Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure: History/Social Science 5–12

Learning Format

Hybrid

Types

Certificate/PBTL
Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure: History/Social Science 5–12

Teach history and social studies to grades 5–12

The History/Social Science 5–12 track prepares you for the Massachusetts Initial Teaching License in History/Social Science, grades 5 through 12. It's designed for people who hold a bachelor's degree with coursework in history and social studies-related subjects. Our program is for those who are excited to explore the past and present with middle and high schoolers.

You take the shared PBTL education core, a methods course for your subject with time in a real public school classroom, and finish with a full semester of student teaching.
 

Why choose History/Social Science 5–12?

  • You're drawn to history and civic life. U.S. and world history, government, economics, geography: this license covers the full social studies curriculum.
  • You want a wide grade range. The 5–12 license qualifies you to teach from grade 5 through high school.
  • You want to see the requirements up front. The state's content requirements for this license are listed below, so you can compare them with your transcript before you apply.
  • You might want a master's too. FSU also offers this license through the Secondary Education M.Ed. Ask your coordinator which path fits your goals.
Program Requirements

Courses for this license

CourseTitle
EDIL 802Professional Preparation II: Special Needs and Educational Technology (fall only)
EDIL 822Secondary Methods with Field Study II: History Grades 5–12 (fall only)
EDPS 862ASecondary Professional Practicum A: History Grades 5–12 (spring, mid-January to mid-March)
EDPS 862BSecondary Professional Practicum B: History Grades 5–12 (spring, mid-March to mid-May)

Your methods courses and both practicum courses must be taken at FSU.

Subject-matter requirements
The state sets subject-matter requirements for this license, and faculty in the History department compare your transcript against each one below. Courses you've already taken, at FSU or another college, may meet some or all of them. Your transcript review shows which ones, if any, you still need.

RequirementFSU courses that meet it
Historian's craft (historical methods)HSTY 225 (or HSTY 925)
Intermediate U.S. historyAny 200- or 300-level HSTY course, HSTY 450, or an 800-level HSTY course
Intermediate European historyAny 200- or 300-level HSTY course, HSTY 450, or an 800-level HSTY course
Intermediate world historyAny 200- or 300-level HSTY course, HSTY 450, or an 800-level HSTY course
Intermediate history electiveAny 200- or 300-level HSTY course, HSTY 450, or an 800-level HSTY course
Introduction to macroeconomicsECON 101 Macroeconomics
Introduction to American politicsPOSC 110 Introduction to American Politics
World regional geographyGEOG 110 World Regional Geography

Plan to finish any subject-matter courses you still need before student teaching. Exceptions need your coordinator's approval.

Admissions Requirements

To apply, you'll need a bachelor's degree, a statement of purpose, and two recommendations. Your transcript is reviewed course by course against the state's subject-matter requirements for this license. Full admissions detail, including how transcripts from outside the U.S. are handled, is on the Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure (PBTL) program page.

Core Courses

Every student on this track takes:

  • EDIL 900 Field Study I in Education and Seminar (spring), or a waiver if you qualify
  • EDIL 910 Education Foundations
  • EDIL 920 Learning and Human Development
  • TESL 910 Sheltered English Immersion

EDIL 910 and EDIL 920 are offered online three times a year. Take them before your methods courses, since they're prerequisites.

Field Experience

Field Study I is observation. Field Study II is part of your methods course, where you take on real teaching. Then comes a full-time, semester-long student teaching practicum. Already working in a school at this level? You can apply to use a semester of that job in place of the practicum.

Application details and deadlines are on the Field Placement & Licensure Information page.

Tests You Will Need

You do not need to pass the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) to apply. You do need these before student teaching and before the state issues your license:

  • Communication and Literacy Skills
  • History/Social Science (73), for subject matter knowledge

For registration dates and preparation materials, see Field Placement & Licensure Information.

Meet your Coordinator

Kelly Matthews

Kelly Matthews, Ph.D.

Professor and Secondary Education Coordinator, English Department and Interdisciplinary Studies Advisor and Coordinator
508-626-4815
kmatthews@framingham.edu
May Hall 115

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