History - Teaching Major
Students majoring in History - Teaching take a wide range of courses covering countries or regions around the world from ancient times to the present while also receiving outstanding teaching training. Students gain historical knowledge as well as valuable skills in writing, public speaking and information analysis that makes them sought-after candidates for teaching positions and other education professions.
Want to double major in History and History Teaching? You can do that here!
Our curriculum also allows you to easily double major in History - Liberal Arts without adding additional credits. Double majoring in History - Teaching and History - Liberal Arts allows you to gain a deep understanding of historical content while simultaneously acquiring the pedagogical skills necessary to effectively teach history in a classroom setting, essentially making you a well-rounded history educator with both substantial historical knowledge and practical teaching abilities; this combination can significantly enhance your job prospects in the field of history education.
This major leads to endorsements in Iowa for American History and World History in grades 5-12.
Learn more about UNI Teacher Education at teachered.uni.edu.
Largest in Iowa
Few places prepare more teachers than the University of Northern Iowa. If you are made to teach, this is where teachers are made. Home to the largest teacher education program in Iowa, UNI is also in the top 1% of public institutions nationwide for the number of bachelor's degrees granted.
Hours in the Field
At UNI, history teaching majors gain more than 725 hours of hands-on classroom experience, from early internships paired with teaching methods courses to full-time student teaching.
Built for your Future
The UNI history major is designed to do more than teach the past—it prepares you for what’s next. Our courses are built around the Eight Essential Employability Qualities (EEQs) that today’s employers value most.
Want to learn more?
Fill out your information here and we'll be in touch!
Contact us directly at:
Chad Christopher
Advisor, History and Social Science Teaching
Seerley 328
Department of History
Phone: 319-273-3157
Email: chad.christopher@uni.edu
Jennifer McNabb
Department Head & Professor
Department of History
Phone: 319-273-2097
Email: jennifer.mcnabb@uni.edu
This major is offered as part of UNI’s Three-Year Pathway initiative, giving motivated students the opportunity to complete their bachelor’s degree in just three years by following a structured plan of study. This option is ideal for students who enter UNI with prior college credit (through AP classes and dual enrollment), as well as high-achieving students who are ready for an accelerated academic pace. Students must meet program eligibility requirements, including appropriate placement scores for some majors, and may transition to a traditional four-year pathway at any time. For more information, contact our department at jennifer.mcnabb@uni.edu.
Grow your future.
Students are prepared to become teachers through three graduated clinical experiences:
INTERNSHIP 1
35+ hours – Students will teach multiple lessons under the supervision of a classroom teacher and UNI clinical faculty member while also taking beginning methods of teaching coursework.
INTERNSHIP 2
35+ hours – You’ll spend a whole week shadowing a practicing teacher. During this week you’ll practice the skills necessary to teach a full day. A companion advanced methods of teaching course supports this experience.
STUDENT TEACHING (Last semester)
16 weeks of full-time teaching – In most (in-state) placements, students will spend eight weeks in a middle school/junior high setting and the other eight weeks in a high school setting.
Panther POV
What’s it like to study history teaching at UNI? Hear from recent graduates about the experiences that shaped their time as Panthers and how their PE teaching degree is helping them take their next steps.
Sofie Baratta
"My favorite part of my major is the close knit community we have as social sciences teachers. Throughout my final student teaching placement at Waterloo East, I have been working alongside three other student teachers who I have had classes with over the past few years. It has been a great experience brainstorming, collaborating and creating materials together using the tools UNI classes have given us."
Braden Powers
"Student teaching was incredibly impactful for me. I had two eight-week placements, and I got the opportunity to engage with students from 6th-12th grade. I got to plan units, modify instruction, and many more things, which have led to much growth in my confidence as a future teacher."
Jude Beekman
"I received a wide variety of experiences at UNI and I feel comfortable as a professional in many different settings. Even if I’m not super knowledgeable about a certain topic or content area, I feel confident that I have the skills now to do research and learn to teach about it."