High School History Teachers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of high school history teachers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for high school history teachers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of high school history teachers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for high school history teachers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for High School History Teachers?
Do high school history teachers need a degree? What kind of experience do high school history teachers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for high school history teachers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for High School History Teachers
Jobs Postings for High School History Teachers By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 105,109 (41%)
- No Education Listed: 78,872 (31%)
- Master's degree: 42,211 (16%)
- High School or GED: 22,040 (9%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 8,216 (3%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of high school history teachers. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 41% of positions. In 31% of job listings no education level was listed and in 16% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for High School History Teachers
Jobs Postings for High School History Teachers By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 22,826 (47%)
- 2-3 Years: 19,276 (40%)
- 4-6 Years: 4,583 (9%)
- 7-9 Years: 556 (1%)
- 10+ Years: 1,163 (2%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for high school history teachers. In 47% of job postings for High School History Teachers, employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience. In 40% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 9% of job postings for high school history teachers.
What Kind of Degree Do High School History Teachers Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for high school history teachers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 79 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective high school history teachers, and in 2023 a total of 402,164 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective high school history teachers.
Top Degree Programs for High School History Teachers
Top 5 Degree Programs for High School History Teachers (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Biology/Biological Sciences, General. | 91,150 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | 35,412 |
| History, General. | 29,780 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences. | 28,469 |
| Education, General. | 27,685 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Biology/Biological Sciences, General. | 91,150 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | 35,412 |
| History, General. | 29,780 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences. | 28,469 |
| Education, General. | 27,685 |
| Mathematics, General. | 26,754 |
| Chemistry, General. | 18,633 |
| Social Sciences, General. | 15,927 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General. | 12,748 |
| Physics, General. | 12,318 |
| Secondary Education and Teaching. | 10,879 |
| Spanish Language and Literature. | 9,457 |
| Teacher Education, Multiple Levels. | 9,294 |
| Physical Education Teaching and Coaching. | 6,779 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. | 6,310 |
| Reading Teacher Education. | 5,922 |
| Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor. | 4,921 |
| Education, Other. | 4,643 |
| Music Teacher Education. | 4,622 |
| Mathematics Teacher Education. | 3,141 |
| English/Language Arts Teacher Education. | 3,043 |
| Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching. | 3,017 |
| Physical Sciences, General. | 2,744 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General. | 2,454 |
| Foreign Languages and Literatures, General. | 2,442 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other. | 2,396 |
| French Language and Literature. | 2,139 |
| Social Studies Teacher Education. | 1,951 |
| Art Teacher Education. | 1,695 |
| Health Teacher Education. | 1,536 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Other. | 1,147 |
| Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education. | 1,125 |
| Bilingual and Multilingual Education. | 1,016 |
| German Language and Literature. | 908 |
| Japanese Language and Literature. | 876 |
| History Teacher Education. | 818 |
| Biology Teacher Education. | 764 |
| Chinese Language and Literature. | 622 |
| Social Science Teacher Education. | 503 |
| Technology Teacher Education/Industrial Arts Teacher Education. | 462 |
| Music Pedagogy. | 450 |
| Business Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences. | 429 |
| Russian Language and Literature. | 392 |
| Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Educational Methods. | 379 |
| Foreign Language Teacher Education. | 349 |
| Spanish Language Teacher Education. | 342 |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General. | 326 |
| Italian Language and Literature. | 307 |
| Computer Teacher Education. | 291 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General. | 272 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Home Economics Teacher Education. | 252 |
| Chemistry Teacher Education. | 224 |
| Drama and Dance Teacher Education. | 217 |
| Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General. | 158 |
| Online Educator/Online Teaching. | 153 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, Other. | 142 |
| Korean Language and Literature. | 119 |
| Earth Science Teacher Education. | 114 |
| Physics Teacher Education. | 112 |
| Environmental Geosciences. | 102 |
| Environmental Education. | 96 |
| Latin Language and Literature. | 67 |
| Speech Teacher Education. | 65 |
| Portuguese Language and Literature. | 63 |
| Driver and Safety Teacher Education. | 49 |
| Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature. | 40 |
| Earth Systems Science. | 25 |
| French Language Teacher Education. | 25 |
| International Teaching and Learning. | 24 |
| Hawaiian Language and Literature. | 23 |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language, Other. | 13 |
| Work and Family Studies. | 10 |
| Communication Arts and Literature Teacher Education. | 9 |
| German Language Teacher Education. | 8 |
| Latin Teacher Education. | 6 |
| Psychology Teacher Education. | 6 |
| Geography Teacher Education. | 2 |
| History and Language/Literature. | 1 |
| Teaching French as a Second or Foreign Language. | 0 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for High School History Teachers
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Develop the knowledge and skills you need to become an outstanding middle or high school teacher in Ohio with Franklin’s Adolescent to Young Adult (AYA) Education program.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Gain the expertise to help students learn and think in classrooms across Ohio with Franklin’s Middle Childhood Education (MCE) program.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Class Type: 100% online
- Years To Complete: 3
What Skills Do High School History Teachers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by high school history teachers to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for high school history teachers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's High School History Teachers
Based on 213,279 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for High School History Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson Planning | 51,970 | 24% |
| Curriculum Development | 27,016 | 13% |
| Classroom Management | 26,351 | 12% |
| Mathematics Education | 23,486 | 11% |
| Learning Styles | 19,181 | 9% |
Top 5 Common Skills for High School History Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 119,928 | 56% |
| Communication | 77,057 | 36% |
| English Language | 48,569 | 23% |
| Mathematics | 39,366 | 18% |
| Planning | 39,338 | 18% |
Based on 213,279 job postings related to high school history teachers, lesson planning was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 24% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for curriculum development, classroom management, mathematics education, learning styles and special education were also highly sought.
As for common skills, teaching was the most desired skill found in job postings for high school history teachers, followed by communication, english language, mathematics, planning and writing.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson Planning | 51,970 | 24% |
| Curriculum Development | 27,016 | 13% |
| Classroom Management | 26,351 | 12% |
| Mathematics Education | 23,486 | 11% |
| Learning Styles | 19,181 | 9% |
| Special Education | 17,572 | 8% |
| Differentiated Instruction | 17,334 | 8% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 17,081 | 8% |
| Social Studies | 16,195 | 8% |
| Educational Assessment | 16,115 | 8% |
| Science Education | 15,677 | 7% |
| Instructional Strategies | 13,910 | 7% |
| Physical Education | 13,204 | 6% |
| Student Engagement | 12,325 | 6% |
| Pedagogy | 10,590 | 5% |
| Biology | 10,327 | 5% |
| Chemistry | 8,834 | 4% |
| Effective Communication | 8,534 | 4% |
| Learning Strategies | 7,998 | 4% |
| Small Group Instruction | 7,989 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 119,928 | 56% |
| Communication | 77,057 | 36% |
| English Language | 48,569 | 23% |
| Mathematics | 39,366 | 18% |
| Planning | 39,338 | 18% |
| Writing | 35,154 | 16% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 27,537 | 13% |
| Spanish Language | 22,009 | 10% |
| Management | 20,686 | 10% |
| Leadership | 19,898 | 9% |
| Problem Solving | 19,806 | 9% |
| Research | 17,929 | 8% |
| Progress Reporting | 16,122 | 8% |
| Multilingualism | 15,164 | 7% |
| Parent Communication | 14,322 | 7% |
| Professionalism | 13,828 | 6% |
| Organizational Skills | 13,561 | 6% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 13,311 | 6% |
| Coaching | 13,288 | 6% |
| Enthusiasm | 12,444 | 6% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about high school history teachers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for high school history teachers.
What do high school history teachers do?
How much do high school history teachers make?
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