Bachelor of Arts
Social Science (5-12)
Leads to teacher licensure
Degree Overview
Our online social science education degree prepares you to teach the whole spectrum of social sciences. The B.A. in Social Science (5-12) prepares you for secondary teacher licensure in middle school or high school social science. You will become a highly qualified social science teacher prepared to meet state and national teaching standards.
Who the program is for:
- Individuals with a considerable social science background who need a bachelor’s degree and want to become a middle school or high school social science teacher.
- Unlicensed substitute teachers, career changers, retired military personnel, school paraprofessionals, and others who feel the call to teach.
Note: WGU is the only exclusively online teacher education institution in the nation to receive NCATE accreditation.
Your program will be flexible and largely self-paced.
Click here to learn how your program works.
What You’ll Learn -- Areas of Study:
In this online degree in social science, you’ll learn all the essential skills and knowledge needed. This program includes ten domains of study, supervised practice teaching in an actual classroom, and completion of a professional portfolio.
- Social Science Content
- Quantitative Literacy
- Language and Communication
- College-Level Reasoning and Problem-Solving
- Literature
- Literature, Arts and the Humanities
- Natural Sciences
- Foundations of Teaching
- Effective Teaching Practices (Social Science)
- Demonstration Teaching (includes practice teaching)
Total Program: 148 Competency Units (credit equivalents)
Less: Any competency units waived through transfer of prior college credits.
Note: Your prior college experience may waive some degree requirements.
More details about your challenging course of study
View the Program Guide (PDF)
Answers to your questions
Click a question, see the answer below.
- Will I practice teach?
- How will I complete my degree?
- Is financial aid available?
Will I practice teach?
Yes, all WGU teacher licensure programs include practice teaching in real classrooms. This is part of your Demonstration Teaching domain of study. This is obviously not an online portion of your degree program. Exactly how your practice teaching occurs will depend on the specific school district in which you teach. Speak to an Enrollment Counselor who can explain this in more detail.
How will I complete my degree?
As a WGU student, you take and complete assessments. You’ll prepare for your assessments by engaging various learning resources including textbooks, web tutorials, and courses. You will determine what learning resources are best for you in consultation with your mentor using your personalized Academic Action Plan (AAP). You can learn more by exploring the WGU Experience. Speak to an Enrollment Counselor who can explain this program in greater depth.
Is financial aid available?
Yes, WGU offers federal financial aid. Loans are available to most students, regardless of financial need. Grants that don’t require repayment are also available for those with financial need. You can check into your financial aid eligibility at any time during the admissions process. Speak to an Enrollment Counselor to learn more or visit the Financial Aid section of the website.
