarships of up to $28,000. Scholarship funding is distributed incrementally: $4,500 in the first year, $5,500 in the second year, and $9,000 annually during the final two years, provided students maintain eligibility. Participation is open to incoming freshmen (first-year students), current UNCG students, and transfer students majoring in Elementary Education, Deaf Education, Middle Grades Education, Special Education, and Dual (Elementary and Special) Education.

The Haggai Academy is a scholarship program that provides scholarships of up to $8,000 per year, as well as a wide range of additional enrichment opportunities, for non-traditional students (24 years of age or older) pursuing an undergraduate degree in teacher preparation.

After Graduating with a Middle Grades Social Studies Education degree

Graduates of UNCG’s Middle Grades Social Studies Education program are prepared to inspire the next generation of informed citizens. Through rigorous content preparation, extensive classroom experience, and specialized training in adolescent learning, students develop the knowledge and skills to create engaging, inquiry-driven social studies classrooms. Graduates are equipped to earn North Carolina teacher licensure, integrate innovative instructional technologies, and make an immediate impact in grades 6–9 classrooms.

UNCG graduates are sought after by employers because of the close supervision and extensive field experience they received in their major and often assume leadership positions in their schools and state.

The U.S. Department of Education requires that all higher education institutions advise students as to whether their curriculum provides them with the eligibility to apply for a professional license and/or certification in the state for which they plan to practice. As such, please review UNC Greensboro’s status by state for the initial teaching license. You should note whether the program either “meets”, “does not meet”, or if there “has not been a determination” of the program’s status in the state for which you plan to practice. Licensure Reciprocity Information