Master of Arts in the Teaching of Social Studies with Initial Teacher Certification
Become an equity-driven social studies teacher through this one-year program. Earn your M.A. and recommendation for NYS Initial Certification (grades 7-12) through this graduate program.
This program values teacher who will be leaders in inquiry about the schools and the world, who commit to redressing inequities in education, and who are curriculum developers to meet the diverse needs of learners in their classrooms. During the one-year cohort-based program, students take coursework in the teaching of social studies, pedagogical content courses, and required courses in literacy, psychology, and inclusive education. Students have a student teaching placement in the fall and spring in a NYC school. This experience is supported by a mentor teacher, a teaching supervisor, teaching methods courses, and a student teaching seminar that connect the university and the classroom. The cohort model encourages the foundations of collegial relationships that sustain our students as they move into their teaching practice.
Admission Information
Displaying requirements for the Spring 2025, Summer 2025, and Fall 2025 terms.
Master of Arts
- Points/Credits: 38
- Entry Terms: Summer, Fall
- Enrollment Formats: Full-Time Campus-Based
Certification
View Public Disclosure Notification
- NY State Initial: Social Studies 7-12
Application Deadlines
| Entry Term Available | Priority Deadlines | Final Deadlines | Extended Deadlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Summer | January 15, 2025 | April 1, 2025 | N/A |
| Fall | January 15, 2025 | April 1, 2025 | N/A |
Select programs remain open beyond our standard application deadlines, such as those with an extended deadline or those that are rolling (open until June or July). If your program is rolling or has an extended deadline indicated above, applications are reviewed as they are received and on a space-available basis. We recommend you complete your application as soon as possible as these programs can close earlier if full capacity has been met.
Application Requirements
| Requirement | |
|---|---|
| Online Degree Application, including Statement of Purpose and Resume | |
| Transcripts and/or Course-by-Course Evaluations for all Undergraduate/Graduate Coursework Completed | |
| Results from an accepted English Proficiency Exam (if applicable) | |
| $75 Application Fee | |
| Two (2) Letters of Recommendation | |
| Interview (phone, video, or in-person) required |
For admission-related inquiries, please contact AHadmission@tc.columbia.edu.
Requirements from the TC Catalog (AY 2024-2025)
Displaying catalog information for the Fall 2024, Spring 2025 and Summer 2025 terms.
This degree program requires a minimum of 38 points and an integrative portfolio project. It is designed for those with little or no experience teaching secondary social studies. Successful completion of this program of study leads to the M.A. degree and recommendation for New York State Initial Certification (grades 7-12). Student teaching is undertaken in cooperating middle and high schools, in the New York Metropolitan area. A committee of social studies faculty and cooperating professionals from the schools to which students are assigned to supervise and evaluate the student teacher’s work.
In order to complete all degree requirements successfully, this program typically demands two terms of the academic year and two summer sessions, which can be taken in the same summer.
The 38 points should be distributed as follows:
Social Studies Core Courses (9 points):
Required courses:
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A&HW 4036 Teaching methods in the social studies
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A&HW 5037 Advanced teaching methods in the social studies
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A&HW 5030 Social Inequities and Schools: Rethinking Social Studies
Social Studies Content Courses (10-12 points):
In consultation with an advisor, students should select courses to round out their knowledge of the subject matters taught in secondary schools. Content courses taken at Teachers College include attention to both content and pedagogy. Courses can also be taken at Columbia University.
Professional Development Courses (6-9 points):
To satisfy the college’s breadth requirement students must take three Teachers College courses (for this purpose a course is defined as one in which 2 or 3 points are earned) outside the major Program. For the purposes of certification, students must take a course in psychology with an adolescent focus, a three-point literacy course, and a course in inclusive or special education. Selected with advisor approval.
Student Teaching (10 points):
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A&HW 4530 Seminar for student teachers in social studies*
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A&HW 4729 Observation in the social studies
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A&HW 4730 Supervised student teaching in social studies**
*Students enroll for 2 points in both the fall and spring.
** Students enroll for 3 points in both the fall and spring.
Further Requirements:
Students must complete a portfolio project as their integrative master’s project. For additional requirements, please refer to the Teacher Education area of the Academic Resources section of this bulletin.